Yard Sales & Thrift Stores - New American Pastime

Let's all admit it; the U.S. economy over the past few years stinks!  The housing market has come to a screeching halt.  We've had my dad's house on and off the market for over a year with hardly a nibble.  Unemployment, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for August 2011, is over 9 percent.  What was I thinking, quitting a job in the middle of a recession??  Oh well, God said move--so I did.

Charlotte, my hometown, has a minor league baseball team, The Charlotte Knights.  I just checked their website and weekend general admission tickets (upper deck) are $8 for adults and children 2 - 12 are $7.  Wow, they let your babies up to two in for free..like they are really interested in watching a game!  So, for a family of four it costs $30 for the game, not counting food.  And you know if you have kids, you are not getting out of there without laying out some cash at the concession stand.  Reasonably, for a minor league baseball game, you could spend $60. 

If you want to take the kids to see the Smurf Movie in 3-D at Concord Mills AMC Theaters, plan on paying $11.50 for adults and $9 for each child...plus drinks and popcorn.  Okay, that's another $60 or more...multiplied upward if you have more than two children.

On Labor Day, Goodwill stores in our area had a sale with 50% off donated items.  There is a large store in nearby Concord, NC.  The doors opened at 9:30, and hubby and I thought we'd drive up and see what bargains we could find.  We drove up literally five minutes after the store opened and there was not a single parking space availabe.  We parked on a side road and walked in...no shopping carts, and the store manager came over the intercom and asked people to "play nice".  I found a few books and another small item to purchase.  When I went check out, they only had one cashier.  There were at least twenty people in line in front of me...with full shopping carts.  I laid my items on a nearby table and left...my time is more important to me than a few things I really don't need.  As we exited, more people were flooding in.

So we've come to this...instead of flocking to baseball games and movies as the American pastime, it's yard sales and thrift stores.  Don't get me wrong, I love the thrill of the hunt at a yard sale and a thrift store.  My heart beats faster when I know I'm getting a great deal!  But, lots of people are now shopping yard sales and thrift stores, and buying food at the Dollar Store out of need--instead of want.  But our president and representatives in Washington have it all under control.  How's that change working for you?  As for me and my house, 2012 can't come soon enough!

Copyright 2011 Charlotte Laney