I love second hand store shopping! In the last few months I have been blessed with many great bargains at places like Goodwill, Salvation Army & Volunteers of America. You would never know it but most of my "new clothes" this fall came from resale shops!

Too many folks I know turn their nose up to resale shopping. Now, granted, it isn't the same as hitting the mall. It certainly doesn't smell as nice in some cases. But, resale shopping is like searching for a diamond in the rough. It is really worth it!

The key to resale shopping is to give yourself plenty of time to meander through the stores and get to know where things are - then stop by often. I visit the two resale shops here in our town once a week if possible and hit the parts of the store that interest me. Like the plus size rack for me and men's shirts for my son. I peruse the hard goods shelves and scan the shoes rack. I usually find something I can't live without for a dollar or two.

Many resale shops have relationships with retail stores to take leftover stock at the end of the season. You can find items that still have the price tag on them and save 50-80% off the retail price. These are great bargains, but still I find my best deals on the racks hidden among the garage sale rejects.

A couple times a year I visit family downstate where they have more than a dozen resale shops around the city. We will take an entire day and visit as many as possible! On our last visit I found a like new jumper dress for $8, two like new shirts for $4 each and a life new shirt set for $3. When I say "like new", I mean it! You would think that I had shopped at the mall. There were absolutely no signs of wear. If I had shopped at the mall, my receipt would have totaled $100 easy! And I spent less than $20! I also purchased several odds and ends for pennies on the dollar of their value.

You might think I'm goofy, but I pray before I head into a Second Hand Store. I ask God to lead me to the best bargains. I ask Him to show me where to find the perfect new shirt in my size. I ask Him to give me a sense of "yes" or "no" about items. Hey, don't knock it - God cares about my daily living. Even my shopping.

Would you be shocked if I told you that I give Second Hand Store items as gifts? I do! And the recipient would never know unless I told them!

Since I love Second Hand stores so much, and I know how blessed I feel when I walk out with a great bargain - I love to donate to them as well. When I tire of an article of clothing, if it is still in good shape, I give it to the local resale shop. If it isn't in good shape, it goes to the rag pile or the trash. I will never understand why people would give stained and torn items to resale stores. I have never met a person yet who was so poor that they were willing to pay for stained clothing.

There is another way to shop Second Hand without even leaving the house! Have you ever visited eBay?

I love eBay! I have found books and music and video games and music galore at great bargain prices! I recently purchased a video game on eBay for my son for $9.95 that would have cost me $30 at Wal-Mart. And when he opens the gift on Christmas day - he won't know any difference!

If your holiday budget is pinched this year, don't turn to credit cards - visit your local resale shop and ask God to show you where the bargains are! I'm sure that He will bless your efforts!