I am a lifelong, die hard thrift store shopper.  I started in middle school with my grandma, and by high school I knew all the best places within a 30-mile radius to find ball gowns for $3 or $4 (I'd cut them off at the knee and wear them with black tights and a rainbow assortment of Doc Marten's.  Hot.)  I still thrift almost every weekend, and have picked up some great household items (pillows, frames, art, dishes), as well stylish and well-maintained clothes (vintage coats, designer purses, retro dresses, hats, shoes, you name it!) for myself and my girls.

Not only is thrifting a great way to shop green (by reducing consumption, reusing used goods, and re-wearing that which can be re-worn), it's a great way to ensure that your kids will not be wearing the same Gap jeans or Old Navy sweats as every other kid in their class.  I once paid about $5 for an Oilily kid's dress that would've retailed for over $100 - and it was brand new!  It was probably a few seasons old, but again, a great way to stand out in a crowd.  Taking the kids back-to-school thrifting is a cheap and interesting way to kill an afternoon or two - you never know what you're going to find, but you can be sure you won't spend more than $20 or $30 on whatever random treasures and hidden gems you happen upon.

Thrift stores are beginning to catch on to their consumer appeal, and some, like this store in Tennessee, run specials on everything from housewares to computer monitors to school uniforms.  Look around your town - you're bound to find at least one.  And when you do, here's  great guide to thrift store shopping to look over, before you go hog wild in the aisles.  Happy thrifting!