Thrift Stores Are Not your Enemy.

When I was in High School, I made a promise to myself that I would never shop at thrift stores. I thought they were dirty, disgusting places where people sold their old stained clothes that smelled of old  people and vomit.
However, I broke this promise during college. I was desperate for a Halloween costume (I was going as a Silent Hill Nurse) and needed a pair of old white heels and a white button-up dress. I was amazed at what great items were on the shelves, in a disarray, but still decent items!

This got me thinking...with all of those unused sweaters and buttons on clothes...why ever buy yarn of buttons from pricey craft stores?
There's a smorgasbord of buttons and yarn waiting to be used for less than what you could get at craft stores, and believe me...I work in one.  3 buttons for $1? No thanks. I'll take 300-500 yards of yarn and 6-8 buttons from a $2 sweater, thank you! 

You can reuse the sweater's yarn by simply clipping a bit at the end and pulling the whole thing apart. It'll be quite a project you'll be left with, but it's worth it. 

Goodwill has a 50% off store-wide event on May 4, 2013 from 9am to 9pm. That's huge savings!
If you go to their website, you can also view their savings calendars and other offers. You can save a sweater and also save your money! It's also a great way to recycle unused items. 

Although I have yet to do this, it was just an idea that popped into my head while at work and putting up some $5 buttons (yes, a single button, but I've seen worse at local yarn shops). Just a way of helping the environment and your savings fund at the same time.  :)

Cheers!~