Salvation Army: Finding a Hidden Gem

      Salvation Army. That name may hold several connotations. Some view the store as dirty and out-of-date, but the reality is that any stylish person can find fashionable items at a fraction of the original cost.

      Whenever I am traveling, the first thing I do is go to the Salvation Army store locator to see if I will be close to any Salvation Army stores. That store is my guilty pleasure. I get so excited when I go in and see racks upon racks of clothing all arranged by color; I had an affinity for rainbows when I was a child.

      Though the store can be overwhelming, there are a few strategies that make rummaging through the packed racks more manageable. Before I get into these strategies, knowing the layout of the store may prove helpful.

      Salvation Army is split into multiple sections: men’s, women’s, children’s, shoes and home. Within the clothing sections, all items are broken down even further into the type of clothing. There are racks devoted to jeans, sweaters, skirts, dresses and essentially all types of clothing. Finally, within the types of clothing, all items are broken down by color.

Salvation Army is always full of colorful clothing. It may seem a bit daunting at first, but there is always a great piece waiting to be found. 

      This is where things get tricky. Since the clothing is arranged by color, this means that finding the correct size requires searching through an entire rack. Now it is time to strategize.

      “I walk down the aisle and just look for something that catches my eye,” says Liz Mesaric, a 70-year-old who is a regular at thrift shores like Salvation Army and Community Aid. This can be anything from a particular color to a unique print. Mesaric adds, “I don’t look at each piece and move hangers, but if I’m looking at a particular color, I do look at each piece.”

      She recommends that if you can push a bunch of hangers down to make empty space then do that because it allows more space to look at the individual pieces. “The item you want could be hidden in between [other items],” Mesaric says.

      “It also helps to shop at a time when you are not in a hurry and you can really enjoy the hunt for your thrift store treasure,” she adds.

      To sum up the strategies necessary for a Salvation Army outing, it is first important to look for something that is eye-catching. There are simply too many articles of clothing to look at each individual piece. Secondly, make room on the racks to actually look at the pieces. Lastly, go on a day when time is not an issue, then there will be more time to enjoy the experience.

      Not only are all purchases at Salvation Army good for the wallet, but the proceeds directly fund The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers.

      My fellow penny-pinching blogger Kathryn Finney at The BudgetFashionista also makes a note that keeping an eye out for which color tag is on sale on a given day can help to save even more money. Depending on the day, yellow, blue or white tags may be on sale. Also, keep in mind that Wednesdays are the perfect day to shop. Everything in the Salvation Army store is 50 percent off! 

      “There is nothing better than finding that top brand article and then discovering that it is also 50 percent off! It makes the hunt worthwhile,” Mesaric says. With all of these tips and strategies, shopping at Salvation Army should now be a fun experience and a great way to find cheap, yet fashionable clothing.
       Here are a few of my Salvation Army finds!

I am wearing a sweater and jeans from Salvation Army. I usually never find jeans in my size, but I lucked out with this pair. (Photo/Evan Beemer)

I am wearing a paisley shirt from Salvation Army. The shirt was a little eccentric, but I loved all of the colors. (Photo/Evan Beemer)

I am wearing a dress from Salvation Army. The dress was slightly large, but with the belt, it looks just right. (Photo/Evan Beemer)