Prepping Items I Look For In Thrift Stores.

A little shopping trip to a thrift store to look for good prepping items. I also talk about the items I look for at these places. I prefer small thrift stores ran by churches and small charities.

[@karencastle5012]

I don’t know about other thrift stores, Salvation Army and Goodwill in my neck of the woods are selling their goods at eBay prices..no bargains any more 🙄🙄

[@karmelicanke]

Same here in Canada, nothing is cheap , everything too expensive for the poor.

[@charlesmckinley29]

All the “good stuff “ goes to their own auction site.

[@andreawilliams2386]

Where are you located?

[@cjhoward409]

I found some really good deals at a Goodwill in a Chicago suburb. Got a really cute high end black dress for $5.99. Looks new ! Got a few Hanna Andersen toddler dresses for my grand daughter for $3.99 each. Things are not $1 anymore. Those were prices back in the 80’s and 90’s. But, when I find Walmart clothes for $5 at thrift stores, I just laugh… because they were $5 brand new in the store. Lol

[@allthingssilver7635]

Yep! Same here. They over price everything now days

[@judiehavard4903]

My Grandmother would quilt over the Army wool blankets.

[@Margatatials]

Oooh I woul love to Learn how to do that

[@bigskirtmcgirt89]

With 10 kids we are avid garage sale and thrift store shoppers. There are only select items that we buy new. It’s helped us to live on one income, homeschool the kids,pay off our house and provide decent non-financed transportation for our older kids and ourselves. It’s very comforting to be debt free. Good finds, MR! Another great video!

[@ModernRefugee]

Thank you!

[@ambrosemclaren145]

You are very very blessed. Thank you for sharing. God continue to bless your family.

[@sarahjane9526]

So nice to see another large family. I am a mum to 11 and live in Australia

[@carolinaprepper6603]

good for you. we like the older items. better made. prep on

[@vintagehomemaker9338]

Homeschoolers have "real class!!!

[@tinagale7840]

Last summer, there was a family moving out of state and they were selling canning jars on the cheap. They threw in 2-cast iron skillets for free just to get rid of them. It was a real find!

[@RossPotts]

Nice!

[@johnrogers7846]

"not going to be a fashion show after SHTF". What a great line. I'm using that.

[@jons5898]

I have a 16 year old granddaughter who would rather go shopping at a thrift store than a Target or a Walmart ! Her latest purchase was a couple of large stainless steel dog bowls for a couple bucks !

[@ModernRefugee]

That’s great to hear!

[@glen1arthur]

She is a Smart young lady. My kids also like thrift and 2nd hand stores.

[@roshemmings8857]

I’ve taught my daughter this from the start. She’s now 19 and can spot a bargain a mile away and can put together a outfit for next to nothing. People are always asking her where she buys her clothes and she’s always getting compliments. It’s great for her self esteem. We’re in Australia 😊

[@vickenator]

My 20yo niece scours thrift stores as well! She especially loves finding "vintage" 90s clothing, which makes me feel old as hell. But she's also picked up a few crocheted blankets, which is heartwarming.

[@dianedoyle-mccahon4979]

I like to use inserts for crock pots big ones can't blow or tip over

[@Nana-zi9xq]

My favorite thrift store was an accidental find out in the middle of the sticks. It is a community thrift store(we live in the poorest county in the state). The prices are unbelievable. They are kept low to help the community that is there to pick up food and rental assistance. I take donations of food and other things. I almost always drop a little extra in the donation jar because I can. Gallon tea jugs, $1, clothes .25, and lots of free items.

[@ambrosemclaren145]

Wow. You know, it is that type of Christian charity that gives consolation in life and brings out the good in people. What a blessing that community has. We are only going to be here like a blip on a screen. Where we end up forever, now that is a different story.

[@cjhoward409]

We have a thrift store like that in our little poor town too. Most of the clothes are .50, and every week they have a half price sale on certain tag colors. I’ve gotten a few cute tops for .25 each. I’ve also donated a lot of things there. Their proceeds help this place call the Angel House. It’s a home for babies and tots to stay at while their parents are doing short term jail sentences or going thru drug rehab and don’t have any family for the little ones to go to. I’ve also volunteered there a couple d times to help with the babies. 🥰

[@MFV77]

I love donating to places that give things away….

[@valerieirvin249]

What state are you in ?

[@americafirst9144]

Here they charge $9 for a stained $12 Target shirt.

[@beaversareinsane726]

It is often overlooked that you can usually find simple kitchen appliances (i.e. toasters, etc) that are actually "Made In USA" and, unlike a lot of the Chinese made junk, a 20 year old toaster made domestically is likely to work better, too!

[@Scriptorsilentum]

$4 - solid stainless steel kettle with temp auto shutoff. "Made in Great Britain" on the underside. Flawless, still working after 8 yrs. it had been built in the very early 1960s. PRC can die for all i care.

[@mikkiv9698]

Hi MR, I went to the thrift store last Friday and picked up a Dietz oil lantern for $2.99. It was in good shape. The globe was dirty, I cleaned it up and added a wick. It was a great find. Also found a folding laundry drying rack for $3.99 great for drying laundry outdoors or setting stainless steel racks on for dehydrating veggies in the sun. I love the thrift store, great place to find preps. Awesome video! 😀❤

[@ModernRefugee]

Those old laundry drying racks are awesome.

[@glen1arthur]

Those were some good finds.

[@nancyockrin7428]

6 kids… and so far 29 grandkids later; necessity has taught me the extreme value in thrifting. For example spent $20 yesterday on what would have easily been over $200 brand new. Looks brand new and some items often actually are. Besides 2 nightgowns , 2 dresses, nice shirt and sandals for myself ; I was able to score big on upcoming birthdays for my large extended family. Living on our very limited SSI and shrinking dollar now; so this is how I afford Christmas and birthdays.

[@joyceyoungblood7927]

I met a lady in her mid 90's she had the first couch that her and her husband got when they first married. It had been recovered 4 times.

[@kpratt5960]

I was so excited when I found my potty chair at the goodwill. It still had the plastic wrap..never used! I got 2 very expensive sleeping bags for 4.00 at a thrift store. Just turn inside out and wash on gentle cycle and hang to dry(ok I’ll be honest, even though they were like new, I washed them twice. Keep an eye out for lace/sheer type curtains. They work wonderfully in the garden to keep pests off your veggies.

[@lindaertel7558]

I put nylon net over my seedlings in containers to keep insects off them.😅

[@rcat32]

Don't keep bees or pollinators off your garden

[@kpratt5960]

@@rcat32 I cover them at night..otherwise I’ll wake up to stripped vines..we have several critters that like to help themselves to an all you can eat buffet. During the daytime, I’m over joyed to see the bees and butterflies fluttering about.

[@daisydukes8252]

@@kpratt5960please remember to share a little with the critters, maybe away from your garden. Train them to go to a different location with your shares. The critters just can’t have all of it, lol! Thank you!

[@loribledsoe2795]

i also use lace curtains to cover my garden, keeps off tomato worm and cabbage loper, not all plants need a pollinator, tomato peppers and others will pollinate if you give them a shake or a little fan

[@ambrosemclaren145]

Every household should have a set of good crutches. There appeared to be a nice set next to the potty chair you pointed out. Never know when you may need them. We lucked out at a garage sale where the couple sold all their camping equipment. We got a vintage Coleman camp stove, lantern etc... There used to be small appliance repair shops. You could get lamps and other small appliances repaired. Of course the items were of much higher quality than the foreign made junk of today. I have picked up every manual item I could find while thrifting. Onion, choppers, vegetable choppers, dough blenders cheese graters etc. I picked up two heavy duty unbreakable stainless thermoses. You can cook whole grains in them. Pour boiling water in thermos. Place cap. Let sit 20 minutes. While it sits heat more boiling water. Pour original water out. Put your grain in thermos with a little salt. Pour boiling water in. Place cap and cup cover. Roll in heavy towel or heavy cotton or wool throw. Place sideways and in eight hours your grain will be ready to eat. This even works for red hard winter wheat, though you want to sprout it first for easy digestion. You can cook lots of things in these thermoses. Thanks! I hope you do this again.

[@leopardwoman38]

Great share! 👍👍👍😀👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@emeraldsea8754]

Will the thermos cooking work for oats the same way? Barley? Every kind of grain? Very useful to know this, thank you for sharing!

[@ambrosemclaren145]

@@emeraldsea8754 I am sure it would work for oats and in much less time than eight hours. Never tried barley but hard red winter wheat is a very hard grain so many of the others could be cooked the same way. Soaking/ sprouting also reduces the wait time for the grains to cook completely.

[@maried3717]

Great tip! I have two of these in my basement from the years my husband and I worked. I was thinking of donating them, but now I see they are another prep item I can put with my lanterns

[@kj7653]

​@@maried3717 oh, yes. You will want to keep them. I use mine for work, road trips, when we go to the beach, and even in the summer when it is hot outside and I don't want to heat the kitchen up.

[@Realnotfake55]

Books are awesome choice at thrift stores. I got Ball canning book, medicinal plants book, campfire cookbook. All for $2

[@ModernRefugee]

I love the old canning books.

[@Realnotfake55]

@@ModernRefugee me too. I've been canning for 50 years and still love the old books

[@ambrosemclaren145]

Me three! I have the Kerr 1938 Canning Book. I love that thing. That is how I learned to can walnuts. I bought two older canning books and they are so cool! The 1936 Settlement Cookbook tells you how to make a fireless cooker with newspaper and how to make a window cooler in cold weather. People had ingenius ways to get by using simple inexpensive methods. I love the stuff MR shares about his grandparents. Such a shame these old ways are not being handed down anymore.

[@katie7748]

People tend to walk right past the books but I make a beeline for them haha

[@3adscout826]

BINGO on the older kitchen utensils. Nowadays everyone uses plastic (maybe silicon) but the plastic won’t be good for cooking over a fire. I buy extra food/meat grinders if they are in good shoe and have other blades. Put them away for barter because when the electric is out for a long time stuff like that will be in high demand. While others are putting away dollar store items for barter you’ll have some really nice in demand items. Could barter for some of the meat the people may grind up.

[@glen1arthur]

Good idea.

[@terryhenderson424]

My basis that if you want to be a prepper or frugal, you need a sewing machine for every day use. If you're prone to power outages then non electric, manual sewing machines exist from both times of yore and also brand new.

[@vickenator]

A lot of people will let the older cabinet-based machines go for a song because they're so damn heavy. I got a manual Singer from the '30s for something like $50. Plus if one's been converted to electrical, you can convert it back to a manual format -- just need to scour eBay for spare parts.

[@OriginalCosmicBabe]

Thrift stores are awesome! Nearly all of the clothes I don’t make myself, I buy at thrift stores. Baskets, as you said, and I’m a complete sucker for a pretty basket! Sturdy glass containers are another favorite find of mine. Sewing notions! I have over 150 spools of thread, most of which were found at thrift stores or garage sales (my mom gave me most of them). Sometimes you can find amazing large pieces of fabric, which I always look for because fabric is so expensive new! I made a gorgeous tiered skirt out of a bedskirt that had lacy eyelet trim (which is also crazy expensive new) and I only paid $7 or $8 for that bedskirt - if I’d bought the fabric & trim new, it would have been at least $20 worth of fabric and $40 worth of trim! One thing I’m currently on the lookout for is adjustable crutches and walkers. They’re invaluable when you need them but they cost a fortune to buy new! Another thing I’m keeping an eye out for is large metal bowls. Great for not only kitchen or camping use, but gardening and mixing craft components and even to catch water if you spring a leak in a roof. Also military surplus stores - I have a full-length heavy wool grey coat I got brand-new at a military surplus store 10 or 12 years ago. It was a Czech army officer’s coat so it’s actually pretty stylish. I only paid $35, and it still looks practically new all these years later, despite heavy use, because quality wool is so durable (although I’ve had to replace the buttons, which I used unwaxed dental floss to sew on, instead of thread, to make it more durable). I keep it in my car during the winter along with a heavy scarf & hat, just in case I ever get stuck somewhere in very cold weather and need to walk out.

[@katie7748]

We kept my husband's crutches but they're only adjustable for tall people. The lowest setting is for people who are 6ft tall. I'm 5'5" and our daughter is topping out at 5'2". My mother is 5'10" so my daughter and I clearly missed the tall genes LOL I'm on the hunt for shorter crutches lol

[@sweaterdoll]

My kids grew up on thrift store clothing. I keep a running list of things we're looking for. I think thrift stores and the library are my two favorite away-from-home places to go to. It's usually less expensive to buy linen and wool clothing to repurpose than to try to buy the fabric itself. And the only place I can find the old thick cotton sheets that aren't made anymore are at thrift stores. I'm just sorry there's less and less good quality stuff to find these days. And some of the thrift stores are putting the "vintage" items - meaning useful old home and yard tools - in a different section with boutique prices on them.

[@cjhoward409]

My boys also grew up on thrift store clothes and learned to be frugal just by the way I shopped. Fast forward 20-30 years. My oldest son makes over $200,000 a year and he still loves to shop thrift stores and yard sales. He’s 36, and loves his old college clothes. 😂. He says he likes to spend his money on higher quality furniture and cars, versus clothes etc. 👍🏻

[@sweaterdoll]

@@cjhoward409 Thrift and frugality are not always about survival, as your boy proves. It's about making conscious choices about where you want your money to go also. My kids also still shop at thrift stores and prefer to shop there. Big box stores almost always have cheap stuff only, but thrifts often have some really good quality items mixed in, even new ones at a fraction of the cost. Mine are 35 and 33.

[@katie7748]

Grrrrr at the boutique prices!!!

[@grayh1829]

A month ago bought a Big Berky at the State College Goodwill. $9.99!!!! I didnt want to go in but the wife did and after 30yrs know when not to make a fuss. Holy cow good karma. Kitichen goods and camo always a steal. Glad your well and out there. Pa appalachians saying thanks

[@patzumach3425]

What a great find!

[@grayh1829]

@@patzumach3425 It was very lucky find. I love this channel. Wish he was my neighbor. Everyone thinks your nuts for even considering speedbumps in our lives. thanks for reading my comments!

[@samtaylor6003]

I bought a beautiful cashmere cardigan for £12 in a charity shop ,it retails for £165. Was so pleased.quality piece.

[@cheryldenkins1597]

Cashmere, merino wool, and my best find, an ankle length alpaca sweater dress. Love my thrift shop sweaters. Don't forget to check the men's section, nice pullovers.

[@annettegraff8323]

​@@cheryldenkins1597If you can get sweaters of good wool on bargain stickers You can take apart and reuse the wool for socks hats n mitts !

[@arizonajo2791]

I got an Hermes scarf for $2.00. Great find lux item!

[@JohnSmith-ki2eq]

Best thing to do with a maglite is fit an LED bulb kit into it, makes your batteries last way longer and the kits are cheap.

[@okie-kan9240]

I love thrift stores! I dressed my child in high end clothes for practically nothing, no one knew any different. It's like an adventure to me. McKesson is a medical brand, good quality.

[@BL-no7jp]

I used to do work in resale in Christian thrift shops as a volunteer from the time I was 13 until I was 44.Then the thrift shops took off. Our items were donated new from retail and department stores, things like bolts of fabric, lace, furniture, clothing, etc were included and we gave the donors the forms needed for a 501(c) tax deduction. We had customers from out of state. It gave me great pleasure to help out families in need. It raised money for other charity projects to include new clothing to the kids and school supplies for the most distressed areas in our state.

[@copperhousefarm4794]

I just found your channel. What a great thrift store. I have gotten so turned off by Goodwill's thrift store. They have become so overpriced.

[@BoxMountainLLC]

Recently I shopped at goodwill and found a brand new designer Ann Taylor black blazer with tan trim with an original price tag of $350...I paid $7 bucks!! SCORE! Also found brand new jeans and 2 large pyrex glass mixing bowls! It is a hit or miss so keep visiting and you will be amazed what you find!!

[@terryhenderson424]

I am moving from disappointed to p-o'd with our local Goodwills and their pricing....There for a while linen and thicker cotton fabric were being used for valances, curtains, and drapes; I've actually made towels from them as opposed to making curtains from towels! It is my suggestion to make a list of specific items you are looking for and/ or a category of items (with some specifics is good to) before going thrift store, rummage sale, or garage sale shopping to keep from bringing home a lot of "stuff" which may or may not be as useful. Increasingly, it is a good idea to have a feel for what the new prices are for the items you're looking at and also have a handle in the used prices. Used prices do however, vary by what your local market is willing to pay whether its a yard sale or other. To save money and feel satisfied, put a top end price for what you are willing to pay for the assorted items on your list.

[@ambrosemclaren145]

Excellent advice. One other tidbit. I have found over the years that patience is necessary. Many practical items you are looking for will come along if you just keep looking and are patient. I wanted a silverplate set so we could have the health benefits of eating with silver utensils. I bought two matching sets, one on eBay and one on Etsy. A few weeks later what I paid over $100 for was $10 at a garage sale. Not as nice but who cares about looks? Found a $2 all-cotton summer Bates bedspread that had a couple holes in it. Brought it home and made 60 cloth napkins from it. We weaned ourselves off of paper plates and napkins. I like your style, Terry. Blessings to you.

[@mikewhitaker2880]

older books are a good find, there are things we can learn from them that basically are NOT taught in books/schools anymore... seriously, if you can find older school books, specially history and science books... compare them to modern school books and you will be surprised what is no longer taught.... clothes are always a good deal too, even if you can't get a coat, you can always LAYER the clothes when SHTF....

[@jeanetteschulthe1andOnly]

Thank you. The cat got our used book store. You would not believe what was in there.

[@marysmith4527]

I bought a book yesterday High Speed Healing for $1. It's all healing shortcuts that work without prescription or over the counter drugs. 539 pages yes for 1$

[@tomm2812]

I enjoy going to thrift stores, antique shops, old farm stores. There is a lot to learn in those places for someone looking to live the off grid life. Best

[@homesteadgal4143]

Nice thrift shop you have!! Love that Maglite! As a quilter, I've gotten men's cotton shirts to use for patchwork (less expensive than paying yardage), plus I get the buttons on the shirt. I have found some great deals on wool jackets and skirts, too -- bought for a few dollars, then cut into very tiny strips for rug hooking. (Wool that's bought by the yard is very expensive, otherwise.) Estate sales are my favorite venue for 'used' because this part of Virginia is very old. Just being at those auctions is a lesson in the homesteads and plantations of our yesteryears. Sometimes those 'finds' can be very exciting (and profitable), especially if you buy a box of items for $2 or so. BTW, I have made several wool batting quilts. Yes, indeed, very warm! Quilting through a wool batt is like putting a needle through warm butter. (My wool batts came straight from sheep, though -- shear, wash, card, etc)

[@ErikZarth]

I've found can openers, cast iron pans, lanterns, tons of candles, flashlights, radios, portable CD and tape players, wooden pencils, notebooks, combination and key locks. I recently found a little radio with Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries inside that still worked for a few dollars. So many useful things on the cheap.

[@vickenator]

Been a thrift store junkie since I was a kid and had a really great one near us in a wealthy area where I picked up quite a few lovely wool sweaters for a song. My mother was displeased because they weren't machine-washable, so along the way they went back into a donation bin, but I know now that you can harvest that wool not only for crocheting/knitting new items or garments with the wool, but also use it as batting! What a clever idea. Your mom was inventive as hell. All of our cast iron cookware is from thrift shops too. I also went through a spell of sniffing out oldschool blue cornflower Corningware casserole dishes that are cooktop and oven-safe. It's very collectible, so I need to find some collectors to buy it off of me at this point since I don't have a practical usage -- or storage -- for 35 Corningware casserole dishes I managed to liberate from the thrifts!

[@katie7748]

I inherited a rare set that I've debated selling but I've decided to keep it for my daughter instead.

[@LifePrepared]

Another place to get good bargains is estate sales after noon on Sunday. Many times the sellers just want things gone. I picked up an unopened case of Irish spring soap (72, 2 packs) for $2 a couple weeks ago.

[@daisydukes8252]

I stopped one day at the curb to pick through the items and the people saw me and INVITED ME IN FOR MORE FREE ITEMS! I asked them-this is all FREE, right? They showed me through the house which was up for sale and pointed out what was free. They still had some large items for sale and not only did I take and appreciate the free items but I bought one of the large items also. They said they already had had an estate sale and a yard sale. Wish I’d known. What fun!

[@stack_wright]

That's a damn good deal !

[@rebeccasanford8607]

Hey from East Texas! Nice info! I grew up shopping Thrift Stores. Most Young People these days don’t understand the value of items you can find

[@ModernRefugee]

Hello! From Michigan. I believe the frugal lifestyle will start to come back the way the world is today.

[@cathyrowe594]

My very favorite thing to look for is candle sconces to hang on my walls. They're decorative so they don't scream "prepper gear." They're good for general room lighting in power outages & don't require carrying from room to room. They're much safer to have around kids or pets. (No low flames at my house to set a careless cat's tail on fire!)

[@buckeyedav1]

I have a couple of those sconces too that could be used in a emergency. Anna In Ohio

[@J8n3eyr3]

Don't forget Missions Sales and church yard sales. They can be treasure troves! Space Bags are great for saving all of those puffy jackets, wool blankets, and spare towels.

[@vickenator]

Speaking of Space Bags, if you buy the name-brand type from Amazon or wherever (new) they also have a generous warranty if a bag breaks. I had one split and they sent me another free of charge. I use them for a lot of my yarn stash as well as storing blankets.

[@charlesmckinley29]

They don’t hold up well during moving. 😂 DAMHIKT

[@debbiecurtis4146]

I'm happy that you popped up on my feed this morning. I absolutely agree about thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, auctions. It's amazing what people get rid of. And, someday they'll probably wish they had that oil lamp, etc. WOOL: I'm a quilter, and love listening to other people's stories about quilts they've found. One woman was going to repair an old quilt that her grandmother made, and inside, the batting was made of old wool socks cut apart. You use what you've got! Thanks for the video!

[@ModernRefugee]

I actually did a short awhile back on some of my Mom’s quilts. If you would like to see a couple of them. Glad you like the video.

[@marycaldwell4632]

I love your channel, I'm in my 60's. I was raised (what's now is called thrifting) we called it "junkin". Went to Salvation Army, Goodwill, and yard sales. Granny always tore apart clothing, wool, sheets etc made coats n curtains from sheets. Nobody would know. Thank you for your videos, hopefully it humbles people and reconsiders they're thinking.

[@ModernRefugee]

Thank you!

[@sherrybailey649]

I also watch for hand tools, drills, saws, hatches, axes. Old style egg beaters, can openers, pur filters, tarps, rope.

[@eatyourlandscape-PNW]

That is an amazing thrift store. None of the thrift store in my area look that nice. Just junk all picked over. Does not stop me from looking but WOW where you are.

[@unicorntv1232]

I noticed that too. 👍

[@AriellaKK]

same here, none of the thrift shops have anything like they used to...and they want more money than they are worth

[@sovalivin5116]

A few weeks ago I found a nice Columbia fleece jacket for $3.00 at my local thrift store.

[@ModernRefugee]

Nice

[@glen1arthur]

Good find.🤛🏾

[@PreppingWithSarge]

Good shopping, love finding deal$$$$$

[@ModernRefugee]

Got to in this day and age.

[@tammybrennan2040]

Love thrift stores. I’ve found a lot of great items 👍

[@JT-2012]

You found some good deals 👍 We used to have some great thrift stores that I visited all the time. That changed about 6-7 years ago and now I don't even go in because I never find anything I want or of a good price. T-shirts used to be $1.49 but are now almost $5. I can get new ones, on sale at regular stores, for that price. Thanks, M.R.

[@averagejoesmiling456]

There are more and more people shopping at thrift stores and garage sales these days. Some people are too proud to admit they shop these places, but I do believe it will soon become the norm. Garage sales . . . one of the best things about summer! Love 'em!

[@ModernRefugee]

Great deals to be found on essential things.

[@averagejoesmiling456]

@@ModernRefugee Absolutely!

[@nolamama3558]

I like that you mentioned clothes. I realized after the last hurricane that 99% of my closet was not functional for the heat and humidity with no power. It was great for the air conditioned office, but not my back yard in south louisiana in august/september

[@janpenland3686]

Thanks MR. I always look for end of season sales on clothes. I also look for blankets especially wool ones. I've bought lambswool thermal blankets for $1. I love finding old hand tools, candles, oil lamps, camping gear, cast iron, books, and stainless steel cooking utensils. My favorite thrift store has a sale every Thursday on different items. Much Love ❤

[@karmelicanke]

Wool blankets, socks and sweaters are king at any time but in cold weather with no power and heat, you won't freeze to death.

[@janpenland3686]

@@karmelicanke I'm going thrifting today looking for winter clearance. It's that time of year here in the south.

[@karmelicanke]

@@janpenland3686 Wishing you, Jan, lots of fun and a big haul.

[@choosen2preach320]

I love thrift stores my mom turned me on to thrift stores when I was in my teens. At a thrift store I found a msr wisperlite stove and I found thermal blankets and flashlights and tents a knot maker book on how to make different knots wood burning stove fuel tabs water bladder carriers a camping cook put set tennis shoes an emergency ladder lanterns blankets I couldn't get (wool) blankets I'm allergic to wool. Hand crank flashlight solar flashlights aqua tablets for water gloves clothes osprey backpack with detachable daypack mre's I got all this from a thrift store if I got this all online I would have spent over 500 dollars. I'm happy you bought those items. It's good to see I'm not the only one that shops at a thrift store and all I did was bleached it and washed it down. My family don't like used items but I dont care another mans trash is another mans treasure. Have a great day 😀

[@karmelicanke]

Try putting wool blankets between flannel sheets senw like a duvet cover giving you superior warmth but no skin contact with the wool.

[@vickenator]

@@karmelicanke Thank you so much for this tip. I've never been able to wear wool anything because of how scratchy it is on my skin, but this is a great idea.

[@h2hcamey]

A man after my heart! I have owned a non profit thrift store for many years. Thrift stores are the best way to shop!!

[@ungratefulpeasant8085]

Good video, I love finding stuff at thrift stores. They usually have great preppi g and diy books. Sometimes I get lucky and find camping and surplus gear as well.

[@elund408]

my best find is a big berkey water filter for $20 it appeared to be new.

[@serenitypeaceandcomfort3669]

Wow!!!!

[@ceciliacalvin263]

DO NOT, i mean DO NOT put those disposable wipes and wash cloths down the toilet. That can cause 1000’s of dollars worth of plumbing damage. My late stepmom found out the expensive way.

[@ModernRefugee]

Nope I would discard those another way.

[@Scriptorsilentum]

please elaborate. disposable baby wipes cause lots of damage...?

[@ModernRefugee]

@@Scriptorsilentum the can plug up certain plumbing and mess with septic systems.

[@ceciliacalvin263]

@@Scriptorsilentum baby wipes, not sure, but those disposable wipes he’ll yes they can cause 1000’s of dollars worth of plumbing problems. My late stepmom went through that. Not fun. Just throw them in the trash.

[@ericgeorgetruckgrilling]

Our city still dies not recommend flushing "flushable" wipes down the toilet. And if you have a septic system make sure your toilet paper does not contain polyester.

[@daval5563]

Thank you for your video. I just checked a big garbage bag full of used bedsheets out in the barn and there's no mice! And that's only one of the bags. There's more I'm sure and they are not all in bags. I'm using some of them as shrouds that cover my shelving and keeps the dust down to a dull roar. The weirdest thing I found was an industrial roll of Kitchen Tinfoil. The thing must weigh over five lbs. I like getting old equipment like the all metal Apple peeler, corer, slicer, gizmo that clamps right onto the table. I have my original peeler that is getting worn out and two extras for parts, service or replace. Then there's the old fashioned "Swingaway' can opener that screws onto the side of the cupboard. I only found two so far but one of them replaced the original one in our kitchen that finally gave up the ghost at twenty plus years of abuse. I no longer support the Thrift Store like I used to. Politics eh? It's run by the Sally Anne and everything they sell is donated. Then they raised the price of the Mason jars they collect just because the price was being raised in the stores. I gave them undercut comments lamenting the rising costs of "free donations" when in hearing range of the "Overseers". They can't keep an employee because they refuse to pay them what they are worth and can't run the place on "volunteers" either. Then the utensils. I'd buy the old fashioned heavy duty good steel kitchen tools until they raised the price on those too. Antiques they claim. 25 cents for cheap plastic but $8 for real metal. I wrote them a bit of an underhanded letter, a bit of a bible beating eh? Outlining some of "their" issues. But that was just for my entertainment because nothing changed. Something I'm going to pick up at the local "New To You" shop the ladies run to raise funds for the hospital is good leather jackets. There's always a few go through the place but I never bothered picking any up. I'm thinking gloves, Real fine Gloves. Not all of us plan on working our fingers to the bone you know. The Wheat Gruel I made didn't "puff" up for the Puffed Wheat I was trying to make. Oh well, maybe the electric popcorn popper will work. The gruel itself was rather bland and chewy but nothing wrong with it at all, and I can see why people like it in soups and salads. But for now, I'll be happy making flour for bread. I plan on using half whole wheat and half regular white flour in order to stretch out the white flour. I was looking for a grain mill at the thrift store but the best employee they had before she quit told me she had never seen one enter the store in the two years she worked there. Then a little old lady on Tou Yube showed me that a heavy duty blender will grind wheat into flour no problem at all. This is great but I still want some sort of grain mill besides my manual Coffee Grinder. And last but not least, my "darts", to be thrown with the non tumbling technic. Basically 10 cent all metal butter knives. I'd pick up a dollars worth every trip but then they had such a supply that it half filled a plastic tote and made it almost too heavy to lift so I offered them $20 for the lot and they took it. They're for an "art project" I tell the nosy because I had and artsy fartsy bone in my body a long time ago and still carve a bit of soapstone and wood. Have a great one and good luck.

[@brendakaye34]

Manual hand crank can openers for when power is out is my go to - I have a few of those! I think the reason thrift stores are the place to go is that so many elderly people used/saved this kinda stuff and when they pass, the kids, etc. aren't interested if they're not into prepping, so this stuff just ends up at the thrift stores. Unlike modern day cell phones, games etc. this kinda stuff is actually reusable. Great video, keep up the treasure hunting!

[@auntlizzy1308]

Oil lamps are going for $2 in my area. We have a local online auction and it’s crazy! I have prolly 8 old lamps and I got replacement wicks too. I just picked up a hand egg beater that is in perfect condition for $6. Wool coats can be used to make homemade mittens in SHTF

[@ellenedwards7029]

We shop at small church thrift store all my clothes are from there all brand new all fur 2.00 each. We have gotten a new ten name t n from a church sagke fur 12, iron cooking pots cheap, silverware. A flat silverware s etc in the eood n case with all the papers in it probably never used from 1954 for two dollars. Lots of blankets. U would be amazed at what u can find. Keep a list if what u r looking for and it's fun the thrill of the hunt

[@alishabellavia-ep7po]

You can use kerosene in your oil lamps. Our Amish friends do.

[@mydogzmom5058]

Never even thought of the potty chair as an emergency toilet - good idea. Just figured draining the water from the toilet and lining with a plastic bag and sawdust would work too

[@maccabeus-everydaysurvival5828]

Very good topic Modern.. You was speaking about re upholstery and I was thinking a couple days ago about the peddlers and tinkers who traveled town to town and farms in between fixing pots and pans, shoes,etc. I love thrift stores and flea markets. Old farm auctions are another good shopping spot for old gear for our lifestyle.

[@ambrosemclaren145]

When we first moved to Michigan it was a little township called Redford. It was a great community to raise children in. One morning not long after we moved in I heard what sounded like a school bell ringing. It was a man in a cart who sharpened and repaired knives. For $3 he sharpened and repaired a knife my boys had tried to use for a makeshift screwdriver. Arrrggg.... :) I thought that was the greatest thing. To get your knives sharpened right outside your front door!

[@maccabeus-everydaysurvival5828]

@@ambrosemclaren145 yeah,stuff like that

[@grdelawter4266]

Excellent ideas! I just started shopping at thrift stores for bargains. A friend gave me a big stack of cast iron skillets last fall. I was in the big city and went to a couple pawn shops. I wanted to buy all of theirs silver coins. They were both sold out. I’m thinking constitutional silver may be valuable next year. I didn’t have enough cash for gold. There are no pawn shops within 60-70 miles of my farm. Tonight as I drove home the last 60-70 miles at 7pm to 8pm on Friday, I only saw 5 other vehicles! On average over 10 miles per vehicle. Yes, I live very remote. Nice and quiet except Sasquatch keeps throwing boulders down the mountain like bowling balls LOL😉

[@Scriptorsilentum]

sasquatch keeps you up at night? i wondered where my ex got to...

[@donna6376]

I value my brother's 1954 print boy scout book. And I was fortunate to have some good elementary level skills from being a campfire girl. I still use a lot of those skills.

[@angelal6700]

Got 1 of those potty chairs in the garage. Found a great bag for 1st aid/emergency kit. Got a great deal on canning jars and 5 2qt Mason jars. So many useful things.

[@patriotpreacher43]

Definitely a good place to score some good deals. One place here has candles for 10 cents. I go in periodically and just take the whole basket. Oil lamps, new sleeping bag, bag chairs, tools, lots of possibilities! Thanks, MR!

[@buckeyedav1]

My favorite thrift store use to have a ton of candles people are buying them up as fast at they come in anymore. Many years ago I bought about 50 taper candles 10 cents each have yet to use them but they are there if I need them. I use to be able to find oil lamps in the thrift stores vintage for $5 or less saw one last week in there $38 Wow! Anna In Ohio

[@joelaichner3025]

I have that exact light , bought it in 1989 , I’m looking at it right now , does have a spare build in it ! Squeezed into soft foam ,

[@danettemckinnon7251]

I cannot even remember the last time I purchased clothing in the retailed world at retail prices unless I had a gift card other than that everything I purchase other than my shoes because I’m on my feet and socks because I purchase specialty socks and undergarments everything is from thrift stores

[@lisahutcherson5897]

Very interesting and informative. Never knew wool was recycled to turn into batting. And hadn't thought about a drink bottle should be single walled so it can heat up the water. Thank you 🙂👍

[@shazaama1]

Over 90% of my shopping for stuff us at 1 particular thrift store my local small town spca thrift. The prices are extremely reasonable and they have a fast turnover along with a monthly sidewalk sale. Im always checking for camping gear sleeping bags blankets ect. But also socks and thermals. Old corning ware is also a good find. Small cooling racks, especially round ones that fit inside cast iron, quickly turn that cast iron into an oven with an inverted soup pot over it. Books on canning and local plants/herbs also good investments. You just need to be picky and attentive for certain items otherwise they are a true treasure trove! Great video!

[@unicorntv1232]

Inverted soup pot- oven 👍. Great idea. I will use that. Thanks. (Oven’s been busted for years.) Lol.

[@phild8095]

When I was younger and riding a bicycle 5,000 miles a year in north Texas to get to work I would buy a couple pair of oversized wool slacks to wear over my bicycle shorts in the winter. They would wear out in a month or two. I occasionally see fishing gear and garden tools and candles.

[@alicelake4730]

Hi! I just found your channel and subscribed. Thank you for showing us what can be found at thrift stores, yard sales, etc. Last summer I found very nice oil lamps at a yard sale for $1 each! I've stocked up on wool blankets. Now the hunt is on for outdoor work clothes, jackets, etc. I cut up old t-shirts for cleaning rags. This has given me ideas and inspiration. Thanks for your channel!

[@carlashuler5004]

A note on clothes, with the onset of manual labor a size or two smaller clothes will be necessary due to weight loss.

[@maried3717]

I like my clothes a bit over sized for comfort. I can always take out, but can't put back in.

[@LandseerNorth]

Not so much anymore, but I can't even guess how many wool blankets, wool sweaters, wool shirts and pants I've bought at thrift stores. I buy all my running shoes at thrift stores for around $5 instead of $50 to $100.

[@eatportchops]

Last trip to the thrift store they had pants for 50 cents each. I stocked up on docker style pants to wear in the garden during the summer.

[@dianaklien1560]

That is the nicest looking thrift store I have ever seen and it had so much variety! I wish you had shown how that slicer works, never saw one used, heck never even seen one, period.

[@ModernRefugee]

They work like a mandolin slicer. You just move what you are slicing back and forth on the top. There are notches to adjust the thickness. We use them a lot for processing vegetables for canning.

[@dianaklien1560]

@@ModernRefugee sounds like I need one. :)

[@monkeyfoodgarden]

Wife and I try to hit the thrift stores by us once a month and have found some great deals on supplies. Great advice. Amazing what others see as junk is great survival equipment.

[@joelaichner3025]

Took 4 days off from this bad news machine ! Well , 97 percent bad news , enough negative energy to revive Frankenstein ! The Monster Lives ! And the villagers think it’s just a Homeless guy ! Dumb villagers !

[@richardelliott9511]

As a hobbiest candle maker, I love thrift stores for their variety of glass containers that I can use for candles. When the price is right, I'll pick up all of the clear glass coffee mugs, tea cups and punch cups they have. Of course I'm not above walking the whole store when I stop by. My best prepping find so far has been a 2 quart covered fondu pot with an alcohol burner that can also use 3 tea lights.🎉

[@Dave-kw7jq]

My great Aunt got married in 1912 and now in 2023 I am still using the cutlery that was bought as a wedding gift.. Plus I have cleaned and repaired the light shades and the older furniture its all of so much better quality..

[@Scriptorsilentum]

the brown-black and brown wool pants made in 1925 for my great uncle's dad I have. they fit like a glove, incredibly beautiful fabric. VERY carefully laundered. Also, my great uncle's straight razor with the african elephant ivory handle works on me, too. 1920? sheffield stainless steel, took a good two weeks to learn how to use it without looking like a horror movie extra. when my Grandmother realised i was actually using these things she had offered me i remember the soft smile. 😌

[@OneAmericanWriter]

Excellent point about clothing! We will wear them out, gardening! I’ve stopped giving them away, and I’m storing them in case neighbors need them in the future calamity, if I outgrow them or shrink, ha ha.

[@MichellesCraftsandMore]

I have found some great stuff in thrift stores, a very heavy duty camo backpack and a camo fanny pack type bag.

[@pamelaolger9663]

Interesting, entertaining.. love second hand stores... Well use to love them.!!! Prices have gone up.. poor people can't afford it like they use to. 😕..

[@emmasherry7521]

first time viewer and loved this! my kids and I are avid shoppers of all kinds of sales. Books are my weakness. I never miss our local library book sale, it's a great source for old books!

[@ModernRefugee]

Welcome!

[@christinenguyen2747]

Old cooking utensils were made in the USA. They are durable. Most modern ones are made in China. Quality is not the same. Don’t use ceramic plates/cups made in China because of lead content. Looks for ones made in USA, England, or Japan.

[@sheri1237]

Appreciate how you show things from a different angle. You always get me thinking! Really enjoy watching and learning from you.

[@ModernRefugee]

Thank you.

[@resoluteoutdoors]

I grew up on thrift store/yard sale clothing. The more money you can save on everyday items the more money you can invest in preps.

[@ModernRefugee]

I did too.

[@SittingKittyColorado]

Great vid! As an avid thrifter, don't forget if/when things get wonky, people still will want "pretties". "Pretties" help people feel like the world isn't a horrible place. Jewelry, trinkets, etc can become valuable in a time of dread. Bartering a "pretty" along with a utility item could net a better trade. So don't just pick up one utility item, if there's two, get that second one for trade but also don't discount a pretty vase or a bag of jewelry (some places still bag bulk jewelry), a fancy scarf, etc. Also, keep an eye out for sales at antique and resale vendor malls. Often you can find sale items there which are better priced than thrift stores. Just like new retail, those vendors have to rotate stock.

[@HuplesCat]

The blue metal kettle on my wood stove is a thrift store item. I’ve donated way more than I’ve bought over the years but comforters from there for our old big dogs was a regular. Make dog beds and resistant to their attacks! Way cheaper as well. The only things they don’t sell are socks and underwear.

[@audrey5941]

I love thrifting. I feel like my dollar can buy me better quality if I buy used. It’s a compromise I’m willing to make. I consider myself a minimalist so I chose carefully when I buy. I love to find tin measuring cups that I keep in my buckets and #10 cans for scooping dry goods with. I try to shop with an item in mind so I’m less likely to come home with random things. It’s a fun challenge.

[@Ekinnajay]

I love thrift stores and buy everything there. I hadn't thought of them for prepping so thanks for this idea. I also have found good camping equipment there, from stoves to down sleeping bags. Another use for old wool sweaters besides quilt batting is to cut out mittens and sew the sides together. Use the cuff, either at the bottom or on the arms, as the wrist ribbing. Use your hand or another mitten as a guide or pattern for your mittens. You can find scraps of fleece in the sewing section, and cut out a liner for the mittens. Good warm wool mittens are very expensive but you can make a few sets for just a couple of dollars.

[@terifrank7393]

Just found your fun, very useful video! Absolutely finds at our thrift stores. We are prepped and always looking for useful tips. God bless!

[@tinagale7840]

Right after Christmas, I found 6-8 scented Yankee Candles for in the jars $2 each. Never used...

[@marlelarmarlelar9547]

You have an great thrift store. Ours are basically dumping grounds for garbage.

[@howardsmith9342]

I once found a complete emergency kit (minus the food bars) in a thrift store. I have also found wool blankets, the biggest of which is on my bed right now. I have also acquired a high end cook set, and a collapsible 2 quart army canteen with cover and carrying strap. They're in my camping gear, except for the emergency kit, which forms the core of my bug out bag.

[@AlwaysSurvive]

Good ideas I wouldn’t have thought of the slicers

[@lynnmasoner7627]

Thank you for reminding me that the best products can be found at thrift stores. I actually forgot to shop there lately. I have gotten some good deals from there but have not been to one lately. I need to start going again so thank you for the reminder.

[@jK-yj2tl]

I love to thrift store shop, we don’t have a great selection here in Anchorage, as we have a very large homeless population that needs those items regularly; but every time I drive outside through Canada… Each of those towns have great thrift finds. Your Mother’s wool stuffed quilts sound fabulous. Am definitely going to keep that in mind as a way to recycle worn out woolen garments. Thank you for your content.

[@KYPrepper5]

Great video with some really good suggestions. Thank you for posting this!

[@AcornHillHomestead]

My favorite way to shop all the way around. My fave is gardening supplies, pots, pans and old useful kitchenware. Never thought about the flashlights and batteries!

[@prepperfortheages878]

Love thrift stores, one can find high quality items just sitting there for $5 each!

[@cheryllewis-battles7664]

Thank you for putting thrifting on my mind and back on my schedule...Best regards

[@susanpatterson1958]

I have picked up a lot of vintage kitchen items, cast iron cookware, canning jars, camping stuff, extra towels and blankets, books, kerosene lanterns, and a lot of non-electric tools. I lived without the grid for almost 18 years, so I know what will come in handy later on. As for wool, I 'grow' my own on the farm.

[@dragan3290]

Subbed and liked 👍. I love thrift stores but I used to buy electronics items, repair etc and sell. I bought a 90s decibel meter for 6 dollars. My first store bought cost almost 130 dollars. Awesome work ❤

[@KoniB.]

Canning jars, canning books, canning equipment, are biggest garage sales items I look for. Jars have jumped up in price so much at retail level I cannot afford to buy them so I am back to my frugal ways of barter and "junkin'" here in the Great State of Texas.

[@marymitchell2014]

Wowzer, a man after my own heart, lol! Wish I could meet a man like you! God bless you and your family always!! Enjoyed the vid.

[@daisydukes8252]

Me too-I wonder if he has single men in his family?