Superb Secondhand Strategies

With less money to spend on more expensive clothing, people are looking for ways to pinch pennies and get the most bang for their wardrobe buck. That's why secondhand stores and thrift stores are thriving. And we're not talking about rifling through racks and racks of decades-old, dusty clothes. Consignment and other secondhand stores are great places to find the latest fashions and timeless basics, too. You can find stores that are discerning about what they carry - some prefer mall-quality on up to haute couture. So many of the items you see in your favorite stores can be had for a song. For example, the consignment franchise Plato's Closet asks patrons for "brand-name clothing and accessories" and boasts 70 percent off of retail prices.