Who benefits from Resale through Consignment?

        Who benefits…hmm…let me start a list…

I’ll start with the consignor who now has a cleaner home and cash in her pocket.

Then there’s the consignment store that earns a commission on the sale.

And of course, the jobs created at the consignment store. Employees, window washers, and bookkeepers - they all get paid.

The local community benefits from the sales taxes collected by the store.

Smart shoppers save $ buying used instead of new - leaving more money for other needs (like another gallon or three of gas).              

A whole YEAR not buying ANYTHING new?

While I’d like to say I’m up for the challenge, I’m afraid that would be a whopper. I just can’t see me going a whole year without treating myself to a TYLER candle. But, for those of you who are more disciplined, read on. You might just save yourself a pile of money while helping both your local economy and the earth.

 The Compact.
is a group of individuals committed to a 12-month flight from the consumer grid (calendar year 2008). The Compact has several aims (more or less prioritized below):

To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc. — a step that, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact.

• To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er).
• To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thecompact/

While I’m not ready to take the “no new” challenge, as a consignment store owner, I’m an absolute believer in buying “experienced” goods as often as possible. 

 While we don’t all have to go “all the way”, if we ALL make SOME changes, EVERYBODY will benefit.

Just this past week, I picked up this new mirror from Pimiento’s, flanked it with a “pre-loved’ birdcage from CHANGES in Athens Consignment Center, lots of decorative balls (new and used) and pre-loved candles and candle stands. What’s not to love about all those savings? 

Where will you “save” next week?

Maybe you’ll make yourself a fabulous new “reconstructed” outfit with “reclaimed” fabric….or, accessorize an already owned picture with some “experienced” candle sconces.

In any case, get a jump start by shopping the QUARTERLY CLEARANCE SALE at Changes Resale! Never know what you’ll find….

A little heads up: this week brought some great, highly collectable LONGABERGER baskets, tons of trendy Junior tops, a cool Spanish or Mediteranean fountain, and so much more!

 

Taxes, Extra Cash, Designer Bags

Taxes, extra cash, and designer bags. What do they have in common? The only way I can explain it is that this is the way my thought processes went tonight. Perfectly logical to me that when I think of paying taxes, and what I might have done with the extra cash spent complying with our awkward system, designer handbags come to mind. (They are one of my Top Ten Favorite Splurges.) Of course, that’s not how this post reads. To better prepare yourself for what follows, it might help if you mentally title this post, “Ramblings from an ADHD brain after Tax Season”.

After two solid days of taxes, I feel drained. Completely empty. What is it with us in this country? Why do we put up with this over-bloated, overwhelming, overly confusing, tax nonsense? All the hoops we jump through to pay our money to Uncle Sam is nuts.  Keeping track of thousands of scraps of paper, recording mileage whenever we go anywhere that has anything to do with business, doctors, charity, or anything else that might affect our taxes. Some have been known to ask for a CUT in pay because the increased tax burden means  less “take home” pay!  We spend huge chunks of time organizing all this mess,  big chunks of money for bookkeeping requirements, and way too many hours worrying if we’re doing everything right. While I love this country and believe with all my heart that it is the single best country on the face of this earth (I have literally thanked God many times for allowing me to be born here), I get truly angry at the sheer ridiculousness of some things we’ve had to put up with and this tax system is near the top of the list.  What a time waster! No way it could fall under the heading “working smarter - not harder”.  I’m not arguing against paying taxes. I live here and I owe it to pay my share. That’s not the problem. It’s just the way we do it. Especially when there is a better way. It’s called The FAIRTAX. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in helping both themselves and their country. It will save untold hours and dollars without taking a dime from our government. It’s a winner for almost everybody. The only people who will lose are politicians and lobbyists. And I, for one, couldn’t care less if those 2 groups are forced to find more honest and ethical ways to make a living. To learn more, visit, www.fairtax.org 

Speaking of honest, ethical, ways to make a dollar, if you haven’t cleaned your closets and garages this season, what are you waiting for? Clean them out and clean up when you bring your “like new”, fabulous, trendy, clothes and furnishings to CHANGES in Athens Consignment Center. Why let them hang around collecting dust when you could be collecting cash for them? Lots of your friends and neighbors have and are making money for graduations, vacations, and more shopping trips.

This past week we’ve seen lots of new goodies. Everything from Longaberger and Royce baskets to Chicos Travelers and like new, Sperry Topsiders. One of my favorite items this past week was an eye-catching COACH bag in their Signature monogram fabric. While we get lots of great Coach bags in both the leather and signature fabric, I think this is only our 2nd RED Signature bag in recent months. (For those of you who aren’t familiar with our shop, yes, all of our designer bags including Coach, Dooney & Bourke, Prada, Kate Spade, etc., are guaranteed to be 100% authentic - or your money back. I absolutely DESPISE fakes. I flatly refuse to wear them myself and I refuse to sell them in my store.  I hope you feel the same way.) 

Ode to a Consignor

I’d love to give credit to whoever wrote this, but alas, I have no clue. A sharer (who also didn’t know who the writer was) at www.tgtbt.com passed it along some time ago and it made me laugh.

 

ODE TO A CONSIGNOR

What a sight she was when she opened the door

Prancing in to my consignment store,

Big hair, big boobs

Big Attitude

“This purse is a Coach”

But it was spelled “Goach”.

“All of this and there’s nothing you can take?

Not even this purse?” “Nope, it’s a fake”.

I pity the nauga that sacrificed his hide,

for her “designer” shoes, in a triple E wide.

“This sweater is new, see the tags?”

Her items were wadded in big, black, trash bags.

Take an item, do I dare,

Spend an hour removing cat hair?

My eyes begin to water, my head starts to ache

she must smoke a carton a day for Pete’s sake!

Stirrup pants, a snap crotch body suit,

Acid washed jeans, high waisted, and tapered to boot!

Can it get better? Can it get worse?

Oh look at the great vinyl Chanel purse

I think poor Coco just rolled over in her grave.

Only four trash bags to go, I must stay brave

Some items have tags from another consignment store

I think it’s beens six years since they closed their door.

Faded Glory shorts and a Bobbie Brooks tank

With brands like these, we’ll go straight to the bank

Especially in November, out the door they will fly

Who wouldn’t buy now to wear in July?

She gets out her glasses to read the contract,

Crosses things out, then hands it back.

“See that great jacket? I’d like $50 for that”

The $10 clearance tag is still intact.

“I didn’t know you don’t do mens”

Obviously this is her first time in.

I stop sorting to ring up a sale

On me she starts to rail

“I have an appointment, your time is mine

Look at my stuff, sell theirs’ another time.”

I suggest she browse while I sort

But she has the perfect retort

“Sorry dear,

I’d never shop here.

I’m honest, I won’t lie

Your prices are just too high

Speaking of prices, you should ask more

For my sweater is a Jennifer Moore

Don’t price this one so low,

I bought it in California, don’t ya know?”

From California it may be

But the tag still says “Kathie Lee”

Eight bags down, only one to go

Who knew it could sink so low?

Hark! an item I can take

I actually found something great

“Oh, I think I’ll change my mind

I’ll take that back, if you’d be so kind.”

Her children are screaming and climbing in a rack

Discipline and manners they sorely lack

That’s it. I’m done. I can’t take any more

I just want to yell, “Get out of my store!”

“I love my clothes. To visit them, I”ll be back.

I hope you don’t have a problem with that?”

 

 

 

March; in like a lion and out like a lamb? NOT!!!

What a week! Whew! Forget the lamb, March left with a bang. Slamming doors, yelling, and waterworks, included. Okay, so the yelling was really thunder, the slamming doors was actually dropped ceiling tiles dropping to the floor because of the waterworks (rain).

Tuesday morning, April 1st was no April Fool’s joke. It was for real. A quick run-down of events goes as follows;

• Leslie (daughter/manager) who normally opens was suffering with fibromyalgia pain again, so I told her I’d run the store that day. No big deal.
• I get the news that Annette was still unable to work. (She had 2 ingrown toe nails removed last week. Ugh! I wouldn’t look but I heard it was really ugly.) Okay, I can handle that. Still no big deal. I’ve got Betty and we’ve done this before.
• Oops! Spoke too soon. I don’t have Betty. She called in sick for only the 2nd time in more than a year. Sore throat and a fever. What are the odds? Okay, what now. Call Jessica. Sure she can come in. Of course, by now we’re within minutes of opening time and she’s still in bed. Gonna be at least an hour. I can handle it, though. I open the door and step inside and what’s that? Over there in the floor? What a mess! Have we been broken into by hoodlum vandals? Uh, no.
• The culprit was the fierce wind and rain from the storm overnight. It found some spots in our roof, deluged us with rain water, and ceiling tiles collapsed from the weight of the rain water. When they hit the floor, they broke into gobs of mush. Yuck. Half a rack of pants were soaked and covered in bits of ceiling tile matter. (Note to any diaper designer types: disposable diapers have NOTHING on ceiling tiles. Those babies can hold their water.  Might want to look into these things. Seriously. You know how lightweight those tiles are when dry. They weigh nothing. My 22 month old grandson can hold them over his head. But wet? Incredible! We scooped 1 (that’s right - ONE) soggy, disintegrating, tile, into a rubbermaid tote and when I bent to pick it up, I was stunned. That thing was heavy. I couldn’t believe it. I had to drag the darned thing to the back. It had to be a good 15-20 lbs.)
• Okay, I can handle this. I’m running behind now but like my friend Sheila says, I’m “rolling” with it. Wonder what that noise is? Oh, I see. It’s just dripping water on the other side of the store. And look; it’s not ruining clothes over there.  Isn’t that nice? A lucky break that there’s a nice, fluffy, high quality, sofa, conveniently located right beneath the leak. And look - that cushion is really absorbing some water. I’m impressed. It might not hold as much as a ceiling tile but it’s still pretty impressive.
• Moments later, all the lights are on and I’m semi-ready to greet the public. Hmm….kinda dark in here… Well, it is a gloomy, rainy, dreary, day. Guess that’s it. NOT! It’s another blooming light gone out. Oh, well, on the bright side, the gloppy mess of ceiling tile stuff isn’t quite so noticeable in this “intimate” lighting. Then again, there’s bound to be a few spoil sports to complain about wet shoes when they squish through the carpet to get a better look at the fabulous tank tops I put out Saturday night.

With all these thoughts going through my head, while I’m on the verge of deciding whether to lock the doors, sit down and cry, or what, I had a new customer come in. I apologized for the mess and explained that it wasn’t cleaned up because today - of all days - I had 3 people out of work and the other girl wouldn’t be in for another hour. She just looked at me, commiserated with the comment, “well, you know, when it rains - it pours”, then burst out laughing when she realized what she’d said and then followed up with the obvious, ”in your case - literally”. I had to laugh with her. And that did it for me. That comment and that laugh, at that exact moment, was exactly what I needed. Screw the rain. I had a business to run and work to do. I didn’t have time to sit on my pity pot. It was time for action.

This is my last clear thought for about an hour and a half. Obviously, I got through it in a somewhat capable manner. I remember laughing quite a bit (scarey, huh? things fall apart and I laugh….is this a sign of something I should worry about?)  Thankfully, I did have sense enough to not forewarn Jessica of our “little leak problem”. Poor thing. She walked right into it - and there was no way out. She spent most of the morning on damage control.

There was more good news, though. My landlord was Johnny-on-the-spot (literally - his first name is Johnny) . He immediately came over, checked out the damage and got on the horn with the roofers. Too bad the roofers aren’t quite so quick to fall in line. That was Tuesday and it’s now Sunday. I still have rubbermaid totes strategically located about the store. What? You thought “buckets” were used for leaks? At Changes we do everything in a big way. Leaky roofs are no exception.

Incredibly, everyone has been amazing. Customers and consignors alike have dealt with the still squishy carpets (did I mention we had another deluge of rain on Thursday?) and walked around the tubs of rainwater to shop our racks of new arrivals, with great attitudes. I’ve not heard one single complaint. It’s refreshing to see just how understanding, friendly, and caring, people really are. We couldn’t ask for better.

 

Thanks, guys.

 

CONSIGNMENT: Recyle, Resale, ReCONSTRUCT

http://www.thrifttown.com/ is the site where the apron is listed. Kate at www.tgtbt.com posted the link for others to see. If you’re into reconstructed goods, you really ought to see the “get used” section of their website. Great ideas.

(click on photos to enlarge) 

Wow! So much buzz and excitement around the net and elsewhere about “reconstructed” clothing. It’s the latest in eco-chic green. Even GOODWILL is getting in on the action in a joint project with the founder of Joe Boxer;http://vintagefashionguild.blogspot.com/2007/10/william-good.html

While I’ve been a fan of reconstructed clothing since being introduced to the boutique line, MY VINTAGE BABY, a year or so ago, (that’s one of their dresses in the photo above) I wasn’t aware that it was becoming so popular everywhere. Of course, a quick look on EBAY told the story.

Thinking I might score some really great pieces for Gracie, I went looking - and boy, was I ever shocked! These reconstructed/recycled outfits are quite spendy. One could easily spend $200-$300 on some of them.  I was shocked at the prices of these unique clothes and would love to be able to make them myself. Just think of all I could do with stained, old, leather, jackets; cowboy boot and horseshoe shapes could be cut from the undamaged parts and appliqued onto a denim skirt or overalls, sleeves fashioned into pouches and coin purses or collars removed and added to a denim jacket. So many possibilities….

I don’t know if the apron in the above photo is reconstructed but I know similar ones could be. It’s such a fun little thing with a “Betty Boop risque” appeal to it. I gotta have one.  The dress Gracie is wearing in the other photo is a “reconstructed” piece. (click on the photo to enlarge it) Look how great the different fabrics from various old items are put together for a unique but trendy look. 

Besides the reconstructed pieces, I also adore the hand-painted pieces from other lines. I was so inspired by some of Gracie’s INDYGO ARTWEAR (handpainted in Capetown, Africa), that I am no longer trashing cotton or linen shirts and dresses just because I get a small stain or spot on them. It’s fabric paints to the rescue! (Matter of fact, I’ve got purple fabric paint on my fingers right now. I just added some fun swirls to a cotton capri set because it had a small ink spot on the top and voila! No more ink stain and the outfit is way cuter than before. )

Admittedly, it’s my love of the unique and fun fashions that led me to these pieces, but I also appreciate the huge, earth-friendly, bonus that comes with them. These forward-thinking fashions made from the past can save mountains of landfill space. And of course, just think how much fun it’s going to be for the artistic types who get to put these together. Put it all together and what’s not to love about this trend?

In the future, when shopping with us at CHANGES in Athens Consignment Center, ( www.athenschanges.com)  be sure to look at our things in a more creative light. Love a robin’s egg blue linen shirt but it’s a bit plain? And the buttons on a Jack Be Quick sweater are to-die-for-fabulous but you’re not a sweater girl? Well, buy both, put the buttons on the linen shirt, fold the sweater into a rectangle, stuff with fiber fill and stitch it shut. Now, you’ve got a gorgeous, unique. linen shirt and a funky new pillow to punch up a boring chair or to save as a gift for your secret friend. RESALE SHOPPING IS FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

Yard Sale Season is Upon Us but Gas has gone “up on us” too

Whether you call them yard sales, tag sales, garage or rummage sales, they are still the same thing; a way to get rid of things we no longer want but hope someone else does. I LOVE yard sales. I love the thrill of the unknown, the anticipation of finding yet another hand painted, funky, chair, for my breakfast room or a Little Tikes castle for Gracie and Luke. On the downside, the last couple yard sale seasons have found me less enthralled for a couple of reasons; less selection and higher prices. I blame Ebay and Consignment Sales.

Used to be if one didn’t want to have a yard sale, they had few options for unloading their unwanted goods. They donated to charity, pawned it off on their grown children, threw it in the garbage, or just piled it up in the attic. But the times -they have changed. Now, not only are there other options that involve lots less work than  a yard sale, but they’re actually lucrative options. Aunt Betty’s figured out she can post her 220 pieces of Fiesta dishes on Ebay and get more than the dime apiece she’d get in a yardsale after she let herself be talked down from the quarter she’d priced them at that morning. And if she’s not computer savvy or just doesn’t want to deal with potential buyers, or the packing and shipping headaches involved, she’s got consignment stores willing to do everything for her. All she’s gotta do is wash them up, drop them off, and wait for the check. The bonus is that she’s barely lifted a finger compared to the hassles of doing a rummage sale. No advertising costs, no signs to make, no stickers, no pricing, no sweating it out on a lawn chair while strangers paw through her stuff and offer her even less than her cheap sticker prices. Not a bad deal for her, huh?

While sellers make out as well or better in most cases, those of us who love ”yardsaling” are left holding empty bags much of the time. Either because the selection is not so great or the price is too great. Still, even with Ebay and consignment stores skimming much of the cream, there’s been lots of goodies for seasoned yard sale shoppers these last few seasons - if they were to look hard enough and drive far enough on a Saturday morning. But,with gas prices where they are now, wonder how that’s gonna play out this yard sale season?

Since we own a consignment store one might say we’re “in the catbird’s seat” now. While I suppose that’s true and I am grateful for all the truly wonderful and unique treasures people consign with us, I have to admit it; I am really gonna miss the hunt this year. The combination of fewer truly great finds and the ever-increasing price of gas means I just can’t afford the luxury of yard sales anymore. This means I really have to thank the good Lord for our store and the steady stream of fabulous designer clothes and household decor that comes through the doors. I may not get the thrill of going out and hunting it down anymore, but I do get the thrill of eagerly anticipating the unknown every day. Who knows what treasures from what part of the world will come through our doors today? There’s actually one benefit of higher gas prices; more people are bringing even more treasures to us now. Having to fill up the tank is pretty good motivation to clean out their closets and attics. Check us out at www.athenschanges.com

Everybody likes a “two-fer”

What’s a “two-fer” you ask? It’s a bogo. Don’t know what a “bogo” is? Okay, fine, let me bring you up to speed; When you BUY ONE GET ONE free, that’s called a “bogo”. When you pay for one and get the second one free, it’s a “two-fer”. Now that we’re all on the same page, I’ll relate how this works in regards to 2 of today’s most pressing problems; GLOBAL WARMING and the possibility of a RECESSION Follow me.

If you watch the news, surf the net, glance at a paper or listen to the radio on the drive home, you can’t miss the global warming and need to reduce our carbon footprint talk. Lord knows there’s plenty of free advice for how we can do that. Fortunately, most of us aren’t grappling with our consciences over fuel for our private jets and aren’t spending too much cash on carbon offsets.  And I don’t advocate the “one toilet paper square” thing. I prefer those close to me don’t either. However, in between those 2 there’s plenty of wiggle room for the rest of us.

We can reduce our use of common everyday goods like paper towels. Napkins still work, you know. Some even prefer them. Skip the swiffers and use old t-shirts for dusting. Go back to drinking tap water, wear socks and sweats in the house and lower the thermostat. Artistic, creative, types can even make new clothes from old ones (speaking of; ever notice how expensive clothes made from “reclaimed” fabric are? $71 for one tiny little pair of pants for a 4 year old. Of course, they were made from a “vintage” chenille bedspread and I did wait and get them for 1/2 price.  Since I’m on the subject, I’ve really gotta plug my favorite local children’s boutique. If anyone from Athens, Al reads this blog and you have children, you really need to check out The Grasshopper. They keep a fabulous selection of trendy and heirloom kids’ clothes. I could write an entire article of all I find to love about that place. ).

Anyway, I digress. Back to the subject at hand; recycling, saving the earth, restoring it’s “green” and , of course, the “two-fer”. Notice something most all earth-saving ideas have in common? Recycling, of course. Reminds one of stories told of the Great Depression. People everywhere recycled, re-used, and re-sold everything possible. It wasn’t the earth’s loss of green that caused them to do it, but the lack of “green” in their wallets. Well, this ties in with today’s fear of RECESSION. Like global warming, the news media can’t get enough of recession. Some swear we’re in it, others swear it’s coming. In any case, we’re all a little nervous about it and should take steps to either avoid it or lessen it’s effects. And here’s the “two-fer”; when we recycle, re-use, or resell, we help both our wallets and the earth stay green.

Of course, we don’t want to deny ourselves if we can help it. Just because we’re reducing doesn’t mean it has to hurt. There are alternatives. We can start with making a few easy changes. What would those be, you ask? Glad you did. Okay, first, clean up your house, garage, and storage buildings. Separate all the things you’re not using into separate piles. If you have plastics, paper, or copper, that can be recycled, take it to the recycling center and pick up a little cash. Stuff that’s not perfect but has lots of use left can go to your favorite charity (tax writeoff). Useless items should be trashed. (Seriously, folks, there are some things even Goodwill doesn’t want.) Okay, now that you’ve removed the dross, you find the silver. This is the great stuff left over that you aren’t using and don’t plan to use. What to do with this? Easy. Take it to a consignment store. They’ll sell it for you and you both share the money.

Now that you’ve got a clean house and clean conscience (you did just help make the earth greener and put some green back in your wallet, didn’t you?) , what will you do to REWARD YOURSELF. Well, if you’re smart, you’ll go back to that consignment store and shop for stuff to replace all you just got rid of! LOL!

 Seriously, folks, consignment is a great way to help both the earth and yourself. The huge bonus is that it is so much FUN! I know this. A few years ago I didn’t really know what consignment was, but after being introduced, I became addicted, and shortly thereafter, we opened our own consignment store. It’s a new experience every day - and we love it. We’d love to see you join us. Visit us on the web at www.athenschanges.com to learn more. We think you’ll agree once you give it a try.

Consignment: common attributes of those who make the most money

 Want to make money consigning? Do you have what it takes? Read on to see what the most successful consignors have in common. Maybe you’ll be one of them. If so, congratulations. You’ll be a minor celebrity with small hordes of fans who may not know you’re name but they’ll sure have your number. Your consignor ID number, that is. Yes, they’ll be calling the store at least weekly asking that important question; “Has number 1493 brought in anything new?” You’ll be featured prominently in some of our most avid shoppers’ wish lists. We’ll have long lists of people who want to be called every time you make a drop off.  Oh yes, you’ll be quite popular. Read on to see if you recognize yourself in our “money-maker”.

The money-maker lives in the NOW. She loves life and loves herself. She has fun, tries new things, loves shopping and treating herself to the latest trends and fashions. She knows she’s worth it. She stretches herself. She learns new hobbies, makes new friends and tries new vacation spots. She’s a bit impulsive, too. She sometimes forgets what she’s already bought so occasionally duplicates a purchase. She tends to get carried away by a really great sale and buys things that don’t quite fit - yet. People love her and love to give her gifts. Sometimes these people really don’t have enough taste or knowledge to buy things she’ll actually wear and like, so she has lots of stuff that’s just not right for her.

But, Ms. Money-Maker is smart. She knows how to cut her losses and move on. Swing dancing didn’t turn out to be her thing? Okay, no need to hold onto those fancy outfits. That closet space is best used for her new cowboy boots and jeans. If she gains 20 lbs and it’s not budged 6 months later, she does not make a torture chamber of her closet. She gets rid of the skinny reminders and goes shopping for clothes that flatter her NOW.  She doesn’t fill her closets with the wrong gifts from well-meaning friends and family. Better to pass them on to someone they’ll fit.  And of course, as someone who loves life, she appreciates and respects her belongings,  taking great care of them.

Because she buys great things, takes care of them, and knows when to let go, she makes lots of money consigning. Not only does she respect herself, she respects others and wouldn’t dream of intentionally offering sub-par items for them to buy. When she gets ready to take a bundle to CHANGES Resale, she brings only those items that are new or like new, still fashionable, freshly laundered and pressed, and carefully labeled with her name and number. It’s absolutely “ready to wear”.

Bottomline: successful consignors bring in only currently fashionable, clean, like new, items and we all love them for it. Especially our shoppers.

Hello world!

www.athenschanges.com

Hmm….I’m thinking the title “all things consignment” is not what I want.  I’ll see if I can change it to CHANGES.  After all, change is something we all do - and some of us positively LOVE changes. (me!me!me!) That’s why we named our store “CHANGES”.  

All those fabulous clothes, designer purses and shoes, furniture, and decor, are brought in because of ”changes” people make.  We change jobs, locations, weight, have babies, send a kid off to college, pick up new hobbies, ditch old hobbies, marry, divorce, remarry, go back to school, divorce, take up sky diving, go on cruises, remarry again….Whew! And all these changes mean aquiring new stuff and sometimes getting rid of old stuff. 

Kids move out? Better downsize quick before they realize what they’ve done and try to come back home! Take the stuff that won’t fit in your new condo to the consignment store. The precious time, patience, and energy wasted trying to nickel and dime it away in a yardsale, is time you could be using to flip through decorating magazines in the air-conditioned comfort of your new home. The time spent doing criminal background checks on people who saw your classified ad could be time spent checking your account balance at the consignment store.

 Lost weight? (happy…happy…joy…joy!) Need new jeans but hate the “breaking in” process.? Buying them at your favorite consignment shop means you know how they’ll fit after breaking in because they already are.  Gained weight? Sorry, but you still gotta have new clothes.  One really shouldn’t sport the same mumu to the office more than twice a week. (Depressing as it is, we must trudge our bigger-than-before butts out to buy clothes with a little more yardage in them.) The good news is you don’t have to add insult to injury by paying mall prices for a few things to get you by until you lose the weight. Again. The bonus is that you’ll find such great things that you’ll want to keep them even after the weight is off. Besides, we girls will have our “fat” days and it would be nice to have a second wardrobe just for them. I read somewhere that celebrities and other jet-setters often buy their favorites in 2 sizes for that very reason.