Top 7 Reasons to Shop at Goodwill

When money started to get tight long before the economic crisis, I found myself looking for ways to get necessities and "wants" cheaper without sacrificing quality. I was a fan of getting everything brand new, but with less cash on hand it just wasn't possible. So I turned to other stores like Goodwill. When I started picking up a few odds and ends at Goodwill, I found out that there are a number of reasons to shop there and feel good about it.

Goodwill Employs Special Needs People. Wherever they can, Goodwill Industries employs people who are handicap or have special needs. They are one of the largest employers of this special population, giving them a sense of hope and accomplishment in the working world.

Training To Special Populations. Not only do they employ special populations, Goodwill Industries funds them largely through your purchases. When you buy something at Goodwill, you are actually helping educate someone less fortunate than you. According to their website, 1.1 million people were trained in 2007.

Donations Are Tax Deductible. Ask for a receipt whenever you decide to donate. I've shopped at some Goodwill stores that actually gave me 10% off my purchases for the day just because I donated old computer monitors.

Electronics and Kitchenware. If you have an older-model computer or printer that you use but are missing some special cables or wires, chances are that Goodwill has them. It sure beats trying to order them online for an absurd amount of money, if you can find those parts at all.

Nostalgia. The saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" can be so true at Goodwill. My wife spotted a teddy bear that was the same exact one she had as a child. They didn't make them anymore, but thanks to Goodwill she has a childhood reminder in the house now. The same could be said about collectibles that people donate because they have no use for them. A Goodwill store just might have one for you.

Halloween. Many kids outgrow their quality costumes from one year to the next. Goodwill Stores are great places to find those last-minute outfits. We donated my son's lion outfit from "The Wizard of Oz" to a Goodwill. At the same time, I found the perfect, plush-purple floppy hat I needed to complete my "playa" Halloween costume- for $2. It went well with my gold teeth and dollar sign medallion.

Extra-Everything. Need an extra mini-microwave for your den? An extra coffee maker for the vacation stay? An extra set of play clothes for the kids to wreck during summer camp? An extra vacuum cleaner for the basement or the car? An extra mattress for those extra house guests? It's all at Goodwill.

Tools. My next future purchase at Goodwill is going to be a chainsaw. I've needed one at one point or another, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a new chainsaw that might get used twice a year. The same could be said about a lot of tools in your garage. If you don't plan on using it very often and you can find one in good shape, why pay full price?