To keep or not to keep

The day after Christmas is considered thrift day in our family. It is as traditional as finding the Father Christmas filled stockings on Christmas morning. Usually my mother, my brother Howie and his wife Tama and I trek down to Bremerton to a Goodwill store. Our Goodwill always has an after Christmas sale. This year it was 50% off all colored tags except red which were .99 cents. My brother and his wife didn't join us this year due to having a baby this year as well as Howie being quite sick with a cold. So my mom and I set out on our own. We had a thrifting blast. We were there for 5 hours shopping to our thrifty hearts content. Everything seemed so inexpensive with most jeans being either $2.50 or $4.00 and blouses ranging from $1.50-$3.00. The best thing about our Goodwill is the fact that they have a lot of good, quality clothing in generally good condition. I stocked up on clothing for all four of us. Which also meant when I came home I had to face my closet and do my winter purge. Everything is now organized, put away and neat and tidy. But.....

My main reason for this post has nothing to do with my closet but more about do I keep something I bought for myself or try to sell them. It seems like when I thrift for just myself, all the while taking off my business eyes, I tend to strike gold. I did this in the summer when I went to a great yard sale full of vintage items. I have sold 4 items from this sale that sold for around $900.00 for a $7.00 investment. That's my kind of reselling. Well on Tuesday I found these gorgeous boots. They were a little big for me but not enough to make me put them back on the shelves. The price was $7.99 but half off they were $4.00. I even wore them for about 10 minutes just to make sure they were comfy. Here's a photo of them.

And from the front view...

When I came home I was curious about them and did a quick eBay search that left my jaw drop. The name inside the boot is Ann Demeulemeester, a brand I have never heard of. Well these Goodwill Thrifted boots sold new on eBay in the last month for $425.00. They sell new for over $1000.00 and have been seen at fashion shows in Paris. Remember my post about spending $154.00 (plus all the discounts on top of that) for my Born boots. I've been debating a little, teensy bit about keeping these too. But do I really need a $1000.00 pair of boots? Not really. And it would be a nice sale to add to my holiday drained bank account.

At the moment I have plans to put them on the auction block but I enjoyed the idea of finding such a gem at Goodwill. It's what keeps thrifting exciting and fun and keeps me coming back for more...and more....and more.....

Comments

[Pam]

WOW!!!!I can't believe the boots!!! Wow. I mean it, WOW. So, think you'll sell them? I would I think!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and everyone is well!

[adustyframe]

Sounds like a "sell" to me!

[M]

Oh I love finds like that!! It makes the endless hunting trips so worthwhile. Those are definitely auction-worthy! :)

[mo]

I would sell them even though they are lovely. I love that sort of game- to see just how much you can turn your $4 inverstment into.

[Jenn]

wow! find of the year in just under the wire! I can't wait to see if you find something even better in the next year! you are too amazing!

[Elizabeth]

Excellent thrifting result - most charity shops in the UK are shut between Christmas and New Year so this is a dire time of year to try thrifting for me. The boots look great, I have heard of the designer but wouldn't know much about her style. I think I'd definitely sell them if I were you. But then I often do that, see something I really like, buy it, and then find out it's worth a lot more than I thought, so off it goes to ebay. How did you get on selling all those children's books you got a while back?

[Sue]

wow! you go girl. and I rarely use that expression.

[joyce]

Sell them quick before something happens to them!

[Marianne]

Great find. I would sell. I like your other boots better, anyway! :)

[Carrie Sommer]

Oh man, what a find!

[Karla]

Just think of all the thrifting you can do with the profits from selling those babies on Ebay! I bet you could make a pretty penny. A friend of mine recently bought a fur cape at Goodwill (She calls it Goodies) for $7. It was mint condition and real fur. She sold it on Ebay and the auction was over $350!

[elizabeth]

oh girl SELL EM!!!!

like you said, do you really need a pair of $1000 boots or could you use the extra cash in the bank acct?

what a fabulous find. i'm def. going to have to keep my eyes more peeled.

[Sarah]

What a nice find. We spent boxing day at the thrift store ourselves, and now have spent the last 3 days organizing. Yech!

[Amy]

yes the day after xmas here is the boxing day sales and you can usually find some great bargains!

[rose]

if you sell - i will buy if they are a size 9!!!

[Cindy Young]

WOO WOO! What a fabulous find!!! Sell em girl!

[raesha]

Awesome!! I LOVE the Bremerton Goodwill - it is always one of the first stores my best friend and I hit when I am in town:):)What a fabulous find! I'm debating listing several thrifted goodies I've found over the last year on Ebay - glad to hear about your successes!!!

[Nitty.Gritty.]

You have just given me a very good reason to check out my local goodwill. Even if I don't find a great deal on reselling boots, I may find a pair worth keeping! =)

[Jen]

i was at value village once and struck up a convo with a guy who was there. He had found a few really nice cashmere jackets that would retail for several hundred dollars. His best find was a Burburry peacoat that was being sold for something like 25$... reminded me of your fabu finds!

[MIJk]

sell them and treat yourself with boots or shoes.. (thrifted or new you will still have profit left ;-)

[Kelli]

I say sell them! You can then spoil yourself with more money for your ebay fund and buy yourself a new pair of cute shoes at Target (one of my faves) for $20. :)

[patience]

wow, what a scrumptious website you have!

[jungle dream pagoda]

WHOA !!! I stand in awe! The Belgian designers are of the most cutting edge in fashion,I must confess I ,personally,would keep them for myself. Only because I a)like them lots, and b)Am a bit of a fashion freak! However,since the Ann Demeulemeester,brand means ,not the same thing to you,I would DEFINITELY sale them. Score!!!!

[Teresa Sheeley]

Love those boots! You must have the best Goodwill ever!! What a find...I am a tad jealous. :)

[Sylvie]

I went thrifting with my Mom the day after Christmas as well. I found a pair of balck vinyl boots from the 60s that had never been worn; $2. I went through the same vasilation, do I sell them or keep them. They are woman's size 9 and a half, which is unusual. I wear a size 9. "I could stuff the toes", I find myself telling my husband. They are a similar style to the ones that you found, flats, with the buckle. But $1,000?!! Sell them!
Happy New Year!