Have Yourself a Bargain Christmas

By Charity Corkey (Contact)

Friday, December 19, 2008

Are you still shopping for gifts but exceeding your budget? Consider perusing one of the many quality thrift and consignment shops in Loudoun, where you'll find new and "gently used" items for a fraction of the store prices.

At Consignment Solutions in Leesburg, you'll find home accents, décor and furniture available at discounted prices, including ceramic and glass vases, mirrors, bedroom furniture, storage and seating. For every 30 days an item is not purchased, the fee is reduced, and after 90 days, items are lowered by 50 percent.

The Resourceful Woman Thrift Shop, also in Leesburg, sells jewelry, clothing and children's stuffed animals. Why spend up to $30 on a Toys"R"Us teddy bear when you can purchase a plush, stuffed animal at this shop for $2 to $5?

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The Season to Save

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A plush stuffed animal at the Resourceful Woman Thrift Shop in Leesburg is on sale for $2. (Charity Corkey)

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Consignment Solutions in Leesburg sells gently-used furniture in excellent condition. This Pier 1 mirror, center, costs a mere $64 compared to the in-store price of $200 for similar items. (Charity Corkey)

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Gently-used and antique wooden picture frames are The Closet, located just outside Sterling, are sold from 50 cents to $1 each. (Charity Corkey)

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Children’s paperback books at The Closet are priced at 10 for a $1. Hardcover books are four for a $1. (Charity Corkey)

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Wall décor and other accent pieces at The Closet are sold for less than half of their original store prices. (Charity Corkey)

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Normal Rockwell coffee mugs at the Treasure Hound in Middleburg are priced at four for $10. The thrift store sells other quality glassware and kitchen items at discounted prices. (Charity Corkey)

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Delicate drop earrings are on sale for $5 at the Treasure Hound, beating even Walmart and Target prices, which sell similar items for $10 – $35. (Charity Corkey)

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Necklaces at the Treasure Hound begin at $5. (Charity Corkey)

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Lamps, plates, wine glasses, vases, candles and other home décor items starting at $1 are on sale at Hope’s Treasures in Ashburn. (Charity Corkey)

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Dressing rooms are available for the customer’s convenience at Hope’s Treasures. (Charity Corkey)

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Girls dresses at Twice Upon a Star in Purcellville range in price from $8 - $15. Similar items at department stores, such as JCPenney or Macy’s, typically begin at $15. (Susan Khalil)

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For quality clothing, visit Twice Upon a Star in Purcellville, where you can find new and slightly used women's, junior's and children's outfits.

In Middleburg, the cozy Treasure Hound shop offers a variety of items ranging from designer handbags and shoes (Kenneth Cole flats, $5) to new bathroom towels (Kohl's, $4 each). Online, Kenneth Cole heels and flats start at $30, and Kohls' towels are on sale for twice as much as the Treasure Hound prices.

The shop also offers a large library of books and CDs.

The Closet, located just outside Sterling, offers unbelievable savings on everything from picture frames and paintings to coffee-table books and antiques. Here, you can purchase a framed painting for $1.50 or paperback books at 10 for $1.

Hope's Treasures in Ashburn, a new thrift store run by the Good Shepherd Alliance, also offers bargain prices on clothing and kitchen items, including like-new coffee pots, plates, coffee mugs and wine glasses. Shoppers can try on clothing selections in one of the shop's three trendy dressing rooms.

Bargain shopping in Loudoun not only eases your budget. It benefits many local charities and non-profits as well.

The Resourceful Woman Thrift Shop provides clothing and household items to residents of the Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter and raises money for the shelter's programs.

The Closet donates 75 percent of its revenue to community causes, including the Hospice Northern Virginia, Literacy Council of Northern Virginia and Northern Virginia Dental Clinic.

Middleburg's Treasure Hound donates most of its proceeds to the Friends of Homeless Animals Treasure Shelter, which provides refuge, food and treatment for orphaned animals.

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, Ashburn, budget, Good Shepherd Alliance, holiday, Leesburg, Middleburg, Purcellville, Sterling

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