Budget watching a thing of the past
Joelle Halon
Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: Entertainment
Given the shaky economy, more often than not, we are watching our budgets and cutting back on spending. Most of us cut back on "luxury" items and stick with the essentials.
However, this does not necessarily have to be the case. If you do not have an aversion to gently used items, then thrift store and antique shopping may be a viable option for you.
The Thrift Center in Highland is the closest to the PUC campus, so for those who live on campus, this may be a place to go.
The Thrift Center has an abundance of clothes, books and collectibles available, all for reasonable prices. For example, ties and belts sell for around 50 cents, so you do not have to break the bank. Additionally, the clothes and shoes are in good condition and stylish, so you do not have to worry about looking as if you are straight out of the 1970s.
If you enjoy reading, the book section is a must-browse. From tawdry romances to classic literature and old "National Geographic" magazines, there are plenty of books to please any taste. If you browse carefully, you may be able to find some of the literature books for some of your classes without having to spend an arm and leg like you do at the PUC bookstore.
Another place to find clothes and accessories is the Village in Hammond. Band shirts, club dresses and formalwear can be found here, and you can buy a full wardrobe of clothes for under $100 compared to mall prices. The Village is a gem of a store for those on a budget.
Located in Crown Point, the Antique Mall, a tri-level shop, offers an uncountable number of goods. Furniture, jewelry and art are among the items that cover every square inch of the Mall, so it would be difficult not to find anything useful or fun.
One of the most noteworthy sections of the Antique Mall is the holiday section, located on the third floor. Christmas, Easter and Halloween items are available all-year-round, so if you are thinking about decorating Frankenstein in Santa garb on Valentine's Day, you can purchase the items necessary to do so. Another fun aspect of the holiday hub is that you can see Christmas decorations from yesteryear.
Even more eclectic than the Antique Mall, Antiques on Main is much smaller but carries even more finds.
Located across the street from the Antique Mall, Antiques on Main offers old electronics, kitschy collectibles and many other goods for the home.
While browsing the Antiques on Main, keep your eyes open and look for phonographs, old ball gowns-great for costume parties-and random photos of Johnny Depp from when he visited the Region. Other items include gem-encrusted globes, baseball cards and Waterford crystal, which if you need vases and flute glasses for a wedding, this may be a place to go.
Watching your budget and purchasing items can once again go hand-in-hand; you just have to know where to look.
However, this does not necessarily have to be the case. If you do not have an aversion to gently used items, then thrift store and antique shopping may be a viable option for you.
The Thrift Center in Highland is the closest to the PUC campus, so for those who live on campus, this may be a place to go.
The Thrift Center has an abundance of clothes, books and collectibles available, all for reasonable prices. For example, ties and belts sell for around 50 cents, so you do not have to break the bank. Additionally, the clothes and shoes are in good condition and stylish, so you do not have to worry about looking as if you are straight out of the 1970s.
If you enjoy reading, the book section is a must-browse. From tawdry romances to classic literature and old "National Geographic" magazines, there are plenty of books to please any taste. If you browse carefully, you may be able to find some of the literature books for some of your classes without having to spend an arm and leg like you do at the PUC bookstore.
Another place to find clothes and accessories is the Village in Hammond. Band shirts, club dresses and formalwear can be found here, and you can buy a full wardrobe of clothes for under $100 compared to mall prices. The Village is a gem of a store for those on a budget.
Located in Crown Point, the Antique Mall, a tri-level shop, offers an uncountable number of goods. Furniture, jewelry and art are among the items that cover every square inch of the Mall, so it would be difficult not to find anything useful or fun.
One of the most noteworthy sections of the Antique Mall is the holiday section, located on the third floor. Christmas, Easter and Halloween items are available all-year-round, so if you are thinking about decorating Frankenstein in Santa garb on Valentine's Day, you can purchase the items necessary to do so. Another fun aspect of the holiday hub is that you can see Christmas decorations from yesteryear.
Even more eclectic than the Antique Mall, Antiques on Main is much smaller but carries even more finds.
Located across the street from the Antique Mall, Antiques on Main offers old electronics, kitschy collectibles and many other goods for the home.
While browsing the Antiques on Main, keep your eyes open and look for phonographs, old ball gowns-great for costume parties-and random photos of Johnny Depp from when he visited the Region. Other items include gem-encrusted globes, baseball cards and Waterford crystal, which if you need vases and flute glasses for a wedding, this may be a place to go.
Watching your budget and purchasing items can once again go hand-in-hand; you just have to know where to look.
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