Value for Money

Buying on a welfare or working class budget means shopping for used things. Coming from a big Philippine born middle class family also meant sibling hand me down clothing mixed with new. All our lives we knew that meant savings, often in clothes and furniture. Immigration to Canada then America, which had even more established second hand stores like Salvation Army, Value Village and Goodwill opened up more opportunities. Donated items resold was also better than throwing into a landfill. We also gave things away when closets and storage were too full, or in house and apartment moves.

For this article, I will write about 4 things bought from second hand stores.

In early 2000, while browsing with a boyfriend in a Salvation Army in Vancouver British Columbia Canada, I peeked in the glass jewelry cases and saw a gold ring which fascinated me from its woven links. It fit on my ring and middle finger or thumb so I bought it for less than $100 -- I cannot remember the exact price. The sales lady said and tag stated it was 10k gold.

Years later in Toronto Ontario Canada maybe 2015 onwards, while doing psychic research (now single again) on an online Viking project 'Connect the Dots -- Viking Voyages in the Southeast', I realized the symbol inside the ring was shaped like Thor god of thunder's hammer Mjollnir. It seemed like a meaningful coincidence to have bought the ring and later realized its trademark symbol was ancient and religious. Luckily in November 2018, Royal Ontario Museum curated "Vikings: The Exhibition' and working as an interviewer for Access Research contracted by ROM, allowed me free entry regularly, interviewing guests about their experiences.

Salvation Army is a well managed charity. It has thrift stores, homeless shelters, rehabilitation programs, online and mail fundraising to fulfill its goals in helping poor, hungry, elderly, victims and addicts and refugees. In 2003, when I experienced pending homelessness from an eviction, they welcomed and hosted me in their women only shelter in Toronto for 3 months. The shared room and bed were clean and the daily meals were nutritious and delicious. Their housing worker advised me in moving onto renting apartment and they gave me a new microwave, bed and pot and pan! They were very kind and generous.

A few months later, I created an online tenant housing website to help other homeless people to transition to market rent share apartments. It was called Casa P.O.W., an acronym for Housing People On Welfare. I operated it and found apartment managers and proprietors to participate and allot units to be shared by women leaving shelters. In exchange for matching tenants with these vacancies, I asked one month rent as a fee payment. It ended because some operators refused to pay after. I tried applying for a Government grant with a few friends as potential employees, who had also experienced homelessness, but it was not accepted.

Refer to https://satruck.org/

Refer to https://www.rom.on.ca/en/exhibitions-galleries/exhibitions/vikings-the-exhibition

The next special item, a deviled eggs appetizer server from Value Village, was well designed and interested me to buy it a few years ago. I use it whenever I make deviled eggs for myself. It came with me to America in 2019 because I like its special look displaying deviled eggs. Visual presentation enhances taste.

Refer to https://www.valuevillage.com/

The last items are a woven Chaps ladies handbag and dragon keychain from Discovery Shop of Cancer Society in California. My mother, a cancer survivor, and I were browsing in the store. She was able to guess what the creature was, which made me buy it because of its magical mythicism -- the dragon. Earlier the sales lady was unable to determine what it was. It is now attached as a zipper pull to the Chaps bag bought on a previous visit.

Refer to https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate/more-ways-to-give/discovery-shops-national/california-discovery-shops/fremont.html

To summarize, thrift stores are often operated by charities and non-profit organizations, accepting donations to help victims of society. It is worthwhile shopping from them because of this do-good motive, being cheaper, and environmental benefit of reusing not throwing. I also like the 'fab finds' of fashion brands and unique, out of production, even antique items possible. Donating and buying from them also satisfy the spiritual value in materialism.