By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER

Welcome to Budget Vogue, the column I’ll be writing for InDepthNH.org.  I’ll celebrate all things vogue and budget, all things thrifty and trendy, all things frugal and fabulous.  As “thrifting” is now a verb and “to go thrifting” suggests a pretty hip adventure, I’ll provide tips and tools, stories and ideas, places to hit, places to miss.

I’ve been a thrift aficionado since well before it was cool.  There was a Salvation Army located in my hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts where I would walk in terror to my car upon leaving. I’d rush out, so fearful I’d be spotted by some high school classmate, some trendy neighbor. Alas, I’d be holding on to some fabulous coat or sweater, knowing I’d not only saved money, I’d just excavated treasures galore.

 In the late 70’s, there was one day when all pocketbooks in this venue were nine cents; I bought a lovely Etienne Aigner bag and wore it to school the next day. It was luxurious leather, buttery soft and tres chic.  When a classmate asked where I’d gotten it, I lied and responded,  “I forget.”  There was no pride in my find, no glory in the price.  “I forget.”  How sad. Mercifully, shame has transformed to pride in these roaring 20s, recycling and rewearing beautiful amends to conspicuous consumption. Let’s face it, thrifting is cool. 

Decades later and after many, many trips to thrift shops where bags have been both plentiful and cheap, I no longer forget, I delight. I score.  And in this column, I hope you’ll share in my successes, my stories, my ideas, my inspiration.  I hope you’ll share your finds and ideas  as well. 

Let’s go thrifting, Budget Voguers. Let’s excavate and delight and find joy in the hunt, the search, the discoveries. See you soon.