Anyone else feel like it costs a fortune to send the kids back to school?! Between the supplies, new shoes & clothes, sports & club registration fees, etc., our wallets are a little depleted these days. Thankfully, Austin is home to many thrift stores and resale shops that can save us some bucks on a variety of items.

The Austin Reuse Directory, a new project from the Austin EcoNetwork, supported by Austin Resource Recovery, offers a wealth of info about where to best donate or resell gently used goods, but it’s also a great place to search for thrift and consignment stores where you can do some cost-saving shopping!  Whether you’re a top thrift-hunting treasure-seeker or just looking for a good deal, Austin’s plethora of bargain stores have something to offer for everyone. From Anna’s Toy Depot to Recycled Reads, our city offers tons of cheap and rewarding shops. In honor of National Thrift Shop Day on August 17, check out our picks for the Best Bets for Bargain Hunting in Austin below.

Everyone’s happy to save some cash! Photo from the Fairytale Threads Consignment Facebook page

Toys, Books, & Baby Gear:

— Kids Resale Shops & Consignment Events: First, we suggest taking a peek at our roundup of Best Resale Shops in Austin for details about where to buy and shop for gently used children’s clothing, toys, books and baby gear. There’s also many annual consignment events. You’ll surely want to check out:

— Anna’s Toy Depot: We’re huge fans of Anna’s Toy Depot for getting the best bargains on toys! This South Austin gem has been selling new and used toys since 1989. You’ll find a variety of the best brands, hard to find LEGO items, and even classic toys you’ll remember from your childhood. Anna’s friendly staff is so helpful, too. Visit their website to learn more and to get the scoop on selling your old toys, as well.

— Recycled Reads: Get bargain prices on books, DVDs, CDs, and more at Recycled Read, Austin Public Library’s used bookstore. With a great variety of children’s and adult titles, you’re sure to find something here for any age family member. Take note that Recycled Reads also hosts lots of fun, free events including storytimes, live music, and workshops. Click here to view their calendar.

Racks upon racks of great buys! Photo from the Savers Facebook page

Clothing & More for the Whole Family:

— Savers: Certainly one of the most impressive thrift stores in Austin, Savers is a huge emporium with a bountiful supply of long-lost treasures. At Savers, you’ll find everything from men’s and women’s clothing to housewares and electronics. In addition to hooking customers up with cheap and cool goods, the store also provides gives back with its Community Donation Center, a program that benefits local nonprofit organizations like Easter Seals Central Texas. Click here to view the Savers locations in the Austin area. P.S. – Savers is a great spot for Halloween costume shopping, too!

— Salvation Army Family Store: At the SA Family Store, there’s something to be found for the whole family. Located on S. Congress, this location always offers a unique blend of items and classic, designer things. And buying things at the Family Store also benefits the lives of others with proceeds going toward Salvation Army’s faith-based rehabilitation program. Buying a few shirts or skirts or what have you at this Family Store will help someone battle addiction. Great finds, great prices, great cause.

— St. Vincent De Paul Vintage Thrift Store: This classic Austin thrift stores offers both vintage and contemporary items at some of the lowest prices in Austin. Recently, the store uprooted from its iconic South Congress location after 30 years of service and relocated to Braker, proving itself as a stalwart and committed thrift store. Of course, revenues generated from sales go to people in need within the community.

— Assistance League of Austin Thrift House: This resale department store is staffed and administered entirely by volunteers. The store is open year round and serves as a major source of income for their philanthropic programs including our flagship program, Operation School Bell, which provides new school clothing to children in need. Here you’ll find new and gently-used items — tools, office equipment, clothing, toys, furniture, household items, books, jewelry, antiques, collectibles, and much much more.

— Goodwill of Central Texas: Goodwill retail stores promise an ever-changing shopping experience with new merchandise rolling in every hour. Plus, there’s the added bonus of knowing that your purchases support education and job training for Central Texans. Click here to find a location near you.

Thrifting for the home is a bright idea. Photo from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore website.

Items for the Home:

— Habitat For Humanity ReStore: Thinking about embarking on a new DIY project? Habitat For Humanity ReStore offers reusable materials donated from previous owners at very fair rates that go unrivaled in all home improvement stores. In addition to selling bargain items, Habitat For Humanity ReStore also serves as a “community recycling center” that diverts “millions of pounds of excessive dumping in Austin landfills.”

— Austin Creative Reuse Center: We are huge fans of this mecca of all things crafty. Austin Creative Reuse Center includes a retail shop, workshop space and a gallery. Here you’ll find a wide assortment of materials (from textiles to art supplies to little knick-knacks) that will inspire your next arts & crafts or home decorating project.

— City Wide Garage Sale: This vintage vendor warehouse hawks affordable furniture, dishes, books, art, clothing, and accessories. The amazingly cheap price tags make it worth battling the often-pressing crowds because pretty much everything is a find, but you still get that thrill-of-the-hunt feeling. Keep an eye on the calendar to see when City Wide Garage Sale swings sets up their monthly sale at the Palmer Events Center.

— Room Service Vintage: This is one of the North Loop neighborhood’s go-to spot for timeless furnishings, vintage keepsakes and everything in between. And if you don’t want to miss out on snagging a great vintage score, follow their Instagram and purchase directly from their feed. Trust us, these treasures go quick.

— Top Drawer Thrift: This store is jammed with all sorts of fun and timeless furnishings, light fixtures and more. You’ll love Top Drawer’s adventurous approach to home decor and the offering of unique and wacky throwbacks. So check out this North Austin gem to pick up your next conversation piece.

More to Explore:

Be sure to give AustinReuseDirectory.com a try as you track down many more places to save on re-used goods! For even more info, you can also visit Austin Resource Recovery who provides a wide range of services designed to transform waste into resources while keeping our community clean.