Only got $20 in your pocket? No need to worry! There are plenty of options at Saskatoon’s best second-hand shopping spots.
My mom, Linda, would often take my brother and me shopping at thrift stores and garage sales around Saskatoon. Although I reluctantly joined her kicking and screaming for most of my childhood (the smell turned me right off – and I was a brat who wanted to have name brand clothes like the cool kids), I’ve developed a renewed appreciation for her bargain lessons as an adult. Funny how that works, isn’t it?
Being a single, working-mom of two didn’t leave Linda much room in the budget for shopping sprees and Wal-Mart trips. So she’d make the best of her limited cash supply and got creative with whatever coinage she had to style both herself and us with thrifty finds. I have some good memories of pulling together new outfits for less than $10 a pop.
Since then, I’ve grown up to become a bonafide thrifter for two main reasons:
- Adulting 101. Cash is tight and I’d rather buy groceries than a $100 dress.
- When people compliment me on my duds they tend to follow it up with, “So, where’d you get that?” Most of the time the answer will be either from a vintage store, or a thrift shop. And there’s a difference between the two.
It can be a bit overwhelming to start thrifting if you’ve never done it before. Stick to these three tips to make it out alive:
- Always know what you need before you start.
- Set a limit and stick to it (both time & money).
- And put back the stuff you don’t really need or love.
If you get excited about the possibility of searching through piles of options for a hidden treasure, this post is about all the gems you could find at Saskatoon’s best second-hand shopping spots.
As a reminder these picks aren’t organized in a countdown format.
*This list has been edited as of November 6, 2017 to reflect business closures and location moves.
Better Off Duds
A shop so nice it has its own jingle. According to Planet S Magazine’s “Best Of” their owner is one of Saskatoon’s most beloved small business owners. It may be because she’s a believer of sequins and second chances. Check ’em out for vinyl, vintage and all sorts of other funky stuff.
Montgomery Community Garage Sale on the first Saturday in May.
You’ll want to be prepared for this one, as the entire community gets together on one day of the year to purge their household treasures and haggle with buyers. They’ve been doing it since I was a kid, but now it’s gotten so big that they have to set up porta potties and mobile ATMs. This year, they have a pancake breakfast and a BBQ lunch.
YWCA Opportunity Shop
The YWCA will always be near and dear to my heart. All proceeds support the Crisis Intervention Programs and Services. Check this hole in the wall often as they get new donations all the time.
Echo Apparel *Edit Now Closed
You never know what you’ll find, but you know the experience will be easier than most. From designer duds, to vintage items and upcycled treasures – Echo strives to organize it all at clearly-marked, modest prices. If you’re into locally hand-crafted jewellery, you’ll find a selection of originals in store.
Plato’s Closet *Moved Locations
According to a source, Plato’s has a lot of new items from brands like Silver and Guess with the price tag still on ’em at a super low cost. This could be due to the many people who buy new clothes without thinking about whether they’ll wear them, or not. (I have a friend who had a closet full of clothes with the tags still attached.) No judgement here, just more deals for us frugal folk!
New location: 3, 415-115St E, Saskatoon
Stasia
Have you always wanted to dabble with designer duds, but struggled to justify the heart-wrenching digits on the price tag? At Stasia, you’ll find high-end apparel at a pretty reasonable consignment cost.
SuperThrift *Now Closed
If this store were a movie it’d be a mixture of Gremlins, Superman, Little Miss Sunshine and Empire Records. You’ll find a whole lot of everything at SuperThrift, so use your time wisely!
Mid Mod Vintage *Now Closed
Midmod is a vintage furniture shop with a range of Danish modern pieces circa the 60’s and 70’s. If you want your apartment to have that cool look that hearkens back to the era of American Hustle, Midmod should be on your list.
The Knick Vintage
Run by a young female entrepreneur out of Ideas Inc., The Knick has a pulse on what’s trending in the vintage world. Sarah travels far and wide searching for deluxe items you just can’t find at your average shop. Choose a piece at The Knick for history and style.
Plus, she offers hemming if you really love those pants, but they are way too long for you.
Value Village Circle Drive
With the resurgence of 1990’s fashion (crushed velvet, spaghetti straps and chokers), you’ll have a field day at the VV Boutique. Value Village is definitely somewhere I frequent on the regular because they have such a wide variety of options to poke through.
Two Locations: one on Circle Drive and another in Stonebridge. In my opinion, the Circle Drive location tends to have the better selection of the two.
BONUS Avalon-area “Sailing”
Next to my mom, my uncle is the champion of garage sales. Last spring, he took me out with him for about an hour around Avalon area. I picked up a trunk full of awesome stuff including a set of tinted blue goblets for $5 (like the ones in the picture) and a $200+ kettle bell for a bargain at $25. This is a good area to drive by every once in a while during the spring/summer months.
This post is dedicated to my mom, Linda, for teaching me how to be thrifty.
Like the thrill of the hunt?
Join the Do Sask Community for a Pop-up Clothing Swap as part of the Nature City Festival on May 24. Come out and meet others doers, enjoy some refreshments, and swap clothes in the park. The location will only be revealed to registered guests, so get on the list today!
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