It was 23 degrees, overcast, and a light snow was falling at 9:15 last Monday morning when I set out for a trip to all seven local thrift stores.

The first stop was the Holiday gas station a few blocks from home for coffee. Being way too cheap to pay $4 or $5 a cup at Starbucks’ or Caribou, Holiday stations are where I get my coffee fix in the morning when I’m on the road or just out-and-about. They offer four varieties but I’ve found that their ‘Dark Roast’ seems to attract more inventory then the other three, so that’s my blend of choice if I’m shopping.

Armed a steaming cup of coffee, I was on my way to…..

The Salvation Army Smart Shop. Unlike a lot of Salvation Army thrift stores around the country, this one is strictly up-scale. In fact, built nine years ago, it serves as a model for newer Salvation Army stores in upper class neighborhoods around the country.

Sadly, that means that probably 80% to 90% of what comes in the back door never gets into the store itself. It’s thrown right onto a semi-trailer and, when the trailer is full, it’s hauled to Minot, ND where it’s bundled and sent either overseas or to other stores in poorer neighborhoods of large cities. I’ve been trying to get into their back room on a regular basis for years without any luck.

This is one of two thrifts in town where I’m often able to buy college textbooks for a dollar or two each. Mondays visit there produced five non-fiction books dealing with various religions for an investment of $3.50. All five books were listed on Amazon prices ranging from $12.99 to $27.29.
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