Thrift Stores

OK, let me get this right. You are going to spend about $1000 in airfare and stay in one of the most expensive cities in the world to go to thrift stores. What's missing?

We are planning on living there for five weeks. We have three grade school age children and are looking for anyway to save money. We live in the desert so it will be a climate change for us. Let me clarify, it is not a vacation. Thrift stores can be a fun inexpensive way to experience another culture and save money.

Shopping for clothes in local thrift shops sounds like a good way to dress like a local while saving money.

Wife loves thrift stores and markets like Saint-Ouen and others. She also likes the little stall vendors outside the major department stores in Paris. Last year, she bought 48 pounds of clothes - put in checked luggage - plus what she could carry in her backpack onto the plane. She has worn these clothes all year while teaching. She is the best dressed teacher at school, hands down. She gets comments every week about how nice her dress is, how nice her skirt is, really pretty jewelry, etc. You can find decent, new clothes at the markets for 5 Euro and up. Kids will love shopping there. Just remember one thing -keep major cash under wraps and just keep spending money in pants/shirt pocket.