Family Thrift Haul — What $140 Gets You When You Shop With Jonathan and Hannah

Our family thrift haul this Saturday was one of those really good days — the kind where you find a little something for everybody and come home feeling like you won. Hannah is the one who got me back into thrifting. I hadn’t really done it since high school, and honestly, those blue plates you always see on my walls behind me in my videos? I started collecting those in high school at thrift stores. So when Hannah started going, I thought, why not? Now we try to go once a month or so, and it is less about the stuff and more about the time together and the thrill of the find. This Saturday was actually my Mother’s Day treat — me, Hannah, and Jonathan hit a few stores and spent $140 total for the whole family.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting StephanieCooksForACrowd.com!

Watch the full haul video above — or keep reading below.

Family Thrift Haul — What We Found for $140

Jonathan wanted to go first and do his section on his own, which — yes, that is everything. He came home with an Attack on Titan shirt that he was absolutely thrilled about, a water bottle, cool shorts, and then because he always heads straight for the books at Goodwill, he picked up an AP Biology test prep book. That kid. I love him so much. He also took it upon himself to pick out mugs for his sisters, which I did not ask him to do and which made my heart so full. He found a sunflower “You Are My Sunshine” mug for his little sister (she loves sunflowers and she loves that song — he did perfectly), a brown coffee bistro mug for Hannah (Hannah doesn’t drink coffee but she likes the browns, and it is a pretty mug), and two K mugs for Kira because her full name is just impossible to find anywhere. He got her two K’s. That’s our Jonathan.

I found a few things for myself too — a pretty green mug I am absolutely keeping, a hubby-approved mug, and then I got a little carried away in the clothing section for Jonathan. Three t-shirts and three pairs of shorts from Goodwill, plus two pairs of shorts still with the original tags on from another store. He has just moved into adult male sizes so I am adjusting to the slightly higher price point, but tags-on shorts for $8 each felt like a real win. I also found a red decorative piece that I have no specific plan for yet but I know somewhere in my kitchen needs it, a “Family and Friends Welcome” sign that spoke to me (it was $8.99, more than I usually spend, but I really liked it), and a little basket I am hoping the cats do not claim — spoiler, they have already sat in every single one of the other baskets I brought home.

The Cookbook Score — Including a 53-Year-Old Find

The real score of the day was the cookbooks. I found a pasta sauce cookbook, a hot barbecue book I am excited to learn from, and then four Taste of Home Holiday and Celebrations cookbooks that were on clearance for 25 cents each — I got all four for $1.25. And then there was the Campbell’s 100 Best Recipes book. I have taken a lot of good-natured flak over the years for my love of cream soups, so I figured I might as well lean in. The best find though was a pasta sauce cookbook that is genuinely 53 years old. It was written in 1972 — the year I was born — and someone had written their name and the date inside the front cover in handwriting. April 11, 1972. The oldies really are the best sometimes.

Family Thrift Haul FAQ

What stores did you go to for this family thrift haul?

We hit a few different stores — Goodwill was the main stop, plus a couple of other local thrift stores in the area. Going to more than one store is part of the fun. Each one has a different inventory and you never know what you are going to find at each spot.

How do you budget for a thrift haul with a big family?

We went in with a loose $140 budget and that covered everyone — Jonathan’s clothes and books, mugs for the girls, my cookbooks and home finds, and Hannah’s haul (which she took straight to her room before the video even finished). Thrifting is genuinely one of the most budget-friendly ways to shop for a big family because the price ceiling is just so much lower than retail. My rule is usually that clothing should be under $5, but I will stretch for something with tags still on.

Does Jonathan enjoy thrifting?

He loves it. He has his system — he heads straight for the shirts, picks his own, and then goes to the books every single time without fail. Watching him shop independently and pick out gifts for his sisters without anyone suggesting it is one of those small moments that just gets you. He knew exactly what each of them would love.

What do you look for when thrifting for a family?

Clothes with tags still on, cookbooks in good condition, baskets and home decor that have some character, and mugs — always mugs. I try not to go in with a strict list because half the joy is finding something you were not looking for. I do avoid anything that needs major repair or cleaning that is not worth the effort, but a little wash and a good home is usually all most thrift finds need.

How often does your family go thrifting?

We aim for about once a month, and it has become something Hannah and I really look forward to. She is the one who got me back into it after years away — I used to thrift all through high school and then just stopped. Now it is one of our things, and when Jonathan can come along it is even better. This particular trip was my Mother’s Day treat, which tells you everything you need to know about what I actually enjoy doing.

More Family Life You’ll Love

• A Day in the Life of Our Sweet Son Jon — Down Syndrome, Big Heart, Best Life — a full day with Jonathan, exactly as it is.
• Daughter Graduated College Today and My Mama Cup Is Overflowing — the day Hannah walked across that stage and I held it together (barely).
• $200 Grocery Haul — A Full Week of Meals for My Family of 7 — when the haul is for the fridge instead of the shelves.

Want a little note from my table every Saturday? Join my weekly newsletter — recipes, family moments, and whatever’s happening at the Longstreth house. Sign up here.

Family Thrift Haul — About Stephanie Longstreth

Stephanie Longstreth is the home cook, mom, and storyteller behind StephanieCooksForACrowd.com. She cooks for a family of seven in Florida — five kids, two cats, and one husband who appreciates a good meal. Four of her children came home through adoption, and family stories are woven into everything she makes and shares. Find her crowd-friendly recipes, weekly meal plans, and real family life on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest @stephaniecooksforacrowd.