For these thrifting friends, it's the 'thrill of the hunt'

Me neither, until my pal Susan Stubbs explained about it. We've known each other forever. We was raised together and spent zhen de shou our summers by the pool. Still do.

One day last week, Susan said, "Come thrifting around!"
She explained that a number of her friends from Knox Junior high school, where she teaches sixth grade, goes thrifting a minimum of 3 times a year. They visit area thrift stores, looking for bargains. Some of them make lists, some don't. They simply wanna see what's out there.
"It's the thrill from the hunt," Susan said.
It seemed like fun, so I agreed to go with them on their next expedition.
It's seeing Friday morning when we all meet at Panera Bread. Over glasses of steaming coffee, Renee Cunningham explains how this all works.
"Are the ringmaster of this circus?" I ask Renee.
She laughs. "No, I'm the tour guide."
She plans the trips. Sometimes the women go to Mooresville. In other cases, they visit Winston-Salem. That's where we're going on this particular morning.
"We will often have to take several car," Renee says. "My dream would be to rent a van and us all match."
Today's first stop, Renee says, is really a large Goodwill complex in Winston-Salem. It features a jobs center, retail side and outlet side. At the outlet side, she says, you pay through the pound.
"That really throws people initially," she says.
I'd soon find out why.
The following stop is always to Mega Thrift -- another thrift store, obviously -- remodel which will to the Habitat Re-Store.
The audience takes these trips in summertime, at Veterans Day and also at springbreak. Most work or have worked at Knox. Renee, for example, now works at Knollwood Elementary School in the media center.
Two other medication is within this morning's group. Ginger Thockmore teaches at Knox. Paula Hodges is a teacher assistant at Hurley Elementary School. She and Susan used to teach preschool together.
"We've had a couple ditch us," Susan says coming in the doorway, therefore the morning's group is complete. Between 4 to 8 women go thrifting together.
All of them accept what Susan said concerning the "thrill of the hunt."
"My whole home comes from thrift stores," Paula says. "Furniture, clothes, kids' clothes. I can not afford to shop every other way."
"It's my hobby," Renee says.
The women agree that there was once a stigma associated in shopping with thrift stores. Not so much anymore.
"Our students think it's cool now," Paula says.
"I think there are closet people who go thrifting plus they don't wish to be honest," Renee says. "We have no shame."
Susan isn't embarrassed to look at thrift stores whatsoever, and often tells anyone who will listen just how much she paid for the outfit she's wearing.
"We love it!" Susan says. "It's very addictive."
Susan is always on the super slim green lean lookout for Ann Taylor dresses and skirts. She likes wearing skirts or dresses to college, because they're comfortable and since she thinks it looks more professional.