Some thrift out of necessity. Others, for the thrill of the hunt. 

From scoring vintage gems to uncovering unexpected bargains, teachers Jolene Pitzenberger-Timp and Jamie Smith have turned second-hand shopping into a passion far beyond saving money.

“I’ve been thrifting since forever,” Pitzenberger-Timp said. “When I was little, we always went to the Depot Outlet in Decorah, and then there was a place similar to that in New Hampton.”

Pitzenberger-Timp does not go in with a specific goal. “You have to go in with an open mind,” she said.

Likewise, Smith used to go thrifting as a teen.

“When I was a teenager, it was fun to go to different stores with my friends,” Smith said. “It continues to be fun.”

People thrift for many reasons. Some to save money or to find one-of-a-kind pieces. 

“You might go to the mall and spend $300, coming home with only five things,” Pitzenberger-Timp said. “I’d wear it to school, I’d get paint on it, and I’d ruin it. So I thought, I’m going to buy second-hand things instead.”

Some people don’t search for clothing at all while thrifting. Smith searches for other items.

“I always look for books, and my husband always looks for records,” Smith said.

Getting extremely lucky is always a big win for thrifters.

“I found a fur coat that was from a fur company in Cedar Rapids. I found it at the Dyersville Goodwill,” Pitzenberger-Timp said. “I would guesstimate, it’s probably worth around $500. I got it for 99 cents years ago.”

Scoring a high-end find for just a fraction of its value is part of the thrill of thrifting. But beyond incredible deals, thrifting also offers the chance to discover unique pieces that stand out.

“At vintage shops in bigger cities, I usually like to find a fun piece, like a unique dress, or something like that, that you can’t really find in small-town Iowa,” Smith said.

Thrifting isn’t just about finding low-priced items; for many families, it’s a necessity. Pitzenberger-Timp’s parents introduced Pitzenberger-Timp and her siblings to thrifting due to their tight budget growing up.

Many families have created traditions. One of Pitzenberger-Timps’ traditions is going to garage sales, a different type of thrifting.

“I used to take my children to garage sales,” Pitzenberger-Timp said. “We’d have so much fun.”

As Pitzenberger-Timp’s kids grew older, they didn’t find it as fun to go thrifting with their mom as they used to.

“But the irony is, I will bring home stuff, and I’ll never see it again,” Pitzenberger-Timp said. “My daughter will steal it up.”