Thrift store finds (Elizabeth Bird)
At this point, thrifting is a part of military culture. Military families borrow furniture and kitchen supplies every time they move. Many will purge most of their belongings during a PCS, pocket some money to move themselves to their next duty location, and then scour Facebook Marketplace to refurbish their homes. What a lovely advantage thrifting is, too. Not only is it economical and good for the environment, but it also gives you a chance to switch up your décor and style in a budget-friendly way. Usually, as we grow and evolve, so does our fashion and décor sense.
I love that thrifting is intertwined with military culture. It shows that we are down-to-earth, frugal and gritty when we need to be (those temporary lodging couches are not the comfiest).
As an Army spouse and Veteran, I love a good thrift haul.
The military thrift stores in Germany are some of the best I’ve ever seen. They are sprinkled with amazing souvenirs and one-of-a-kind European treasures that can be cherished for years. But they are all different and a little spread out from one another. Therefore, a review and haul from those in striking distance of the KMC region is due to inform other avid thrifters in the military community!
Thrift store finds (Elizabeth Bird)
Wiesbaden Community Spouses’ Club Thrift Shop
The Wiesbaden thrift store on Hainerburg army base is in an old Exchange building, and for good reason! This store is massive! It has copious amounts of everything that you need. They have different color price tags, and there are different discounts for different colors each day. Sometimes, they discount select colors up to 75% off. Out of all the thrift stores in this review, this is the main pick for furniture by far!
You name it, and they have it: dining room sets, desks, rugs, chairs, couches bedframes! They also have everything you need for kitchen supplies, with most pots and pans averaging $3. They have tons of clothes, everything you can think of! I found some reasonably priced lederhosen ($8) and dirndls ($30).
Thrift store finds (Elizabeth Bird)
This store is a hotspot for unique European finds. There was a vast Polish pottery collection with prices averaging about 75% lower than retail. Scan through the hanging art, and you’ll find something uniquely European! There was a gorgeous medieval-looking reproduction on a wooden slab. It was $6, and I’ve been kicking myself for not snagging that!
Oh yeah, did I mention that an entire section is dedicated to just clearance items? Talk about a steal! I meant it when I said this place was massive. I found two unique copper-plated drinking glasses (I collect copper pieces) for 25 cents each. I was stationed in Wiesbaden in the Army and saw many retirees end up living there. This store is so great, thanks to the many military families who have dug their roots into the Wiesbaden area and can supply that store with many different items.
Thrift store finds (Elizabeth Bird)
KLSA Landstuhl Thrift Shop
This thrift store makes me scream one word, CLOTHES! There are many children’s and men’s clothes, but they are packed with women’s clothes. Calf-hair loafers, Italian leather kitten heels, Italian lamb sports jackets, Ann Taylor blouses, express dress pants, everything you need to vamp up your style. I was so surprised by the women’s clothes that I thought maybe some European fashionista donated her entire wardrobe, but everything was in different sizes! You will indeed find something here regardless of your shoe or clothes size.
Not to mention that everything was decently priced. Shoes and clothes averaged $2-$4, with jackets averaging $5-$8. Their toy selection was fair and had decent prices. Toy prices are important because I love taking my 5-year-old daughter thrifting with me and letting her find a few treasures. That’s hard to do sometimes when toys are expensive. But this store had toys averaging $1-$2. For example, my daughter left with a $1 Barbie, a $2 Barbie Jeep, and a $1 Fancy Nancy CD player with 3 CDs. My haul included a $2 all-clad pot, a $3 European print in a frame, and $2 ballet flats.
My daughter and I had so much fun here with great prices and the selection of clothes, shoes, kitchen items, appliances, toys and décor. However, there was no furniture for sale.
Thrift Store finds (Elizabeth Bird)
Ramstein Enlisted Spouses’ Association (RESA) Thrift Shop
The RESA thrift store is on the larger side, with many clothes, books, toys, kitchen supplies, linens, lamps, gardening supplies and décor. However, like the nearby Landstuhl thrift store, there was no furniture for sale the multiple times I went. Don’t fret, though, this store is a lovely treasure trove with amazing finds.
While prices are higher compared to the rest of the thrift stores in this review (especially the toys), the quality of the items tends to be higher as well. I left the store with a $6 stainless steel KitchenAid toaster, a $12 KitchenAid food processor, an $8 German stainless-steel pot and pan, and a $4, 12-inch marble statue of a Greek goddess from Greece (still with its euro price tag of £99). Not a bad haul at all!
Thrift store finds (Elizabeth Bird)
KMCC Airman’s Attic
My compliments go out to the amazing team that runs the Airman’s Attic. Everyone conversed with me, helped me find items and genuinely cared that I was getting what I needed. One gentleman even searched the inventory in the back to help my husband find polos for work. This thrift store is the epitome of a military community resource. On their Facebook page, they encourage higher ranks (E-7 and above) to limit trips to the store to 2 times per month. Don’t be taken aback; they welcome everyone in with open arms, and I saw an extensive range of ranks in that store.
Thrift store find (Elizabeth Bird)
This store is a little small, but has an amazing variety of items. Lots of adult clothes, toys, board games/puzzles, shoes, home décor and baby items. There are even some lovely furniture pieces sprinkled here and there. But where this store really shines is the kitchen and appliance section. Here, you will find everything you need for your kitchen. So far, my haul from the Airman’s Attic includes a retro ‘70s German bench, a Moroccan footstool, a German stein, a French teacup and a French wall décor piece. Quite the eclectic finds, I know!
Thrift store find (Elizabeth Bird)
