Looking to outfit your new home or yourself? Perhaps you’ll travel to Bungalow (273 Augusta, 416-598-0204), which has a basement full of retro furniture, as well as a great sale rack offering men’s vintage shirts and women’s blouses, dresses and jackets. Black Market (319 Queen W., 416-591-7945) offers silkscreened t-shirts and vintage duds, and a sales associate there recently blew our minds by telling us that all items are now 50 per cent off, all the time!
If you’re more of a grandma at heart, try Goodwill (345 Bloor E., 416-815-4749) for floral-print couches and an assortment of used clothing and household items. But the biggest bargains are up in Scarborough, where everything is $2 a pound at Goodwill Buy the Pound (50 Emblem Ct., 416-815-4773). It’s a long TTC ride away, but could be worth it to nab a bicycle, clothing and new sunglasses for under $20.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more for your recycled goods, head to Cindiloowho (134 Ossington, 416-538-7887), which offers cool vintage furniture you can definitely afford if you have a roommate. Then hit Green Is Black (624 Yonge, 416-454-5650), which has fashion for the eco-conscious, including an amazing clutch made of candy wrappers ($25). Pair that with an outfit from Freedom Clothing Collective (939 Bloor W., www.freedomclothingcollective.com), a store run by young local designers and crafters. Or pick up jewellery made by independent artists at Made You Look (1273 Queen W., 416-516-9595) in Parkdale.
Planning on studying all night? Winkel (1107 Queen E., 416-465-4247) will make a personalized lampshade for you ($75-$350) and offers knick-knacks to spruce up a dull wall. Umbra (165 John, 416-599-0088) has cheap home accessories and furniture, from picture frames to garbage cans. For more cheap housewares, head to Chinatown (along Spadina between College and Queen). Or hit Honest Ed’s (581 Bloor W., 416-537-1574), where you can also pick up granny-style tops, white t-shirts and slip-on shoes, or dig through the bin of great silk (well, maybe not real silk) scarves.