Shopping on a Budget in Boston

by Christine Liu - Citysearch Editor - 69 Reviews - 104 Lists

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Updated: November 09, 2009

We often stretch our dollar so far that it's practically gossamer--sound familiar? Accordingly, we've got a few hidden nooks in Boston where we like spending a little to get a lot, whether it be an upgrade on our wardrobe or apartment. As long as you don't mind digging a little for treasure at area vintage boutiques, discount stores and second-hand shops, a dose of creativity can make any pauper's budget fit for a palace.

(Photo: Courtesy of the Garment District)

Good Buys

  1. 1 So Good Jewelry
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    443 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 (map)

    The sheer quantity of sparkly accessories in this place could outpace Liberace, with a veritable armada of earrings for every trend and necklaces draped in every color, plus tiaras, bangles, studs, tiaras and hair clips, with almost nothing more than $10. Styles range from chintzy to runway-ready. Take a tray from a sales associate to place and organize your growing pile of can't-live-without finds.

  2. 2 3.5 Star Rating: Average Cambridge Antique Market
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    201 Msgr O' Brien Hwy, Cambridge, MA 02141 (map)

    This four-story emporium, filled with multiple vendors hawking everything from painted headboards to old-school bicycles to '70s kitchenware, is like a candy store for the vintage obsessive. There's stuff at every price point (care for overpriced artwork?), but a little searching reveals one-of-a-kind showpieces: a faceted yellow-glass ashtray for $8, an etched cocktail shaker for $20 or a head-turning feathered cap for $35.

  3. 3 3.5 Star Rating: Average Urban Outfitters
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    11 Jfk St, Cambridge, MA 02138 (map)

    Everyone knows Urban Outfitters, but the bargain basement at the Harvard Square location is the motherlode for slashed prices and insane discounts. There's plenty of sale clothing and accessories, but the best deals are slapped on the housewares, which go for pennies compared to original prices: frames for $5, rugs for $10, painfully trendy tchotchkes for a dollar apiece. it's always worth a stop in to look.

  4. 4 4 Star Rating: Recommended Garment District
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    200 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139 (map)

    Although the famous "dollar-a-pound" section at this zany vintage store is actually $1 per pound on Fridays only and $1.50 per pound all other days, it's still a ridiculous deal for stuff found by digging though a knee-deep pool of clothes. You'll never know what you'll find: shirts, sleeping bags, slips, sweaters. The system is engineered for serendipity, not efficiency--so dive right in.

  5. 5 4 Star Rating: Recommended Boomerangs
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    716 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (map)

    Anything goes at this thrift shop extraordinaire, which takes donations and uses proceeds from sales to benefit AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts. Way more colorful than your garden-variety secondhand shop, Boomerangs is stocked with diamond-in-the-rough clothes, furniture, personal accessories and housewares. Though the store is relatively clean and organized, take your time to sift through the trash-meets-treasure trove.