Happy Friday! So….I was recently perusing Instagram and saw that a fellow thrift lover had won some cash in this monthly contest held by ThriftStoreRunway.com.  I thought, “what the heck,” let me check it out.

So I go to the site, read over the rules, and submit myself (here’s the outfit I submitted). The rules state that the majority of the outfit you enter has to be second hand and shouldn’t exceed a $50 limit (or that article of clothing won’t be included in the judging, and you may be asked to provide receipts for proof of purchase). “I have a ton of those,” I thought…and there’s also no limit to the number of times you can submit each month.  If 49 people or less enter each month, they will award 5 individuals $100 each; however, if  50 people or more enter, they will award the winners $500 each (plus they’ll make a contribution to a thrifting charity of your choice for both prizes). Lining your pockets….and giving back — a definite win-win!

Fast forward a month later…I get an email stating that the outfit I had submitted had won a $500 prize, and they would just need a W-9 to send me my check.  What?! Really? For real?! Now, I gotta admit….I was more than a little skeptical. I mean….I don’t like giving out things like my social security number all willy-nilly.  So I asked a fellow blogger if she’d worked with them (Patrice, of Looking Fly On a Dime), did my due diligence — got a tax ID for the company, and  checked them out online.  Seemed legit.

So…now I’m at my mailbox yesterday….and what do I see? A check for $500 — what a way to start the year!   I highly recommend this site….entry is easy, and what better reward can you get for all those photos we take showcasing our latest looks anyway?  Kudos to the folks over at Templeton Press and Thrift Store Runway who know a good deal when they see it…AND put their money where their mouth is!