You’re reading Jersey Girl Thrift’s bi-weekly newsletter! A quick and fun read, full of second-hand trends, style tips, local sales, store reviews, great reads, and a recipe or two. It’s everything you need to live a thrifty and luscious life.

A Very Merry Trip

Hi friends! Kelli here. By the time you’re reading this, I will be wandering the streets of Austria, drinking mulled cider, eating Viennese cake, and checking off “Christmas Markets of Europe” on my bucket list!

Those who know me know that I am big into both Christmas and travel, so this trip is peak Kelli-coded.

The best part? I booked the entire thing with credit card points! This is not an ad, but I will extoll the virtues of credit card points to anyone who will listen.

I have been a United Mileage credit card holder for years, and have taken countless flights, both domestic and international, using my points.

For hotels, I rely on my Chase Sapphire Preferred, where you can convert the points to Hyatt Hotels. This trip, I’ll be staying at an Andaz location - a 4-star hotel for 4 nights for F R E E .

I’m telling you, thrifty gals, look into the credit card point game - you won’t regret it!

While I am away, we are excited to share this week’s guest contributor, Valerie, who is sharing the perfect way to spend an afternoon in one of our favorite downtowns: Princeton, NJ! Take it away, Valerie!

Secondhand Spotlight: Valerie Javier

Being a proud Jersey girl, my favorite thing to do is explore nearby towns and discover what local gems they have to offer. I am drawn to places that emphasize community. (It’s one of the reasons I adore Jersey Girl Thrift. I love seeing all the connections made at each swap!)

There are so many charming towns in our state that thrive on local businesses– one of my top favorites being Princeton! Here are a few of my favorite second-hand stops in Princeton that make for a perfect weekend adventure.

📍 Princeton Record Exchange

I’ve been craving a Saturday afternoon in Princeton with a specific motivation in mind: I needed to get rid of some clutter!

For years, I collected CDs that once upon a time I used daily. But those days are long gone, and I’m now left with a CD collection gathering dust.

I felt ALL the nostalgia as I was combing through my stockpile that dates back to my teenage years. After a brief moment of reluctance, I thought about how much better it will be knowing the potential joy these CDs might bring someone else and packed them up to bring them into one of my favorite spots, the Princeton Record Exchange.

I headed to Princeton with my heavy bag of nearly 100 CDs (that I made my husband carry) and was greeted by the friendly team at Princeton Record Exchange, who immediately helped me start the trade in process.

They gave me an estimate of how long it would take to appraise the collection and welcomed me to hang out in the store in the meantime.

I have been getting into vinyl lately and had a blast browsing all the different genres and decades of music represented. I was also delighted by the used DVD section, broken up into fun categories such as “The Cinema of Nicolas Cage.”

I made out with a few records and a DVD boxed set of an old show my husband and I adore and cannot find anywhere on streaming– I scored big! 

When I went to check out, the staff had just finished up the trade in for me. They accepted almost all of my CD’s (yes!), minus just a few that were not in sellable condition.

They offered me cash or store credit with a 10% boost over the cash price. I opted for the store credit that paid for a chunk of what I purchased that day, leaving the store feeling lighter and invigorated. 

📍 Small World Coffee

I continued on for an afternoon pick-me-up at one of my favorite local gems, Small World Coffee.

Not only is the coffee absolutely delicious, but the shop itself is adorable! Small World is a pillar of the community as they are always promoting nearby events and showcasing local artists and musicians.

As I waited for my pumpkin cold brew, which tasted infinitely better than any version from a major chain, I noticed a little mailbox at the end of their counter. There was a sign encouraging patrons to write notes to elderly people to be delivered to a local nursing home.

I was more than happy to oblige and was really in awe of such a sweet idea. We need more of this kindness in the world 💌 

📍 The Dinky Bar

Afterwards, my husband and I were feeling peckish and we were lucky to be surrounded by great restaurants! There is so much variety in downtown Princeton, with every kind of cuisine whether you’re looking for sit down or a quick bite!

We opted for The Dinky Bar, a vibey little spot known for creative cocktails and small plates. We sat down at the bar, where the bartender was incredibly warm and struck up conversation with us.

As more guests filled in spots at the bar, it was clear that the bartender remembered all her regulars and greeted them with the same warmth, I felt like I was in an episode of Cheers! I got myself a lavender cocktail and we noshed on an assortment of snacks from bao buns to mini lobster rolls.

We were ready to wrap up our day as stores would be closing soon, but I did scoop some thrift shop recommendations from our delightful bartender that are on my list for next time:

📌 Nearly New
📌 Greene Street
📌 Princeton Consignment

Until then, I’ll be dreaming of my next local Jersey adventures!

Thrift On!

Valerie

Want to share your story with the JGT community?

We already love swapping outfits. Why not swap stories too? Share your thrift tips, NJ musings, or spooky-season style ideas by filling out our contributor form below. We’ll help shape it and make sure your voice shines in a future newsletter. It’s the perfect way to promote your brand, project, or passion to the JGT community. 💌