A hard-core consignment store shopper, Connie Bryans doesn't mind being a "secondhand Rose."

"People have this idea that it's not as good, or it's a compromise," Bryans said.

KATHY JEFCOATS/kjefcoats@ajc.com (ENLARGE)

Connie Bryans always checks the labels when she browses consignment shops such as Finders Keepers in Decatur. She looks for and finds bargains on name-brand items.

"Everything I have on, I bought at a consignment shop," the Avondale Estates resident proudly proclaimed, displaying a Kate Spade handbag she snagged for $70 and Ferragamo sandals she snapped up for $40. Each item fetches hundreds of dollars on the retail market. Her striped skirt boasts a high-end boutique label, but she got it for $25.

"Oprah said everyone needs a Brooks Brothers, button-down shirt as a staple in their wardrobe," she said. "But a new shirt is $100. I found one in the consignment shop for $10.

"I always check the labels," said Bryans, whose favorite shop is Finders Keepers in Decatur. It sells clothing at one location and furniture at another, where Bryans recently shopped for patio accessories.

"And it is better to have an idea of what you are looking for and what the retail price is, so you know if you are getting a bargain."

31 ways to save

• Want to save on food? Ask your neighbors 
• Frequent diner saves with coupons by e-mail 
• Shopper works grocery sales 
• Teenage flash for less 
• Fun, cheap getaway as close as a state park or two 
• Borrowing from library cuts costs for avid readers 
• Gamble pays off in lower expenses 
• Exerciser not waiting for DVD to come out 
• Coupons bite into cost of dining out 
• Find it for a fraction of the original price 
• Purge baby items at consignment shops 
• Brazil beckons for savings-smart traveler 
• Old sol — and 'common sense' — cut electric bill 
• Cost-cutting is par for the course 
• Rack up with sales, off-season garments 
• Shopper charts the best prices 
• Public swimming pool refreshing, affordable 
• More-efficient ride picks up cash flow 
• Clean Air deal sweetens switch to a car pool plan 
• Personal trainer trims costs and fees 
• Mom shops early for school needs 
• 'Kids eat free' nights stretch family's budget 
• RVers cut back, consolidate trips 
• Teacher Web sites offer ideas, freebies 
• Mom 'not too proud' to snag a bargain 
• Cheese plates, movies fit budget 
• Take a walk to library; watch a movie for free 
• Volunteer shows way to free theater seats 
• Catch Braves in action for mere peanuts 
• Portrait of thriftiness in designer-wear garb 
• Businessman finds cheap gas via phone 
• Shopper takes bite out of grocery bill 
• Have your own way to save? Please share it with us
• Your Money: Strategies for stretching your dollars
• Saving Dough: Resources for stretching your food dollar