Stop converting from rupees to dollars (you'll starve if you do, because you won't be able to bring yourself to buy food at the local supermarket or grocery store). Done? Read on for the good news...
Thrift stores. Yes, I know what you're thinking: second-hand, used stuff... Ugh! "Humaarey culture mein toh yeh sab nahi chalta hai..." Time to rethink that attitude, most especially if you have kids.
The fact is, that unlike in desh, there is a decent level of quality control as to what makes it to the shelves of thrift stores. If you had a kabadiwalla with awesome quality control, this would be it. Think more along the lines of chor bazaars with functional, usable stuff.
A couple of my favorite buys include a comfy upholstered rocking chair (10 dollars), some really great clothes for all of us and other knick knacks for the house. The thing to remember is that you need to recheck stuff for minor damages that may have been overlooked while putting it out there. But hey, we're used to shopping at places like Fashion Street, Sarojini Nagar and what have you, aren't we? A lot of the stuff can be exchanged so you don't really need to worry on that score, however, not everything can, so a check never hurts.
Then there is Treehouse for Kids which keeps all manner of stuff for kids: from sports items to bags; toys to clothes. The great news here is that since this a consignment store, you can simply bring in stuff that your kids have outgrown to sell them so that some other kids can use them. Of course, things need to be in reasonably good condition.
Majesty is another consignment store for kids but the options and choices seem to be rather limited, though they do have some maternity stuff on offer.
Or there is Rags to Riches in the Redmond downtown area, which specialises in women's clothing, both casual and dressy. You also get that warm fuzzy feeling while shopping here because fully a quarter of all proceeds go towards helping out disadvantaged people in the Bahamas. Also it would be kind of like thumbing your nose at racism by shopping here (The owner was recently traumatised by an incident in which a man left a KKK robe and loose rope in a bag at her store.
For those of who you work in Microsoft (lots of people do, out here - and that is the understatement of the century) check out the sellbuy alias within Microsoft. You often get superb deals there, including houses, if you're so inclined. We picked up a 6-seater Lazyboy recliner for a song. I lie. We included a hip shake too, but what's life without a little song and dance? And I do mean that in all senses of the phrase...
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