With the start of the fall semester looming in the distance, some students are on the hunt for cheap thrills to spruce up their dorm or apartment.

In addition to checking out garage sales or bringing hand-me-down furniture from home, students can also find inexpensive necessities at Goodwill, the Salvation Army Thrift Store and Donation Center and The Country Store.

“We think that 25 to 30 percent of our customers are NIU students,” said Shannon Halverson, Goodwill public relations and marketing manager. “They [students] don’t have to travel all around; they can usually find just about everything they need at Goodwill.”

Goodwill, located at 1037 S. Annie Glidden Road, offers student discount days every Thursday during which students can get 10 percent off their entire purchase, as long as they have their student ID. The store also offers dollar day sales today and July 19, during which all regularly-priced items in the store cost $1.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store and Donation Center, located at 1814 Sycamore Road, also sees a lot of student shoppers. About 20 percent of sales come from students, said manager Dave Dunlab. The Salvation Army offers a 10 percent student discount every day as long as the customer has a student ID.

“We really miss [students] right now; we can tell the difference,” Dunlab said. “The Salvation Army does a lot of wonderful things for needy people. It’s a good way to give to somebody else that is needy.”

Both the Salvation Army and Goodwill sell used furniture, clothes, and housewares. Also, each store offers a pick-up service for donations.

The Country Store, 659 E. Lincoln Highway, is another thrift store in the downtown area that offers clothes, pictures, lamps, books and small furniture.

“We are a not-for-profit, and all the money that we earn goes to the Family Service Agency,” said store manager Ann Thompson. “The Family Service Agency is the umbrella for Big Brothers Big Sisters, the counseling center and the senior centers. That makes us a little different because all our money goes to the agency.”

The Country Store is made up of all volunteers and accepts donations anytime the store is open.