Basic household stuff: cheapest?

not really, seems higher to me but unless you go to a used store you have no choice. does stt have good yard sales?

Thanks speedy, Yea, new island trader I guess comes out tomorrow so I will look. I just read and old post about a cash and carry place is that still open? Where exactly is it?

Kmart is not a bad choice for basics - CostU Less also has some good quality pots pans and other basic items - The house sales every weekend around the island are really good for furniture and small appliances - the used furniture store in Lindberg Bay just West of the airport turn has some good deals over time - Home Again in Red Hook is worth a visit - there is a new used furniture place in Bovoni but I haven't been - Winnies in Frenchtown has some interesting inventory - Island Emporium has things on sale sometimes - I don't know if the Humane society still has a Sunday Flea market - maybe Price Smart, I rarely stop there. Watch for sales at all these places it is often a great deal. I shopped at Kmart last week helping a friend and was surprised at checkout when they said almost everything we had was 40% off - she went back and got more!
This time of year isn't the best for house sales, after season there seems to be a lot more transiency so if you are planning on staying, go slow on acquisitions and don't try to furnish everything at once - start simple and each new item purchased over time will be a treat and give you more pleasure and feelings of luxury - network! - and often people will offer to give or sell cheaply things they have found extraneous, outgrown the use for, are downsizing, have packed away, or bought and never used much or at all.
Glad to hear you found a place to live and I hope you feel comfortable and happy to be here.

It all depends ion what you need. I usually check Island Fair and Cash and Carry if KMart doesn't have what I'm looking for.

Home Depot is another great source for many home goods on St Thomas.

Wow THANK U! Awesome info. I'm loving it except those damn steep drives. I'm really wondering when I will get used to it, it makes my stomach flip and my anxiety through the roof! We've been driving all over and my BF has the island down already as far as directions. I get lost in a cul de sac so I'm a slow study on what's where LOL! If you see a blonde screaming with eyes closed while going up or down the steep hills: it's just me . HA! Great idea on waiting until after season for some of the bigger stuff sounds like a plan.

I have noticed the "at arms reach" that some have mentioned BUT I have really taken note that if I make a joke, or make quick convo, everyone really opens right up.

Side note: what about Ikea? Is it worth the time to find a shipper to accept the package? I was reading they won't ship direct here but will ship to a middle man kinda thing. How's that work? Anyone bought stuff from them?

A lot of Ikea products are made of pressed wood - this just doesn't hold up in our climate - it swells up, is gourmet food to termites and bugs and often the hardware rusts starting on arrival. A solid wood product is much better here. There are some freight forwarders in Fla. that will consolidate a load [called LTL] and ship it here.
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"a blonde screaming with eyes closed while going up or down the steep hills: " -- please don't drive with your eyes closed.

Kmart for baiscs. Home Again is priced crazy high, but I like the inventory. Exit's correct. Don't try to completely furnish your new home off the bat. You'll make friends and "stuff"will come to you. I've made major purchases in Fajardo PR and be able to arrange cheep shipping.

A lot of Ikea products are made of pressed wood - this just doesn't hold up in our climate - it swells up, is gourmet food to termites and bugs and often the hardware rusts starting on arrival. A solid wood product is much better here. There are some freight forwarders in Fla. that will consolidate a load [called LTL] and ship it here.
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"a blonde screaming with eyes closed while going up or down the steep hills: " -- please don't drive with your eyes closed.

Lol I'm not driving, I shoulda said passengers seat! Haha.

Wow THANK U! Awesome info. I'm loving it except those damn steep drives. I'm really wondering when I will get used to it, it makes my stomach flip and my anxiety through the roof! We've been driving all over and my BF has the island down already as far as directions. I get lost in a cul de sac so I'm a slow study on what's where LOL! If you see a blonde screaming with eyes closed while going up or down the steep hills: it's just me . HA! Great idea on waiting until after season for some of the bigger stuff sounds like a plan.

I have noticed the "at arms reach" that some have mentioned BUT I have really taken note that if I make a joke, or make quick convo, everyone really opens right up.

Side note: what about Ikea? Is it worth the time to find a shipper to accept the package? I was reading they won't ship direct here but will ship to a middle man kinda thing. How's that work? Anyone bought stuff from them?

We outfitted our entire condo on STX with stuff from Ikea. We did make sure we chose only lines made of pure wood, not the pressed-board stuff. It's held up well, in a pretty difficult environment. We bought it at the Ikea near Ft. Lauderdale and shipped to STX via VI Cargo, which was about 20 miles from the FLL Ikea store.

We initially thought we'd buy furniture on island, but after seeing what was available at the local stores, and the quality and prices of those pieces, we ultimately decided the Ikea route was the best way to go. It turned out to be a very good decision. We got what we wanted, at a good price, and of better quality than the stuff at the local stores. The only downside is we spent a week putting it all together!

Bernie

Walmart will still ship household stuff, just not most grocery items.
If you choose the "Home free" eligible items, shipping is free (over $45).
Most times it will arrive within the week, to Stx, so I assume it'll be about the same to Stt.

PriceSmart has some pretty good prices on small items as well.
They have towels, sheets, rugs, some furniture, small kitchen appliances, etc.
The No Flea market at Humane Society is open and they do have furniture items.
I think they open on Wed., Sat. and Sundays @ 11AM but you should call them to check - 775-0599

I found the sheets and towels that we bought at KMart to be absolute garbage -- not long before they ended up as rags and beach towels. I paid more for it, too, than the much better quality linens that I found online at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

They had a sale when I was by there at K-mart on Tues.
Great sheet sets that do last and wear well for 54.99 down from their regular price of $85 plus.
Those same sheets used be cost around $63.00 - 2 yrs. ago.

I don't like the sheet sets at PriceSmart - They wrinkle like crazy when washed and on dryer settings and stay wrinkled, like crazy.
You can hang them in the breeze and the wrinkles still don't go away.
I am not one to be ironing sheets.

Their towels are pretty good.

KMart sells a variety of sheets and some are better than others. I like the set I'm using now, but didn't like the other set I bought at same time. I'll see if the label gives enough detail to find them again if they're still available.

I buy many items from Cash and Carry in 4 Winds. I like the fact that they sell dishes by the each instead of packages of things I don't want. It's amazing what all they have in there! The ladies in there can tell you where to find an item even if you're not sure what it's called. If you're familiar with Big Lots or Odd Lots (not sure of the names now) in the States, this is the STT equivalent. Great rainy day activity.

Thanks everyone! Got the basics today- cash and carry is awesome. Gonna go back tomorrow when I have time to actually look around. Great rugs for sure. I think I saw a sign for the humane society having a sale tomorrow? Anyone know where? Didnt see it in the island trader. Thanks!

Thanks everyone! Got the basics today- cash and carry is awesome. Gonna go back tomorrow when I have time to actually look around. Great rugs for sure. I think I saw a sign for the humane society having a sale tomorrow? Anyone know where? Didnt see it in the island trader. Thanks!

Humane Society is on Weymoth Rhymer Highway, right at the lights across from where you turn in to go to Cost U Less.
Dirt road and there's a sign. They open at 11AM - not sure what time they close. 775-0599

If you are coming from Cost U less to the lights at intersection, it is directly across the road.
If you are looking for something in particular, furniture wise, ask someone as they have things downstairs in another location that they use for storage. Beds, headboards and other items.

Humane Society thrift shop only open Wed, Sat, and Sun. I think it closes at 3. They could be open more often if they had more volunteers.

We're gonna take a look tomorrow. I hope to have time to volunteer once I have a job and learn the rhythm of the island a bit better. We finally got power today YEA!! Neighbors are all coming out to meet us and are all SOOO great, offering to help us in any way needed. Where I'm from that's sadly NOT the way it is. I'm glad that aspect of our adventure is really is living up to expectations.

Ha ha "fresh meet". (pun intended.) You'll find most people are interested in making new friends. Network network network. Keep posting let us know how everything turns out for y'all.

There's a moving sale at 4corners today at 10am.
Also, I get a lot of stuff from Macy's (towels, linens, ect,) . they ship free over a certain amount and they always have huge sales.

Dave sells used hotel furniture in Bovoni on Saturdays. Usually stuff from the Marriott or Ritz. Worth looking in to. The new Re Use place in Bovoni has some great stuff as well(closed Thursdays). They are in separate areas of Bovoni. Dave's in Bovoni Center and The Re Use place is by the storage unit place dowm the street on the road before Premier Wines and Spirits.

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