- Fulfills Steps 1 and 4 of GSUSA Budget Builder badge requirements.
Items Needed:
- Printed “Secondhand Scavenger List” (see below)
- Pencil or crayon
- Clipboard or something to write on
- Optional: Calculator
Instructions (Estimated Time: 25–50 minutes at the location):
- Go on a Price Hunt (15-30 minutes)
- At the thrift store or garage sale, scouts work individually, in pair, or in small groups to try to find as many items from the scavenger list as they can.
- They write down:
- The price they see for each secondhand item
- Whether it’s in good condition
- (Optional) A note if they’d want to buy it or why not
- Compare with New Prices (5–10 minutes)
- On the list, each item includes its average new price.
- Scouts compare what they found to what the item costs new to see how much could be saved by buying secondhand.
- Share and Reflect (5–8 minutes)
- After the trip, scouts share:
- Which item had the biggest savings
- Which items they found in good shape
- What secondhand shopping helps us do (save money, reduce waste, reuse items)
- After the trip, scouts share:
Secondhand Budget Scavenger List
Choose at least five items from the list. Write down the secondhand price you find, then compare it to the average new price to see how much money could be saved.
| Item | Average New Price |
|---|---|
| Backpack | $25 |
| Chapter book | $8 |
| T-shirt | $10 |
| Hoodie or jacket | $30 |
| Toy or board game | $15 |
| Lunchbox | $12 |
| Crayons or markers | $6 |
| Shoes (kid size) | $25 |
| Stuffed animal | $10 |
| Puzzle | $8 |
| Hat or cap | $10 |
| Water bottle | $8 |
| Pajamas | $15 |
| Socks (fun or new pack) | $7 |
| Small backpack or drawstring bag | $10 |
| Craft kit (opened or sealed) | $12 |
| Hair accessories (pack or case) | $6 |
| Sports ball (like soccer or basketball) | $12 |
| Reusable tote or lunch sack | $8 |
| Light jacket or vest | $18 |
The Badge Archive 