Why I Shop At Thrift Stores

In all of my purging, one of the things that I have gotten rid of the most, has been clothing. If you think about it, clothing really, is just something you put on to cover up. Pretty basic. What we do, is make clothing into a “label” about who we are. We use clothing as a fashion statement. We use clothing as a status symbol. We use clothing as a statement saying “we have it all together if I ‘look’ like I have it all together.” Clothing is more than just clothing.

Shopping is a hobby for some. Thankfully shopping is something I haven’t ever been that in to. My one-day-a-year, shopping with my mom for school clothes, was about the only day I WOULD go shopping. Really, I was just looking forward to Sbarro’s for lunch and shopping with my mom.

What has struck me the most when doing all this purging, was the amount of money I had spent on clothes. I am NOT a big spender. Never really have been. But when you look at a bag or two that you just filled up with clothes to get rid of, you can’t help but look at the dollar signs too. When I was in college, I started to shop at second-hand stores like the Salvation Army and Goodwill. I started to frequent those places more often, as I knew “new” clothes cost over double what I would pay at a second-hand store. I have since continued this trend, even into my married life. I have learned that clothes truly, are something we only wear, get sick of, then by “new” again. That “new” for me, just so happens to be second-hand clothes.

Have you thought about shopping at thrift stores? If you do, why do you? I would love to hear your thoughts! Here are a few reasons why I shop at thrift stores and the how-tos:

1. Know what you need – one reason why people don’t shop at thrift stores is because it is too time-consuming. Although, most thrift stores now have their clothes color-coordinated AND by type (short-sleeve, long-sleeve, etc.). If you know what you need and roughly what color, you can quickly jump in and out if you are persistent and consciously not look at everything else.

2. If you do have some time, peruse through more if you can – you would be surprised at what you can find. This thought might fall into the trap of “buying more than what you need,” so be careful. The whole idea of living with less, is buying only what you need. Don’t fall into the consumerism trap of buying something just because it’s a great deal.

3. Know the sale dates – at Goodwill and the Salvation Army, certain tag colors are a certain percent off that day. I know at Goodwill, often Saturdays are half-off days. Be ready for craziness on those days, but also be ready to find a good deal!

4. Try to get over the “brand name syndrome.” I remember in my childhood days, kids wearing a certain brand of something, meant something. I feel like today, if you have something from American Eagle, Abercrombie, or even J.Crew, people think “oh, they have the name brand stuff.” But really, how often do you actually see the brand name? I have learned, that no matter what brand it is, typically it can wear out just as fast. Yes, certain items wash better than others – I will admit that. But I have found that whether I have a name-brand pair of jeans or an off-brand, they last just as long. It’s all about what you do in them. At second-hand stores, you will be surprised at how often you can find name-brand items. At the same time, I have often bought “off-brand” and they are just as good of quality. I know some may disagree with me on this one, but for me personally, I have gotten over the whole name-brand thing.

5. One the biggest reasons I shop at second-hand stores: SAVES MONEY.
I went to Goodwill awhile back and here are my findings:

Because clothes are often something we get sick of and want new of often, I have a hard time spending a lot of money on them. One thing I do spend more money on are dress pants – it is hard to find pants that have a 37″ inseam, so I often have to buy those new.

6. Helps the community. Shopping at second-hand stores is a great way to repurpose something. When I do, if I remember, I try to bring in a bag of my own “stuff” that I no longer need. Then when I need something, I stop in. The best part is when you are looking through the store and see something you have donated! In a way, it is a satisfying feeling because you know it hasn’t gone to waste and you are just joining in on the repurposing idea. Not to mention, second-hand stores provide jobs, resources, and opportunities for the community as well.

7. It is fun. I personally find a lot of enjoyment in shopping second-hand. I have found games that I was going to buy new, but found them for $1.00 or $2 at a thrift store. It is amazing what you can find at these places – it just takes time and a little patience. It is fun to find a steal of a deal, run home to your husband, and tell him how much money you saved! I have gotten more compliments on my clothes that come from second-hand stores, than from the ones I bought new from a store. Goes to show it doesn’t matter where it comes from!

What do you enjoy most about second-hand stores? What do you dislike the most?