12 Reasons Why You Should Be Thrift Shopping!
Long before thrift shopping was cool, I was doing it to stretch my budget and because I just couldn’t afford new things. In fact, my parents did the same thing! I grew up on hand-me-downs until I outgrew my cousin’s clothes. Almost all my books came from used bookstores and the library. We went to auctions and garage sales. My parents needed to stretch their pennies too!
Now thrift shopping is cool. Thrift stores are gaining popularity as are the “for sale” or “garage sale” groups on Facebook. Craigslist is still going strong and eBay is still a great place to unload your used but still in great-condition goods. Consignment shops are still a good place to buy and unload your good-condition goods (and make a little extra money!). Garage sales are still fun places to shop!
I have a lot of fun thrift shopping as long as I don’t go overboard. I want you all to be thrift shoppers too. If you are but know someone who should be, show them this post!
12 Reasons Why You Should Be Thrift Shopping!
1. Thrift shopping is sustainable. If you are even a little bit concerned about our planet, you know there are way too many goods being produced today. More than can be used actually, but people still demand and buy them. By buying used, you are breaking that cycle and keeping perfectly good things from going to the landfill. To keep the sustainability cycle going, you should use those used goods until they are completely worn out or pass them on to someone who can use it.
2. You are a non-consumer. As stated in #1, you are breaking the consumerism cycle. When you purchase something used, you are a non-consumer. You are not buying anything new. You are not supporting the mass merchandisers. You are not succumbing to advertising telling you to need something new. You are using what someone doesn’t need anymore and you are not supporting people who have no interest in your local economy.
3. Thrift shopping supports your local economy! Whether you buy something from a used goods store or a person, your money stays right in that area. Your money isn’t going to some big corporation that cares very little about you. Your money is going to a local organization (except Goodwill) or people who will, in turn, spend that money locally.
4. Why buy new when used will do? This phrase is attributed to a certain person, but honestly, it has been around a while. Why? Because it is true! Used is just as good as new in most situations. Most of my clothes and my kids’ clothes were used growing up. We got new things for gifts on birthdays and holidays, but otherwise, they were used. Even when they were in high school, we regularly found almost new and new clothes for them at the thrift store. I still buy almost all of my clothes used because you can’t beat the prices!
5. You save money! Doesn’t everyone like to save money? You can outfit an apartment or a house for hundreds of dollars cheaper than buying a new one. Does buying used things gross you out? Wash them once and get over it. You are saving money!
6. If you have kids, you are teaching them frugality. My kids liked to go to thrift stores and garage sales growing up. They still do even as teenagers and young adults. They also have found a lot of great things there. They learned one way of being frugal and they learned that used things were not gross. The younger they learn that, the better.
7. You will find brand-new things while thrift shopping. Honestly, this is the best. People are often too lazy to return something to the store or cannot return it so they will just donate it to the thrift store or sell it at a garage sale. Their loss is your gain because, most of the time, you will get it for only a few dollars. Score!
8. Anyone can thrift shop! And I do mean anyone. Some of the most financially stable people I know are avid used goods shoppers. They love a good deal and refuse to pay full price. Let’s take some tips from those people, shall we? You can be a prepper, homesteader, parent, retiree, single, married, young, old, rich, poor, and anything else you can identify with. Anyone can be a thrifty shopper!
9. You can find really good presents while thrift shopping. I found a lot of presents while thrift shopping. Books that look brand new. Clothes with tags still on them. Sets of dishes are still in the original sealed box. Candlesticks and vases because I know people that collect them. You get the hint. Start your gift shopping at the thrift store or online consignment sites and go from there.
10. Once you start, you won’t be able to stop. I know that sounds pompous, but it is true. The idea you will be saving money and scoring some really good stuff is addicting. When you realize you can do this all the time, you will be hooked!
11. The inventory is always changing. If you can’t find what you are looking for in one day, wait a few days and come back to the store/check again online. More than likely, you will find what you want at a price that is reasonable or cheap.
12. Thrift stores have sales too. They get a lot of things donated or consigned to them. They often do not have the storage for these things so they run sales. Our local stores often run a buy 1 get 1 free or buy 2 get one free sale. They also have bag sales where a bag of goods is five dollars no matter what you have in the bag. I know other thrift stores will have 50% off sales and more. Keep your eyes open and you will find even better deals at the thrift stores.
Thrift shopping is fun! The pursuit can be challenging at times, but the results are usually worth it. Just know, even with thrift shopping, you need to be mindful of your budget and not get crazy while shopping. Sometimes, people will buy whatever they want because it is a good deal, but they still overspend.
What is your favorite thing to buy in the thrift store?
Thanks for reading,
Erica