Secondhand Chic: Why I Love Thrifting + 12 Tips for Finding Treasures & Having Fun!

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Did you know August 17 is Annual Thrift Store Shopping Day?

I love thrifting for many reasons, but in particular I love seeing beauty in what people have discarded. I love the fact that no new materials or energy was used to create these things. And I love the uniqueness you can find—like gorgeous vintage collectibles…

My love affair with Thrift Store Shopping started when I was 14. I hated my mom-bought wardrobe, but couldn’t afford to buy clothes I wanted. It was the mid-1980s and I had a passion for cord, lace and velvet—a budding goth and romantic! Thrift Stores were a way to get unusual, cool clothes for a tenth of the price—and I still have some of those clothes today!

Recently I picked up a fun jumpsuit (dungarees if you’re in the UK), as well as a super-cute blouse and two books I was dying to read! But these days when I’m Thrift Store shopping I also look for art, pottery and books as well as cool items for my garden and my craft box (like buttons, embroidery thread). And it’s also a great place to find dog towels…

Some of the benefits of Thrift Store shopping include:

Supporting local charities.
Finding bargains (occasionally even new items!)
Finding unique enviable things…
The thrill of living your values: being part of the change you wish to see by reusing, recycling—or even upcycling if you’re crafty!
Reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill.
Oh and it’s good for your purse! You get the thrill of the hunt without the guilt of spending a fortune!

There are so many ‘wins’ I’ve lost count.

So, this August—why not support pop into a Thrift Store on your lunch break or take the afternoon off with a couple of friends?

Can’t do Thrift Stores for whatever reason? How about a Vintage store where items have all been curated by someone with good taste?

12 Top Tips for Successful Thrift Store Shopping

It’s always more fun with friends! Make a day of it and share and enjoy the outlandish stuff you find—as well as the good!
Make a list of things you’re looking for eg. to decorate your home. And include measurements (I have found 3 fabulous mirrors and wouldn’t have been able to buy them if I didn’t know the sizes I was looking for).
Take a list of people’s upcoming birthdays with you. There’s often great pottery and glass knick-knacks and jewellery. Which means Thrift Stores are a great place to look for special one-off finds for your owl/pig/frog/bear/dragonfly/angel collector!
Look for fun stuff for costume parties. Consider that it’s also only a few months until Halloween, and that sometimes it’s an accessory or two that can really make an outfit!
Check out the book section! You’ll be surprised how many recent, bookclub books you see on the shelves! A list of books or authors can be really helpful.
Shop according to your comfort level! Not all Thrift Stores are created equal. Some have higher standards on what they’ll take than others, so if you feel uncomfortable, try a different thrift (or vintage) store!
Do check your purchase for stains, holes, rips, cracks etc. Good Thrift Stores have already done this, but things do get missed.
And of course, don’t buy something just because it’s cheap. Buy because you love it or you know someone who will.
Have patience. Sometimes you’ll find nothing and other times you won’t believe your luck!
Love bargains? Most Thrift Stores have special tags or days when everything is 25-50% off. Just ask!
Take the opportunity to de-clutter your home or wardrobe by donating some of your stuff while you’re there!
Finally, the best way to find bargains is to visit – often. Other people will be quick to snap up good deals, collectibles and brand new items, don’t miss out!

PS. Like the idea of Thrift Store shopping but don’t know where to start? Search online for “Thrift Store” or “Charity Shop” and your town name for a list of stores in your area.

Wrap-up

In this world where our garbage dumps are overflowing, where people throw things out rather than repair them: Thrift Store shopping is proudly countercultural.

Because as well as being fun—and good for your purse—shopping at Thrift Stores is also kind to our planet!

Let’s make a difference together!

#BeKindAlways—to yourself, to others—and our beautiful world.

If you liked this article all about shopping at thrift stores, you may also like:

A beautiful Earth Day Infographic with 10 Awesome Ways to Make Our World a Better Place
Why Making a Difference is Good for Us (with 7 Tips to Make it Easy!)
What is Voluntary Simplicity? 10 Easy Ways to Live a Simpler, Kinder & More Values Driven Life!

Change the World. Start with You!

Image of 3 diverse friends shopping at Thrift Store by Vera Prokhorova via Shutterstock