The Pros and Cons of Thrifting

This is a picture of my good friend and fellow blogger Pati Pedroso who can rock mom jeans like no other!
 Photo credit: Samantha Marshall

Thrifting is like mom jeans. You either love it and think it's super trendy and so much fun to do (wear)... or you hate it and think it's tacky or even gross. You can either rock thrifting and earn points for style (and savings!), or you're just awkward with it and don't even know where/how to start (do I wear a belt with these or...?). I've got friends that fall on either end of the spectrum. One friend of mine in particular can't stand thrifting, mostly because she finds the layout of thrift stores to be too overwhelming and unorganized. I know another friend that thinks it's gross unsanitary to wear other peoples clothes and would never even think about shopping in one. And then, there's me (and maybe you too!). 

The pirate. The hunter. The adventure seeker. The DIYer. The money saver. 

We're the ones that find the thrill in the chaos. 

The excitement in the hunt.

The victorious feeling when we find such a good deal that we run out of the store, bag in hand, with the biggest smile - as if we won the Nobel Prize for Fabulous Frugality or something.

Yes indeed, there are prizes to be won in the world of second hand.

1st Prize goes to saving money by buying/sharing used clothing/goods

2nd Prize goes to doing better for the environment by recycling 

3rd Prize goes to any money given to charities through any store donations

Runner ups go to finding one of a kind items that the regular mall just can't compete with and having the opportunity to donate your own stuff and giving someone else the opportunity to love your junk. One person's trash is another person's treasure, right!?

I do however want to throw out my top tips for a happy thrift - these are things I constantly remind myself when I'm out hunting. And because I'm so fond of lists...

1) Just because it's cheap, does not mean it's good. If you don't LOVE it, won't WEAR it and won't USE it - don't BUY it. It'll help keep your house and closet clutter free and be better for your wallet.

2) Don't get discouraged if something you really like doesn't fit you. If you really like it, consider getting it tailored to your size (if you have basic sewing skills, you might even be able to do this yourself). It should still end up costing much less than buying brand new!

3) Always. Inspect. Quality. Depending on the thrift store you're at, a basic quality check should have already been done but many times things are missed. And if you're particular like me, you'll find it really disappointing when you get home and find a stain or rip that you didn't expect. Most thrift stores only offer exchanges and not refunds too, so it's worth it to take the extra time to double check for flaws before purchase.

More tips to come later this week! Stay tuned :)

xoxo 

Brittany