I am a huge bargain hunter when it comes to clothes. The first place I go to in most stores is the clearance section because you can find some really good deals. A majority of the clothes in my closet I bought on clearance or on sale because I hate paying full price.
I am also a huge DIY fan so anything that I can make by myself, I will. That is why I love Goodwill, or any other thrift store. The prices are really low and you can update old-fashioned clothes into something a little more modern that you would most likely pay way more for at a regular retail store.
Thrift shopping is an experience. There are times when you go in and everything seems either really out of date or too expensive for a thrift store. And depending on the place, the smell can be overpowering. They tend to smell like a mix of B.O. and mildew. But then on the good days you can walk out with an armful of “new” clothes that you can make look however you want. And occasionally, thrift stores have sales where you can get clothes for under a dollar. Those are the times when you truly learn self-control because it is easy to buy a huge pile of clothes for really cheap but only wear half of it.
Once you get home, make sure you wash the clothes you bought. Even if you’re not a germaphobe you never know what’s on the clothes. Just the thought of wearing unwashed clothes from Goodwill gives me chills. Also, if you decide to buy jeans that you are going to cut off into shorts, washing it after you cut them will fringe the bottom if that’s the look you are going for.
Another perk of thrift shops is cheap books. There are some stores that sell books in decent condition for under a dollar, which, if you know how expensive books can be, is a steal. There will be times where you can’t find a single book that you are interested in. But if you keep looking, you will find some really good books. Just make sure you flip through the book before you buy it. There might be a piece of used candy stuck in it. Yes, that has actually happened to me with a Harry Potter book and it was disgusting.
Now I know thrift shopping is not everyones cup of tea. It can be hard to get past the smell and even harder to picture what a piece of clothing can look like after some DIY. If definitely takes some getting used to. And you might have to go to several thrift stores before you find one that you really like. But once you find the perfect shop, it just might become your new favorite store. And it's a great feeling when you are able to find and/or make clothes that look identical to the ones that you find in retail stores for half the price.
