Some may call my shopping habits problematic, but I would say they're genius. I am "thrifting-obsessed." I spend my weekends digging through piles of smelly clothes, and it's fun! Why? Because I'm finding banging pieces at a banging price. Literally, the amount of money I've saved by quitting fast fashion is astounding.

The best part? Nobody even thinks my clothes are from the thrift store. They look that good. #EthicalFashionFTW

Now, thrifting doesn't come easy. When I first started, it was confusing and overwhelming. I didn't know where to look, or what to look for, really. Luckily, I learned from my mistakes and now have some pretty helpful tips.

1. Make a Pinterest board.

Like I previously mentioned, thrifting can get overwhelming, especially when you don't know what you're looking for. That's why making a Pinterest board can help. You can save outfits you like or specific pieces, and then try to find similar items at the thrift store. See the example below.

Pin: https://pin.it/pw7enovnxey7gn

I wanted to find the tan skirt from this pin, and lookie what I did. I found an almost identical tan skirt at Goodwill. Thanks, Pinterest!

2. Shop in the color-coded sections.

To avoid getting lost while thrifting, try to stick to color-coded sections. My favorite thing about Goodwill is that most of their stuff is sectioned by color. So, when you make a Pinterest board, and you're looking for tan high-waisted pants, you can go to the tan pants section to search. It will save you so much time!

3. Notice the material & brand.

Sometimes thrifting can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. To make things easier, I recommend looking for good quality materials and/or brand names. If something feels cheap to you and it's already in the thrift store chances are you're going to hate it after a week of owning it. Do not buy!

4. Try it on.

This one might sound weird...but sizes at the thrift store don't count. For real! If you like something, just try it on. Sometimes bigger is better! I'm always finding sizes that on the label are either too big or too small, but fit awesomely.

5. You don't need a boyfriend to find a boyfriend sweater.

There's nothing better than an oversized hoodie, especially during cuffing season when you're still looking for a bae. I recommend searching in the men's section for big comfy sweaters, plaid long sleeves, or cool shirts.

6. Shoes, shoes, and more shoes.

Need nude heels, wedges, boots? GO TO THE THRIFT STORE! You will save yourself so much money. I know it might sound icky but buying shoes at the thrift store is a great way to find unique and affordable pairs. Plus, you can always wipe them down with a fabric wipe or shoe cleaner.

7. Always check the jacket section.

I love shopping for jackets at thrift stores. You can find unique leathers, vintage coats, and high-quality puffers. No lie, I've found a Yves Saint Laurent fur coat, and it was only $20! I DIED. Always worth a check!

8. Formal wear for less.

Formal season can be a big budget buster, so I recommend looking in your local thrift stores dress/formal section instead of making it rain online shopping at Lulu's. Brad won't be able to tell, I promise.

9. Interview gear.

Whether you're doing a presentation for your class or applying for a job, you're going to need some professional wear. Before you go dropping $200 at Banana Republic, check the local thrift. Usually, all thrift stores have work-wear sections, and you can find some seriously amazing blazers, button-ups, and dress pants.

10. Home decor & furniture is a go.

Heard of a Clorox wipe? Yup, you can use it to clean furniture from the thrift store. So don't worry about things being gross. You can find furniture and home decor for great prices at Goodwill, or any other thrift store for that matter. Things that I recommend looking for specifically are mirrors, side tables, frames, pots/jars for plants, and unique home accessories.

That's all for now, happy thrifting!!!