This morning I woke up at 8 a.m. I showered, ate breakfast and tore through my closet all before 9. Much to my dismay, I didn’t find anything to wear. Sure, there’s plenty of clothes in there. But nothing new, and nothing that even drew a little bit of consideration. This could only mean one thing: it was time for a thrift store trip.

Like many, I used to turn my nose up at the idea of making a trip to a Goodwill or Salvation Army in the area, let alone going in and buying clothes to wear. My senior year of high school, however, I came to my senses and started thrifting.

Reasons to Thrift

1. Very inexpensive: Macklemore is not kidding when he says you can roll up to the thrift store with 20 dollars in your pocket. In fact, 20 dollars would get you a long way. Thrifting makes for a happy bank account as usually most anything you will pick up tends to be five dollars or less. Most thrift stores even have daily specials, where certain colored tags on different pieces of clothing are half off, or only one dollar, for example.
2. Unique additions to wardrobe: People donate clothing they no longer need or wear to thrift stores, and those who donate are from all different walks of life and have different styles. Because of this, sifting through racks in a thrift store means all kinds of variety. Whether you’re in search of an eccentric vintage piece to complete an outfit you’re planning or a Hawaiian shirt for a frat party, you can typically find anything you can imagine.
3. Ever-changing options: Unlike a department store where the same clothes are available for purchase and change only by the season, the selection in thrift stores fluctuates consistently. New donations are always being made, sorted and put on the shelves and racks. Because of this, visiting the same stores frequently is perfectly acceptable, as you can always find new and exciting purchases each time you go.

Bias Busters & Tips

1. Thrifting isn’t sanitary: No, donations are not washed before they are put out in a thrift store. And yes, it is true you don’t know who owned and wore your new purchases before you. But there is no reason thrifting should gross you out. Make sure you wash and dry anything you buy and take home before wearing it. Also, always carry hand sanitizer with you for after you leave the thrift store.
2. No current trends: It is a common belief that you can’t find pieces for your wardrobe that are currently “in style” at the thrift store. In reality, different clothes are always coming in and out of style, and the fun part of thrifting is finding unique pieces that you can’t just go pick up at the mall. Sometimes straying away from the current trend is the way to go!
3. Poor clothing quality: If someone owned it before you, that means it has to be worn out and tattered, right? Wrong. If something donated to a store is so old and worn, it won’t be put out for resale on the rack. Not all clothing is going to be perfect and new, but half the fun of thrifting is going on a hunt for the great finds. Sometimes you will even find brand new items with the original tags still in tact. Don’t give up if you aren’t finding anything right away. I never go thrifting and leave empty handed!