I find it somewhat surprising that thrift shopping at Goodwill has become so "in" recently. Throughout most of my life, Goodwill was the place that my grandma got her clothes from, so it never really seemed like the place to go shopping as a teenager. However, as a university student with little to no income, I quickly realized that I no longer had the option of dropping forty dollars on a new pair of jeans. However, because I wasn't ready to give up on my wardrobe just yet, I turned to Goodwill, and I'm so much better off for it.

It's much cheaper

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On my last thrifting trip, I picked up a pair of jeans, a pinstripe dress, and a suede button down for under fifteen dollars. Usually, it would cost about that much for any old dress from Forever 21. My parents generally claim that, when they first came to America, they bought clothes exclusively from Goodwill. The purpose of thrift stores is cheap clothes, and it does make a difference for you wallet.

You can find some really unique stuff

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I once found a ball gown at Goodwill. It was pink and satin and probably could've done well as a prom dress had I still been in high school. Going through coats results in some absolutely stunning finds, and although you might have to really look, you might find some 90s inspired blouses or skirts too. They don't sell this stuff in stores anymore, so there's really no where else to pick it up. Why be like everyone else and follow the same trends when you can truly make and discover your own style?

Sometimes older means better quality

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Guys, let me tell you, old jeans were better quality. For real. Looking through the jeans rack at Goodwill means finding some really nice brand name jeans that have probably lasted for years already. I don't know about you, but I don't usually get to wear my jeans for long enough to donate them before they wear out. My American Eagle jeans are great, but even they can rip in the thigh from friction. Such is not the case with older jeans, so I'd really recommend searching for those old Levi's and Lucky Brands.

The thrill of the hunt

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If you like shopping, then thrifting is going to be so fun. I genuinely love looking through clothes, because it makes me feel like I can make decisions about my own style and general life. When you're thrift shopping, you have to dedicate a lot of time and energy to going through piles and piles of clothes to find those gems. If you hate shopping, I wouldn't recommend it. However, if you're obsessed with clothes and want to stop dropping so much cash just to do it, maybe consider thrift shopping a bit more.

A sense of real accomplishment

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Y'all, there's really nothing like the feeling of buying a dress that was originally well over a hundred dollars for just seven bucks. Finding those gorgeous silk blouses and Ralph Lauren button downs is genuinely so exciting, because you know you're getting the best quality clothes for the lowest price. When you leave a Goodwill with your bag of clothes in hand, you really feel like you looked. You find the things that truly fit your style, and you find them without going broke.

So the next time someone makes fun of you for having a closet full of thrifted clothes, don't worry about it. You're killing it.

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