Thrift Store Clothing: Why I Rarely Buy Clothes New is something I can speak about from experience. Have you looked at the price of clothes lately? Building a wardrobe can get expensive in a hurry, which is one reason I would rather shop at a thrift store.
I rarely buy myself anything new. I am always thinking of other things that are more important to purchase. I can stand there looking at a new shirt while arguing with myself that I really don’t need it. I’m sure it would be quite comical to watch!
Even when I shop at a regular store, I usually go straight to the sale or clearance section. Sometimes even those prices are more than I want to spend.
Why I Started Buying Thrift Store Clothing
I would much rather spend my time going through clothes at a thrift store. You would not believe how much money you can save.
I really discovered this when my daughter was graduating from community college. I had nothing I wanted to wear, and I was looking for a nice dress for her graduation. I couldn’t find anything I liked that was also within my price range.
Then I remembered there was a thrift store near my house.
I stopped there on my way home and couldn’t believe what I found. They had all kinds of dresses, including formal dresses, casual dresses, everyday clothing, and office attire.
My $10 Thrift Store Shopping Trip
On that particular day, the thrift store was having a fill-a-bag sale for $10. You know those plastic bags you get at the grocery store? Let me tell you, you can fit a lot of clothes into one of those bags when you’re determined!
I found a dress with a matching jacket that was perfect for my daughter’s graduation. I also found a suit and tie for my husband.
But I wasn’t finished.
I managed to stuff shorts and jeans for both of us into the bag, along with several shirts that looked almost brand new. Some of the clothes still had the original store tags on them.
By the time I finished, I think I had about four complete outfits, my graduation dress, and my husband’s suit, and I paid only $10 for the bag.
I probably would have spent $200 or $300 buying everything new at the mall.
That shopping trip changed my mind about where I wanted to buy clothes from then on.
Thrift Stores Aren’t Just for Clothes
One of the things I enjoy about thrift stores is that you never know what you’re going to find.
On another trip, I found an L-shaped office desk made from solid wood. I paid only $25 for it. Something like that could have cost considerably more if I had purchased it new.
That’s part of the fun of thrift-store shopping. You may walk in looking for one thing and discover something completely unexpected.
Tips for Finding Good Thrift Store Clothing
If you have never shopped at a thrift store before, give it a try. Some thrift stores are definitely better than others, so don’t judge them all by your first visit.
Take your time and look through the racks. Check clothing carefully for stains, tears, missing buttons, or broken zippers. I also like looking for clothing that appears barely worn. Every once in a while, you may even find something with the original tags still attached.
Don’t forget to check whether the store has special sale days. That $10 fill-a-bag sale certainly worked out well for me!
Saving Money and Giving Back
I also donate clothing and other items to local thrift stores. Instead of throwing away something that still has plenty of life left in it, someone else may be able to use it.
It makes me feel like I am giving something back for everything thrift stores have given me over the years.
Why I Rarely Buy Clothes New
For me, buying thrift store clothing isn’t about having the newest outfit or following the latest fashion. It’s about finding something I like, getting what I need, and saving money while doing it.
There is a pretty good feeling that comes from walking out of a thrift store with a bag full of clothes, knowing how much money you saved.
If you enjoy saving money as much as I do, try shopping at a thrift store the next time you need clothes or just about anything else.
You never know what you might find.