Let’s do some trash talk about clothes. A good way to recycle the stuff you no longer want is to donate it to a charity thrift shop. And buying clothes in a thrift shop is a terrific way to reduce waste andsave a ton of money! Here’s how to find the best stuff:
– Check out the retail stores and try to remember the prices of things so you can be sure you’re getting a great deal at thrift stores. Second-hand stuff shouldn’t cost more than half of what it costs new.
– Shop at the thrift stores in wealthy neighborhoods. The richer the people are in the area, the better the stuff will be that they donate to their local thrift shops.
– Merchandise changes daily, so it helps to check the stores frequently.
– Think ahead. If you find a really great winter jacket that’s too big for you, you could grow into it by winter. Also, the really great winter jackets will be harder to find in the winter when everyone is looking for them.
– Always check the window display of the thrift store first. The best stuff is usually there to attract you. Don’t be shy; ask the salesperson to show you stuff from the window.
– Thrift stores can be the greatest place to find costumes for Halloween or your school play.
– If you see a great deal on something that doesn’t fit you, consider it for your brother or sister or maybe even a friend. Thrift stores usually have only one of everything they sell, and you can be sure it won’t be there the next day when you go back to look for it!
– Always check what you wish to buy very carefully. Often someone donated the item because something was wrong with it, like a broken zipper or a rip. Consider what it will cost to fix it before you buy it.
– Remember to check for those nasty little moth holes. Sometimes holding the piece of clothing up to the light will help you to notice the small holes.
– Remember to be extra nice to the salespeople in the thrift stores. After all, most of them are volunteers.
– Don’t feel like it’s wrong to shop at a thrift store if you can actually afford to pay full price for things. The money you spend at thrift stores goes to good causes (like to help disadvantaged people), so you’re doing a really good thing.
Elizabeth Mason is the author of “The Rag Street Journal: The Ultimate Guide to Shopping Thrift.”
