12 Ways to Help Make You a Savvy Secondhand Shopper – GWC Mag

It’s always fun to find a great bargain at a thrift store or yard sale. Sometimes you find the very thing you had been looking for in really good shape and pay just a dollar or two for for an otherwise high-ticket item.

Buying second-hand also helps to keep unwanted stuff out of landfills and curbs the demand for new stuff to be manufactured. Why buy something brand new when you might be able to find it in perfectly good condition for a tiny fraction of the price?

Let’s be honest, we might not want to buy every last thing second-hand, though, right? If you are raising an eyebrow at second-hand stuff, check out these OGP articles that guide you to becoming the most savvy, secondhand shopper out there.

1. Best Thrifed Items

Having a good old route around a thrift store can be lots of fun, even if you don’t know what you are looking for.  The thrill of a super cool bargain, finding something you have been wanting for ages but couldn’t bring yourself to pay out for, or even spotting a precious antique for a dollar all add to the thrift store experience. Because many people tend to throw things out long before they are used up, we can find things that are still in great shape at secondhand stores. Whether thrifting for fiscal reasons or just trying to help the planet a little by using up what is already out there before consuming more, here are a few items that are worth heading to the thrift store for before buying brand new. Here is a list of 4 Things You Should Buy from a Thrift Store.

2. Thrift Store Baskets

Baskets can be a rather odd thing in that they are extremely useful and versatile yet somehow get continually tossed aside by their owners. Any good thrift store will likely have a basket section somewhere in it. And, what once may have been $20 baskets are going for something closer to a dollar. The thing is all that utility is still there. A basket is a basket, an empty container with all sorts of possibilities perhaps for carrying something, holding something, displaying something, or concealing something. Rather than getting another plastic storage tote, the inexpensive thrift store basket allows us to save some coins and do it with something a bit more attractive. Here are 10 Creative Things to Do with Inexpensive Thrift Store Baskets.

3. Secondhand Furniture

Moving can be stressful! Moving into a new space that needs to be completely furnished can be crazy! But you don’t have to bust your pocketbook or get lost in the IKEA maze just to make your new digs presentable. Here’s how you can furnish your entire living room secondhand with a little DIY love. The first step is to scour Craigslist, Goodwill, local second-hand stores, trading sites like Yerdle or Lista, and neighborhood yard sales for secondhand items that might fit the bill, or shop your own home for old items that can be tweaked to suit your needs. If you’re game, you can even go dumpster diving for some unique (albeit likely dirty) finds! Try to be creative and look for good solid structure over aesthetics. And keep an open mind and a creative eye! Get some great tips on How to Furnish Your Living Room with Secondhand Everything and a Little DIY Love.

4. ThriftTok

The fashion industry has a large carbon footprint and accounts for 10 percent of global human-emitted greenhouse gasses. The environmental impacts of the fashion industry are in addition to the numerous human rights concerns regarding the treatment of textile workers in factories across the globe. By purchasing or renting a gently used item, you’re helping to keep things in circulation that would have gone into a landfill. Thrifting is the ultimate way to live out the slogan, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!” Whether you’re picking up a gently used outfit for that party this weekend or some glass vases to do some DIY magic with, the local thrift shop and secondhand clothing sites have you covered. Learn all about how ThriftTok Takes Off As Young People Look for Sustainable Alternatives to Fast Fashion.

5. Vintage Stores Vs Thrift Shops

Thrifting has finally become trendy! Now, you don’t need to hide the fact that you bought something at Goodwill or on eBay. Finding good deals and great pieces is something to celebrate, and we love it! However, not all second-hand stores are the same. Thrift shops and vintage stores both sell gently used clothing, but you’ll quickly find the price and type of clothes in both kinds of shops vary greatly. Read on to get the lowdown on Vintage Stores vs. Thrift Shops: Which is Best For You?

6. Savvy Secondhand Shoppers

It’s not only about hip throwback Pants, shoes, and shirts, the ones that have been deemed stylish for a second round though there is no harm in celebrating what we like. Neither is it only about retro electronics that stick out like ironic statements and buck the trend of using technology that has advanced for good reason. It’s not only about what old stuff is hip at the moment. Secondhand shoppers are finding all sorts of reasons, ways, and new opportunities to not just continue their anti-commercial antics but increase them. Why do they do it? Why wouldn’t they? Learn all about Why Secondhand Shoppers Are Super Savvy (And Not Just ‘Hipsters’).

7. What to Give to Thrift Stores

Equally as beneficial as shopping at thrift stores is donating to them. Rather than tossing goods out or storing something in the bottom of the closet to never be used again, it’s good practice to give thrift shops these items and put them back in circulation. It’ll provide someone else with all the benefits listed above, as well as earn some funds for the thrift store’s charity. And, don’t forget that it’ll clear out some of the clutter in your house as well. Check out the useful Tips on How and What to Give to Thrift Shops.

8. How Thrifting Helps

By purchasing a gently used item, you’re helping to keep things in circulation that would have gone into a landfill. Thrifting is the ultimate way to live out the slogan, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!” Whether you’re picking up a gently used outfit for that party this weekend or some glass vases to do some DIY magic with, the local thrift shop has you covered. Interested in where one might be in your area? Follow this link for a list of local places to get your shop on! Then, read these 9 Reasons Thrift Shopping Helps The Planet and Your Cool Factor.

9. Reasons to Go Thrift Shopping

The thought of wearing someone else’s clothes might give you the heebie-jeebies, but thrift shopping ranks as one of the most eco-friendly things to do because clothes, toys, silverware, and good-condition miscellany all stay out of the landfill. By purchasing already used clothes, you’re essentially throwing a big rusted wrench into the fashion churn-out and export system (aka “fast fashion” industry); you should feel empowered with every purchase you make, even if you have to re-sow some buttons on that old flannel shirt. If you want more info on how secondhand shopping benefits you and the plants, read Thrift Shopping: 3 Reasons Everyone Should Do it More Often.

10. Thrifted Kitchen Tools

When it comes time to shop for new kitchen supplies, it can be tempting to go out and blow your savings on the newest, most trendy item to hit big-name retailer shelves. If you’ve been saving your money to score the glitziest, most glam, and hyped-up kitchen appliance on the market, hold on! You might be able to find an equal or ever superior-quality gem at your local thrift store for a much more reasonable price, which is great for those of us who adhere to a budget. Not only does thrift shopping help the planet, but best of all, your thrifted goods were once used (we like to imagine) with love. Here are 5 Kitchen Tools to Look For When You’re at the Thrift Store!

11. Thrifted Gifts

The joy of gift-giving can be lost or dampened by heightened commercialism and our ‘throw-away’ consumer culture. There are, however, some tried and tested ways of giving a loved one a gift without spending a bunch of money or buying stuff that no one wants or needs. It often means going back to basics with crafting, cooking, thrifting, or repurposing. It also means thinking outside the box and reimagining what a gift is. Maybe you could gift an experience or donation over a material present or offer something homemade or secondhand. Take a look at these 4 Ideas for Making Holiday Gift Giving a Little Greener.

12. Fast Fashion at Thrift Stores

There are a few reasons people might need to buy fashion. They might have trouble finding clothing in their size (many fast fashion brands have plus-size ranges); they might not be able to access ethically made clothing where they live; or they just simply might not be able to afford the more sustainable fashion options. These are all valid reasons, and shaming someone for genuinely not having another choice isn’t fair. Is there a way to shop for fast fashion brands without feeling like you’re hurting the planet? Here are a few ways to try your best when you just don’t have another choice. Here are some ideas on How to Buy Fast Fashion More Ethically.

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