There is nothing like spending a free afternoon digging through the trash to find treasures in my neighborhood thrift shops. Thrift shopping was one of those things I'd get cravings for while I was abroad for the past two years, but with no way to alleviate. The overwhelming delight in finding a great pair of boots, lightly used, and in my size, is truly one-of-a-kind. I may have spent $115 in just one afternoon at one store, but the 11 darling items I found that will most likely last me the next ten years makes those precious dollars worth it. Three pairs of boots may seem excessive, and I could feel my conscience rebel against such extravagance, but how can you resist Entienne Aigner tan riding boots in my size, no scratches, and the soles already replaced for 15 freaking dollars??? I am sorely tempted to post pictures of my fantastic finds to brag what a few hours and discerning grazing can produce, but that does seem a bit narcissistic and show-offy, so I will try to refrain.
This is an open invitation: anyone that's interested in a thrift-shopping-spree is welcome to come with me! I have to admit, thrift shopping is not for everyone. There are people who will feel overwhelmed by the racks and racks of duds, and end up feeling too discouraged to really find anything of value and walk out after a pathetic hour with only an ugly belt they will never wear because it was only a dollar, and sucking in the fresh air outside because they were sick of the musty smell of used clothes inside. For me, its the thrill of digging out those great finds that makes the things mentioned above worth enduring, but be aware that you may not enjoy it or be as fruitful as I have been.
On an additional note, thrift stores almost always use their profits to benefit some worthy causes; Salvation Army is a Christian organization that has many community and rehabilitation programs; Goodwill is a non-profit that also does similar projects in community and rehab; Out of the Closet helps especially in AIDS programs, and is non-explicitly related to the LGBT community. Also, buying used is completely GREEN, in both the financial and ecological senses of the word. You save tons of money buying clothes for usually 25%-1% their retail value (Seven, Citizens, and R&R Jeans for 10 bucks, anyone???). And buying thrift is environmentally-friendly, because you're not buying new clothes that use up more resources (cotton/manufactured materials/factory emissions/transportation emissions/stores located in shopping malls that are energy-suckers). I am the first to admit that I am not the greenest person out there, I mean, I love my shopping malls and sales at Madewell, and going shopping with my mom when she's buying; but it's also good to be aware that for every thrift item I buy, it's one less thing I buy from a regular retail store, and decreasing my carbon-footprint on earth.
