Many military families are used to shopping at post thrift stores, knowing they can find great items at a fraction of the original price. And for those who move frequently, thrift stores or resale shops are the perfect place to offload items that won’t make the move.
Olivia Pierce, Army Community Service financial readiness program manager, said thrift shopping is not only good for the budget, but good for the soul.
Pierce said secondhand style is chic and sustainable. She learned the value of saving at an early age.
“My mom took my siblings and I to on- and off-post thrift stores as children because our birthday money could be stretched. Secondhand became my second language,” she said. “Even as a teen and young adult, out of necessity, I patroned thrift stores before they were chic. Thrifting saved my social life in high school and college. To this day, I frequent local thrift stores with my daughters and love to show off my finds.”
For Pierce, saving is a way of life. She said she is always looking for new ways to save, personally and professionally for herself and others. To help you make the most out of your next thrift shopping excursion, she offers some tips on how to thrift shop like a boss:
- You can never make too much money to thrift. It’s not just about saving money. It’s about being eco-friendly, recycling, upcycling, and supporting charities or families through your patronage.
- Don’t expect professional displays and organization. Accept that you will be walking into chaos, knowing that you are hunting, not browsing. Not all thrift stores are created equal. Some will be sketchy, and others will be more aesthetically pleasing.
- Map out at least three thrift stores and/or yard sales before you begin your hunt for the day. Accept that you will not find everything your heart desires. Thrifting requires patience with periodic shelf checks. Look for estate sales in the paper (or online), and make a day of it, pairing the trip with a local eatery so all is not lost if you don’t find anything.
- Do not buy couches, stuffed animals, rugs or mattresses. Be sure to thoroughly wipe down or wash what you are purchasing.
- Remember to haggle! Folks in this business expect it. It is not insulting. I strategically price my items at yard sales with hagglers in mind. You can even haggle at an antique warehouse. The folks up front know how to contact the owner of the consigned items.
- Never believe that your stuff is too old or too fancy to donate. My friend and I recently argued over who would get to take the vintage skirt we reached for at the same time. I won! We’re still friends, and I wore it to work last week.
Pierce said shopping secondhand will save your money, but she left four other compelling reasons to buy used and shop at thrift stores first:
- Secondhand equals second chance. Many thrift store employees need a second chance, whether due to addiction, homelessness or domestic violence. When you donate to or continually patron a thrift store, you are keeping folks gainfully employed. You can be proud that you are providing both supply and demand.
- Curb the trash, not the blessing. The old adage, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” cannot be overstated here. Consider placing unwanted (but still usable) items on the curb. You would be amazed how many families are blessed by discarded items. Even if it’s a neighbor or professional resale junker taking it off your hands, you’re still helping someone … and the planet!
- Promote financial literacy. Taking your children or grandchildren to a secondhand store, yard sale or to an online marketplace can teach them the value of money and the concept of depreciation. Better yet, host a yard sale for the kiddos to gain retail knowledge and maybe even kindle an entrepreneurial spirit. Watch the rooms clean and declutter themselves when you tell your kids they get a 10% cut of the profits when they donate to and help with the yard sale.
- An over spenders’ detox. Did you know you can achieve the same dopaminergic high shopping at a thrift store as you would a larger retailer? The brain does not discriminate when it comes to reward. Therefore, overspenders can create a more realistic, safer method for detoxifying without going bankrupt. Eventually, however, the goal would be to replace the dopamine high (reward) of shopping with the dopamine high of saving.
According to Pierce, fall is the perfect time to patronize thrift stores, yard sales and online marketplaces. There’s a thrift scene for every shopper.
“Cooler temps make it more comfortable to clean out the garage, which means increased donations, postings and yard sales,” she said. “Piecing together that secondhand Halloween costume becomes a fun hunt for you and the kids and it’s one-of-a-kind. You can also find amazing holiday décor items and special holiday meal serving dishes. Attention parents of daughters: did you know there are boutique thrift stores just for formal wear? Homecoming is right around the corner. I have pieced together several formal getups over the years, saving over 75% on the dress, shoes and accessories. Parents, you can put your money on a better shopping experience. According to CouponFollow, Americans save an average of $150 per month by thrifting. That’s money you can take to the bank … and leave it for emergencies.”
If you’d like to learn more ways to save, promote financial literacy, overcome overspending, or improve your relationship with money, call Pierce at 256-876-6299.
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