Thrifting has become something that I enjoy doing in my free time. It’s is a great way to reduce waste in the environment and save money. It may seem a little intimidating, but the more you practice, the easier it gets.

Due to fast fashion, a lot of clothes end up in landfills each year. By thrifting your clothes, you can reduce the number of clothes going to waste. By not buying new clothes, you are also cutting down on the waste it would have taken to produce that new item of clothing.

Thrifting also cuts down on the amount of money you spend on clothes. A pair of shorts that may have cost $50 new can be found at the thrift store for $6. When you’re a college student, it’s important to reduce your spending as much as possible.

It can be intimidating the first time you walk into a thrift store. There are so many clothes to go through with no real organization. In order to combat the feeling of being overwhelmed, I like to think of it as a treasure hunt. You never know what amazing item you may find.

Make sure you look at every item in the racks. You don’t want to miss something you may have really liked. Make sure you’re patient. Sometimes it takes me a while to look at everything that I want to. 

Don’t be afraid to try things on even if they are outside of your comfort zone. The thrift store is a great place to try new things. Don’t go into the store with an idea of what you already want. The more open you are, the more likely you are to find something that you’ll love.

Don’t expect to find something every time you go to the thrift store. There are times you won’t find anything you’re looking for. Stock changes frequently, so don’t give up and try again.

If you’re looking for tips or information on thrifting, YouTube is a great way to get started. There are plenty of people posting what they found at their thrift stores that can inspire you.

One of the best places to thrift is Goodwill. There’s one right in Indianola. Plato’s Closet or Style Encore are also great places to go to. These stores have more on-trend pieces, but the clothes are more expensive. Poshmark and Thredup are websites you can use to buy clothes second hand. There’s more selection, but you don’t get to see the clothes first hand.

Right now, about half of my closet has been thrifted. I enjoy thrifting and will continue to do so in the future.