Seven Compelling Reasons to Thrift

Image by Lance McCord. cc license.

Reason No. One: Thrifting is very environmentally friendly.

Buying a preowned item saves all the energy consumption and pollution caused by producing that item new all over again. How much energy does thrifting really save? Buy a used t-shirt instead of a brand new one and you just saved the planet at least 570 gallons of water and 11 gallons of fuel (plus eliminating emissions, potentially polluting industrial by products, and the energy used to transport the finished t-shirt to the store).

Reason No. Two: Thrifting supports good causes. 

The vast majority of thrift stores are operated by organizations who use most of the proceeds from sales to support charitable work. If you aren't sure what the charities who run your locale thrift shops do with their money, find out and support the shops whose work is most consist with your own personal values.   

Reason No. Three: Thrifting will save you money (lots of it).

The average American woman spends over $600 a year on clothing. Not all your clothing needs can be meet by thrifting, but a regular thrifter will find it challenging to spend $600 on clothes and still be able to get her closet door shut. Other good places to use thrifting to trim your household budget: books and toys, furniture and household items like dishes.

       

Reason No. Four: Thrifting makes your stuff unique (and nicer).

I have a much nicer wardrobe than I would if I didn't thrift: cashmere sweaters, Italian leather shoes, nice vintage jewelry. Ditto for my library, knick-knacks and furniture. If you thrift regularly and develop a good eye, it's absolutely amazing the things that you can find.

Reason No. Five: Thrifting encourages creativity. 

Thrift long enough and you will start looking at objects as things with potential. That battered desk? With a new coat of paint, it could be a sideboard. That ripped silk robe? Cut it apart and it could become a set of cushion covers.  Add refashioning clothing to your repertoire of skills and the possibilities really open up. 

Reason No. Six: Thrifting makes you a more discriminating consumer (hopefully).

Newbie thrifters tend to over buy. "Everything is so cheap!" they say. Unless you are on a very tight budget, if you want something at a thrift store you can buy it. The question, "Can I afford it?" becomes irrelevant. Instead, you have to ask yourself, "Do I have a genuine need for this?" or in the case of non-utilitarian items, "Will this be a lasting source of pleasure?"  Asking these question over and over while thrifting starts to spill over into other areas of your life that relate to the acquisition of "stuff" and results in a more thoughtful and considered way of deciding to accept or reject a new possession.        

Reason No. Seven: Thrifting creates a connection between you and the past.

New, shiny, untouched things with the plastic wrapper still on are rarely found at thrift stores. Instead thrifting involves sorting through objects of various ages and conditions that came from the homes of literally thousands of previous owners. Each object has a story (most of which you will never know). Incorporating items from previous eras into your home and wardrobe gives it a certain rootedness and authenticity that a house full of brand-new objects just can't duplicate.