Many people look at thrift shops like Goodwill, Savers, and Salvation Army with disgust, but I personally love them.  I was introduced to thrifting by my grandmother when I was eleven years old. I wasn’t really into clothes yet, but I remember I found a disco ball and I thought it was the best thing ever because it was only four dollars. After my first thrift shop day, I tagged along with my grandma.  

Eventually, our thrift store trips became a weekly routine. We have even gone out of our way and have started thrifting in Monterey and Santa Cruz. At first, I would only look for books and journals, but as I grew older I realized that they had a lot of clothes. As I began going through the clothing racks my focus changed because I started finding more and more things I liked and would love to wear.

For me, thrifting is a smart way of shopping and a stress reliever. As a shopaholic, going to a thrift store is a smart choice because you find items that you can find at any regular store for a cheaper price, which is great because you save a lot of money. Thrift shopping also helps me stay stress free because it’s a distraction. Having to go through every rack of clothes is really interesting. Your brain begins to focus on the colors, patterns and fabrics instead of the things that are stressing you out.

Thrifting requires a lot of patience because thrift stores are usually really big. Most of them don’t only sell clothes but they also sell books, mugs, frames, accessories and any other item you can think of. Patience plays a major role, and you need it so you won’t feel lost or stuck in such a big store. Every rack and section is important because you never know what you might find. There are so many things, but with patience you won’t get overwhelmed instead you will be eager to find out what the next rack of clothes or shoes has waiting for you.

Although patience is a major key to thrifting, so is being open minded. Many people, like my mother, have never walked into a thrift store. They think everything is dirty and in bad condition, but little do they know they can find hidden treasures like designer clothes and clothes that still have their tags on for a less expensive price. I have found many valuable things that are still in good condition and I’ve had for years. For example, I’ve found some cool shirts, skirts, and shoes. In my opinion it’s really hard to find designer clothes unless you’re in a big city, but if you live in a small city like Salinas you can still find a lot of different brands such as Calvin Klein, Nike, and Ralph Lauren.

Usually when I go thrifting I can take up to three hours or more because I try on everything. It’s really important because I’m picky and I have to make sure that I love what I’m buying.  Sometimes it’s easier to have the item you want on your mind before you go in the store. It will help you save time because you will walk in straight to the section where that specific item is located.

I advice every potential thrifter to not feel embarrassed to be shopping second hand because it’s a smart and affordable way to find unique pieces that nobody else has. Also, it’s important to be honest with yourself by making sure if what you’re buying is really worth it, you have to make sure it fits your style and that you’re truly in love with it.