Today is a day to celebrate the bargains that can be had by shopping second hand in thrift stores, charity shops and garage sales.
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If you already shop gently used pieces- good for you, there are many benefits to acquiring items this way, however if you are not used to shopping second hand, why not give it a try today and see how you get on? Here are just seven ways to get started…
Start with an online shop: Like eBay or Facebook Marketplace, search for something you have been looking to buy for a while and just see what comes up. You might find that your favourite brand has many listings for items at a fraction of the cost you were prepared to buy them for new.
Join a friend who loves to shop second hand: We all have that friend who loves to bargain hunt in the local charity shops, so if you’ve never taken them up on their offer to go exploring in such stores, it might be time to go or at least make a plan to accompany them on their next hunt. And if you both come home with a bunch of clothes…
Host a little fashion show: Where you both chuck on the things you’ve bought and try them on with your existing wardrobe. Tell each other what looks good, what needs work and get a second opinion on how to make the most of your haul with accessories and shoes.
Watch You Tube for inspiration: If you don’t know how to approach second hand shopping, there are a number of great videos to guide you through what to look for. They will inspire you to make the most of your purchases by customising them and show you how to make over existing pieces; so do your research first.
Post your findings on social media: If you find a great outfit- let people know! The more people shop this way the less textiles end up in landfill, so it’s important to shout about it from the rooftops if you’ve found a little gem while you were browsing the rails.
Pay it forward: If you have some clothes that you no longer wear, take them to your local charity shop and give someone else the chance to enjoy them. What is one person’s junk is another person’s treasure! Plus it makes room for future second hand purchases.
Compare and contrast: Write down what it actually cost for each of your purchases and try to find out what it would have cost you to buy the same thing new. What’s the difference and what can you do with the extra money? Does shopping this way mean you can save more towards a bigger goal? If you shop exclusively ‘gently worn’ for a while, it might be worth seeing how much you save from payday to payday thus freeing up some of your disposable income for something else.
Happy National Second Hand Wardrobe Day!
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