Thrift Guide: How to Shop Sustainably On a Budget

Thrifting isn’t only about finding cool clothes. It’s a way to reduce waste, shop sustainably and build your unique wardrobe. Read more about how thrifting helps the environment here. It’s usually a fun hobby but it can also be stressful. I find it a little overwhelming whenever I walk into a thrift store. There’s so much to look at and it takes time to sift through everything until you find what you’re looking for. This guide is here to help make thrifting a little easier and a little less stressful.

1) Know What You’re Looking For

Something that keeps me from getting overwhelmed is having a vision of what I’m looking for before I go to the store. Write down a list of items you might need or create a vision board of the aesthetic you’re going for. This can keep you from buying items you might not need. If you have a general idea of what you’re looking for it’ll save you time when looking through clothes.

2) Think Before You Buy

It’s easy to want to buy everything you come across in a thrift store. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you need to buy it. Overconsumption can still happen even if you’re shopping second-hand. It’s important to not get carried away. Try asking yourself if you’re gonna regularly wear what you’re buying, if you’re gonna keep it for over a year, and if you would buy it if it wasn’t at a second-hand price. After asking these questions you should have a better idea of what items to buy and which to leave for someone else.

3) Figure Out Your Favorite Spots

There are tons of different thrift stores out there. There’s no harm in trying new ones but it’ll save you some time if you have some favorite go-to spots. Get recommendations from friends or look online. When you try a new store make note of which ones fit your style and which ones you don’t find much at. Don’t discount online thrifting too. You can’t try stuff on but there are definitely good finds to be found.

4) Inspect Inspect Inspect

Make sure to check for stains, holes, broken zippers and tears before you buy your clothes. Sometimes these issues are fixable but if you aren’t gonna fix it, or find someone to fix it then don’t bother buying it. Getting home and realizing something you bought is damaged is usually sad, especially because most thrift store purchases are nonrefundable.

5) Have Fun

It should be fun! Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find anything good. It’s okay to leave empty-handed some days and it’s okay to find a hall on other days. Thrifting is fun, a great way to learn about your style and a great way to lessen your consumption.

Check out @kalitaku on TikTok for some in-depth thrift guide videos.