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Recovering thiftaholics...

catgirl

Veteran

In Anniemouse's wonderful thread on shopping, Rae mentioned that she has stopped thrifting. So have I. I used to go all the time when I had a free hour or was driving by or felt restless. But time and work changed that flexibility and I kind of went cold turkey.

The other day I went to drop off stuff at Value Village and couldn't resist looking around. Of course I came home with stuff. I got a really great useful long gear coat that fits perfectly and a drapey Hinge sweatshirt cardigan lined with faux shearling. That was it. I didn't go overboard as I would have in the past picking up sort-ofs and almosts and maybes to try. It was a weird relief not to feel that pull of the bargains that so often turned out to be a burden.

I actually buy far less than I used to now, though I spend more. And there is a part of me that really misses the thrills, skills and kills that come with thrifting. I may try once a month and see how it goes.

Has anyone else found that thrifting is not the best path for them?

Shopping

32 replies

Latest reply was from Lantana

Greyscale

Veteran

I am still shopping a lot at second-hand stores BUT I'm making myself be very very picky about which stores I go to. No more Goodwill or Salvation Army. No more Buffalo Exchange (younger trendy stuff). Now I go to two Crossroads locations that have really top-notch things and I try to skip the ones right near college neighborhoods. My favorite is Wasteland, where I only let myself look at their designer section, not their regular/vintage areas.

And even so, this week I bought three quite good things at Crossroads and I think I'm returning all three. They're all top quality but they aren't what I'd have bought new if I had more money, so I should be more selective.

So my goal for this upcoming week: no lunchtime visits to the mediocre Crossroads down the street from my office!

Solidarity!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I'm quite new to thrifting regularly, and of course I've made mistakes. Many times. My lesson is learned: Only look for what I actually will wear, and it must be in pristine condition and preferably a high end piece. Still, I love to go every two weeks or so (I used to go several days a week last year), but now I'm a lot better at leaving things that are not quite so. I clearly see how the thrill of a bargain and the low prices can become a trap, so I try to be careful and limit my access.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I've never been much of a thrifter. A sale shopper yes, but a thrifter, no. I keep saying I should start, as there is a very nice-looking thrift store right next to the gym I go to. I think my fear is that I will be lured by the lower prices and spend too much, and like Greyscale said, purchase things I wouldn't normally buy if I had to pay full price. And to add to that, I'm not so sure I trust my "this is in style" knowledge.

It's kind of like my nephew, who has decided never to drink alcohol - if I don't start, I can't develop a problem with it!

Deborah

Veteran

Where I live now, shopping is a little limited and that was the catalyst for trying thrift stores. I went through a phase where I thrifted 'unwisely' but now, thanks to YLF, I am much more discerning. I do pop in to my local thrift stores for browse but rarely buy, but the things I do buy are good quality, excellent condition and something I would buy full price... or they are all of those things and I sell them on Ebay to help fund the 'new' items I want

viva

Veteran

I had started a cycle of buying and then ultimately re-consigning the same piece -- that is, returning it to the same store in a pile of my clothing to consign -- which really means I never should have bought it in the first place: this would include a green wool Milly coat that was really not my style, a striped Theory shirt that I never wore because I don't wear button-down shirts very often, a pair of Paige bootcuts that were too short but I figured I could wear with flats, a Botkier bag in a green that I was unsure about.... In all cases, I had been quickly drawn in by the allure of a great brand for a low price. This is my achilles heel, so I need to really ration my time in that store. Sometimes I feel bad that I keep bringing my clothing in but rarely buy -- because I have become good friends with the owner. But I figure, if she can sell my things and make a few bucks, I am helping her business in some way. I'd rather wait and receive a small check from her that I can put toward a more thoughtful purchase elsewhere.

Anonymous

*Raising hand*. Another recovering thriftaholic here. I got hooked when I needed to replace my whole wardrobe and still enjoy many of those pieces. Now I have enough. Even trying to be picky, most of my last thrift buys have been mistakes. Helping me to make the break is that many thrift stores have raised their prices so much that I can usually get better bargains at retail sales.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Oh dear. I am not recovering or even inclined to quit but I am much, much more picky about what I buy for myself - and try to only take home things that someone else would want if I don't. I am much more likely to buy one big splurge with my consignment profits than a lot of useless but tempting things at a second hand store, so that's some progress. With that said, in the last week I have brought home a Reiss oversized leather jacket (nwt) and a pink Furla bag that I am seriously thinking about keeping. I hope to post about them next week.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Joy said...although very, very few of my thrifted or bought on consignment pieces have lasted more than a season -- I quickly realized they weren't my style or weren't in style, or the cut or fit was wrong -- and out they went. Still, without the thrift and consignment stores I could never have replenished my empty closet after weight loss -- just couldn't afford it then -- so I'm grateful. And I did learn a few things from the experiments.

The only things I still have in regular rotation from my thrifting adventures are: a pair of Theory pants; a Theory sweater; my Biba kimono jacket; a silk scarf.

From that I gather that my most successful thrift purchases are:

1. High quality essentials that I'd buy at full price if I could afford or find them. (Not easy where I live.)

2. Unusual "special" pieces (like the kimono jacket) -- things I might not wear often and wouldn't pay a lot for, but are interesting to have.

The consignment store in my town is pretty poor. I really never find anything I like there. So I do drop things off and browse while I'm there -- but typically I never find anything. I haven't stopped thrifting on principle, but it doesn't really pull me now. Going forward I would rather buy most of my items new and pre-season to in-season.

April

Veteran

The rule I had to make for myself about thrifting was, "No projects." I would look at things (often swayed by labels in a way I wouldn't be in a regular store) and think, "Ooh, if I just changed the buttons, got the sleeves shortened, and had the waist nipped in a little, this would be perfect." My rule now is that it has to fit just the way it is. The only project I'll take on for a thrifted piece is dropping it off at the cleaners.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Like Karie, thrifting has never been a big thing for me (although I had a little fling with it around the time I discovered YLF). The discount stores are another story -- TJMaxx, Marshalls, Rack, etc. I find I waste less time and money when I avoid those stores. I don't go in them very much any more, and when I do it's usually for a specific item. Recently I looked for luggage and actually left the stores without looking at any other sections, which is not my usual habit.

The one exception of late was a stop I made in Loehmann's since they're having their going out of business sale. I picked up a slate/navy blue linen Theory sweater (which I wore the next day), a lightweight chambray shirt that should layer better underneath sweaters than my current ones that have bulky pockets on the chest, and a cashmere blend grey and white color block sweater, which I've also already worn. Total spent was $80, which is darn good considering the Theory sweater alone would have cost well more than twice that at full price.

El Cee

Veteran

Recovering thrifter here. Echoing Joy -- my local thrift stores have raised prices and I am finding better deals online or at the brick-and-mortar retail sales. I still occasionally peruse thrift and consignment shops for coats, jackets and leather goods (handbags and belts).

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

As you know Una, I used to do a ton of thrifting - probably 80% of my wardrobe was thrifted. And I made MANY MANY mistakes - ill fitting, slightly dated...you name it. I mean 'cmon...how many times did I post a thrifted item trying desperately to make it work???

Interestingly enough, I have also stopped combing through sales and clearance racks looking for the "perfect" item that I didn't know I needed - lol!

I do occasionally venture into Value Village still but stick to the accessories area - jewelry and purses. And if I do spot an item of clothing that's current and in great shape, I apply the same principles as I would for new items - great fit, versatility and works with my current wardrobe/style.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I suppose eBay is my version of thrifting. I'm better, but not cured. That needle in the haystack keeps me coming back around. (for instance, after Louise's workout wear thread I peeked and found a bra top match to my triathlon set from 2007 season. Been sold out for over 7 years.) These kinds of scenarios keep me coming back.
As for actual thrift stores, I've never lived near any good ones. I have gotten 2 belts and one small bag at the thrifts stores. That's it!
I do find that allowing myself to spend on an item I want instead of hunting around for it's bargain counterpart is satisfying and tends to keep the shopping down overall.

MsMary

Veteran

I just did a big closet clean-out (5 big trash bags) and almost all of the stuff that went out was either thrifted or swapped. It's much easier to get beguiled by that not-exactly-perfect item when it's free or nearly so!

I'm with Mo -- spending on what I really want, instead of endlessly bargain hunting or settling for less-than-perfect because it's cheap, is much more satisfying.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Good point to bring up Ebay, Mo! I still Ebay a lot, as is evident in my outfit posts. I think what saves me on Ebay is that there is so much on offer that I am forced to type in a search even to browse. That at least limits my browsing to stuff I could actually use to better the wardrobe - whereas in the thrift store or flea market, I'm all like, "Ooh, weird and shiny! Buy buy!"

I still am very grateful to have had the flea markets, though. I was able to experiment a lot while saving tons of money for the future.

Thistle

Veteran

I have never had the patience for thrift stores "Oh I love this shirt, but I need it in another size . . . " Um, not so much!

The few times I have gone, I either find nothing, or I bring home a belt, maybe a scarf. I just can't seem to get a score or big find that makes it worth the time. My mom loves to thrift, so we compromise on summer garage sales.

Garage sales are huge here in the summer, and I do try to get to a few where the whole neighborhood is participating. But then I am looking for kids stuff. I have gotten DD quite a few fantastic buys as kids outgrow their stuff so quickly. People in my area seem to save the good kids stuff for garage sales, so I have never had luck thrifting even for DD.

Sarah A

Veteran

I am in a bit of a trying to recover from thrifting too much but still find it can be very useful mode. On the whole, I think less thrifting is better for me. But I am looking for a couple specific things right now... for example light wash skinny jeans and white skinny jeans that will probably attempt to thrift for, I am easy to fit and a middle size. But, I have learned if this is my list.... just look at the jeans racks. If nothing walk out! It's the while im here ill just check out the whole place that gets me in trouble and overspent off my style progress. Thanks for the post

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oh shoot....I didn't think of eBay. Maybe I'm not as cured as I thought - lol!

rabbit

Veteran

I grew up and went through college with thrifting and garage sales being the default, there were a few coats and shoes purchased new once or twice a year, but that was it. It was the same throughout my extended family. And I generally loved it once I left behind the awkwardness of not wearing up to the minute 'in' clothes in middle school. As I result all my shopping skill-sets surrounded the thrift store or once a year huge junior league garage sales at the convention center. I liked the ability to experiment and find my style with minimal consequences, I liked developing color, fabric, and fit preferences and then learning to zero in on them from across a crowded room to the exclusion of all other distractions. I liked the mix of people and the sociability. I found conventional shopping experiences pretty painful, from the prices, to the lack of selection, to just being at a mall.

This has shifted to the discount stores (Rack, Maxx, Marshalls) in recent years as thrift store prices rose to match them. Combined with an antipathy towards any clutter, a small closet, and no need for conventional work clothes and I actually hadn't thrifted for a year or two until last week, when I found out about this out of the way local place that has twice a month everything is 35 cents sales in a backroom. So I went mostly for fun, and it was a lot of fun, mainly for the social interaction (there were no mirrors so we all had to be each other's eyes).

I can see the traps though, from projects, to pieces you have to 'buy around', I'm in some 35 cent skirt, 6 dollar tights needed to go with the specific color situations right now. Also it's so easy to over time fall into getting quantity over quality (less is sometimes less). Or quality, but not what works for you now.

I gotta say though that when refreshing/rebuilding an entire wardrobe with a move, new job, or weight change it's been a useful tool.

Anonymous

Thistle, exactly! I think I am way too picky and finicky for thrift shopping. Plus, I get completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff even in the well-organized shops. It's like my brain can't take in that many separate, different items at once. I wish I were better at it, honestly, but it truly drives me bonkers.

I don't even thrift/consign much for DS. I know, I know. Kids grow fast. But really, I've managed to buy brand-new children's clothes without busting the budget by a) hitting the sales; b) stocking up on bigger sizes at the end of a season to hold onto for next year; c) the occasional hand-me-down from a friend; and d) KEEPING UP WITH LAUNDRY.

Garage sales are huge in my area, too. We've found some amazing deals on toys that way, especially big items like art easels, tricycles, etc.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

When remaking my entire wardrobe due to weight loss, I relied heavily on thrifting for a lot of the more classic basics... Now that I spent a year doing so, I have cut way back and when I do go only leave with one or two items that really speak to me... I think thrifting for dresses is still appealing.

Doing a lot more online shopping these days...

shedev

Veteran

I stopped thrifting because I wanted stuff that was a little more modern than what I was seeing at my local stores. We also don't have really good brands at our shops in Cleveland. We're more Salvation Army than fancy boutique. I do still ebay some but not as much as I was.

E

Veteran

I'm the opposite! I love having access to more silhouettes & colours in a thrift store than I can find in a retail store; honestly, even if I switched to only buying a handful of clothes a year (all that my budget would stretch to in retail), I find it as difficult to find my perfect piece retail as thrifting. Most modern skirts don't hit at my smallest point or are too short. Most modern dresses are too short or lined in polyester. Most modern trousers have a rise that's too low for me. And on and on!

However, since I'm on such a small budget, I can't just thrift with abandon, which probably helps me avoid the more challenging experiments or projects. I still make mistakes sometimes, especially if something's 50% off and fabulous fabric/quality (my down fall, hehe). Still, secondhand shopping enriches my life, and I feel very fortunate to live in an area where it exists. I thrift stuff other than clothes too, especially home goods.

I understand why it can be a problem for 'regular' people though, whose budgets are much larger, which makes thrift prices look almost free.

Anonymous

I was a big time thrifter when I started here. My entire family wore thrifted clothes for years. I was able to buy better quality with the same amount of money than if I purchased new, and it was a great way to try new looks. It allowed me to get my shopping itch scratched, too! But like some others, my closet began to bulge with all the terrific deals I got. And it was a real hodge-podge of items that all wanted to take center stage. Problem was, there wasn't much in there that could play the supporting act.

Then I started learning about quality over quantity. Not the sort of quality of a dated pair of Lands' End khakis that have a lot of life left in them, either. I mean having current, well-fitted items that are perfectly suited to my life and style preference that work together to make a cohesive wardrobe. This approach I much prefer, and I'm able to pass on many thrift stores now because I just don't feel the allure of items that look suspiciously close to their fashion expiration date. I wish I could report that I am spending the same or less for a smaller collection of more perfect items than I was for my second-hand hoard, but I cannot.

The minute I say, "I've given up thrifting" I'm sure to get an uncontrollable urge to partake again (just like I get instantly hungry at the word 'diet') so I won't say I'm in rehab. You see, there was this perfect off-white Celine, lined in silk, in my size, just right for my climate, amazingly cut, cropped 3/4 trench that I found for around $16.99 last spring. So that's enough to keep me sniffing around for more. Though the odds of that happening again have got to be somewhere around what they are for being struck by lightning. Twice.

Anonymous

@E: Really good points. I also returned to the thrift stores last spring when I couldn't find the kind of tops I needed in retail anywhere, at almost any price point. So I get what you're saying!

Jjsloane

Veteran

I like to leave no retail stone unturned so consider thrifting necessary for covering ones bases. I do not have very good ones near me (or don't go often enough for them to yield well for me) but I have a semi ok consignment store that is just far enough away I rarely get there. Like Karie I'm a sale shopper and I love a bargain and am able to buy great stuff at the Rack and retail sales for good prices with a return option. For me thrift/consigment etc.. stores are fabulous for accessories - I've bought Dooney & Bourke and Coach purses for $25.

Sheila

Veteran

I am looking for particular colors and styles when I shop. There is a better chance that I will find these particular colors at a thrift shop which has many years of clothing than the current year/season that is currently on.
I find there is way to much black and gray out there... I am not necessarily interested in trends and what's out there now.. but what fits me well and colors that suit and unique items.
It is very easy to buy the wrong thing thrifting... you have to look for it all.. color, fit and style and be demanding.
In order to know that you are doing it right you have to be able to walk out MANY times with nothing... but this would be the same way shopping for real anyway. I have friends that always have to leave with a bag or two... they can't do ZERO.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I have had to do the same thing as April, declare no projects. Even though I sew a hem or a popped zipper, it also might take a multiple of months, not weeks. I will buy if just a button needs to be tightened, but anything more elaborate, nope.

I like the idea of secondhand clothing being reused rather than thrown away, so I still thrift on occasion, but I tend to go to places that have higher quality stuff (and thus higher prices, usually). There's a consignment store that I've had good luck in - the thrill of the search is not as great but I know that most of the items will last for multiple seasons.

Wasn't there a conversation recently about trying out new trends? I tend to do that with thrifted stuff, because the financial investment isn't as much, and that's the kind of thing that I tend to find in most of our local thrift stores: medium to low end brands of varying quality, either very new (within the last year) or several years old, clearly the result of someone cleaning out their closets in dramatic fashion. I tend to focus on the first set if the quality and fit are alright, with a few classics from the second set when I find them and they suit me.

Sheila

Veteran

I am just the opposite... if I can find the style and the color... it is so rare... that I will hack it up and try to change a dress from a size 12 to size 6.... I turn dresses into long tops, especially petite items, take out linings...ALL shoulderpads and re do darts.
If the material is good... it is alot cheaper than sewing from scratch. I usually take a few hours a month and just sew.
The color is important. I do NOT take on projects that involve dye. It is unpredictable and usually impossible to get fully saturated color from a home dye- no matter how many boxes you use.
Oh my... this is about Recovering from Thrifting... sorry...

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