Second Hand Shopping Guides

The following is an excerpt, from http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/23/frugality-in-practice-shopping-for-second-hand-clothes/, is a handy guide for the first time thrift store shopper. 

1. Set a budget. This is difficult at first — you don’t know how much things cost. But eventually you’ll be able to tell yourself, “I’m going spend $20 today”. It becomes a game to see how much you can buy for $20.
2. Discard your prejudices. Some people consider thrift stores and used clothing shops nasty dirty places. Some are. Most aren’t. Explore your neighborhood. Find a shop or two that you like, and you’ll be hooked. 
3. Go with a friend. It’s good to have a second opinion. Your friend may have an eye for what looks good on you — and vice versa.
4. Try things on. Sizes vary widely between manufacturers and even by eras. (Today’s clothes have looser fits.) But go in knowing your general size and measurements. Note that some places don’t have dressing rooms, so it’s smart to wear a modest thin layer in case you need to strip down in the aisle.
5. Examine each item thoroughly. It sucks to get home to find your new shirt has a hole in the pocket. Or that the slacks you thought were a steal actually have a broken zipper.
6. Check washing instructions. You don’t want to pay $3 for a silk blouse if you’ll never dry-clean it.
7. Use the tags as a guide to find quality brands you like, but don’t limit yourself. Sometimes a brand you’ve never heard of can yield a favorite piece of clothing.
8. Think layers. Maybe that shirt with a stain on the sleeve has a great collar for wearing under a sweater. For $3, you can afford to buy a single-purpose shirt.
9. Use thrift stores as a way to diversify your wardrobe. Buy colors and styles on which you normally wouldn’t spend much. Wear the new clothes a few times to see how you like them, and to gauge the reaction of others.
10. Used clothing stores are great for certain accessories. Why pay $30 for a new belt in a department store when you can get a better belt in your size for just $2? I like to shop at second-hand stores for hats. (Nice hats.)
11. Look for clothes new with tags. Sometimes unsold department store inventory finds its way to used clothing stores and thrift shops. You’ll generally pay more for these items, but not much.
12. If you won’t wear it, don’t buy it. You don’t save money buying a $3 shirt if it just sits in your closet for two years.
13. Wash clothes when you get them home.
14. Watch for sales. Used clothing stores (and thrift stores) run periodic specials. Our favorite local store just ran a half-off sale. The local thrift stores often have specials on certain items.
15. If you go to the same store often, ask when they rotate stock. Stores get new shipments regularly. Most also have extra stock in storage. If you become familiar with the owners, you might even ask them to keep an eye out for particular items.
16. If buying used clothes becomes a habit, institute a “one in-one out policy”. Every time you bring home something new, get rid of something old. (Give it away, take it to a thrift store, or save it for a garage sale.)
17. Have fun! Buying used clothing can save you money. It’s also a fun way to kill a Saturday afternoon. At $3 an item, you can afford to be adventurous sometimes.

Vow for on year to retread my threads - NO SHOPPING!

For the next year, starting today June 21, 2009, I vow to not purchase any new clothes. I'm nervous to even say this out loud, let alone blog it for the entire universe to see.
It's out there so there's no taking it back now!!

For the next year I will mend, repair, recycle, upcycling, recraft, remake and retread, my current clothing to make it last. I have a very laid back job where my attire is rarely a concern. I will put aside some nice slacks and a couple nicer tops to save for special occasions that I may need to dress up for. Otherwise I will work with what I have.

I have exceptions to my vow:
1) Shoes: I need a new pair of winter boots and golashes. I live in Fairbanks Alaska it gets to more than -40 degrees at times and I will not compromise my toes. I have a newer parka and snow pants are a necessity that I cannot live with out. I will however look for used boots and if that doesn't work out of season discounts (at least i will save some money even if not conserving carbon foot print).

2) Underwear: I can NOT go without a bra! Those days are a distant memory. If I become desperate for new underwear I will mail order from a organic clothing line. If you have a recommendation please let me know. I love to sew but sewing my own undies is a little extreme for me and I refuse to by used intimate apparel. But I do vow to order from an organic cotton, free trade, green clothing line such as Gaiam.

3) Dumpster Diving: Where I live there are transfer stations. At these stations there are lots of dumpsters for your disposable trash and lawn debris. Then there is a covered platform where people leave items that others might find useful. Furniture, tools, clothes, electronics, you name it you might find it at the transfer station. If I happen to find something useful on the platform I don't feel that this is cheating.

My reasoning behind this vow is as follows.

• I have a ridiculous amount of clothes!
• I hate doing laundry and have been known to do horrible things such as buy new clothes to put off doing laundry....on multiple occasions.
• When clothes start showing wear I generally quit wearing them. I have a pile of perfectly good clothes that need minor repairs.
• A friend of mine vocalized this vow a few weeks ago and I thought it was an awesome idea. BUT when I volunteered to support her in this by uniting in the same vow. She got real nervous and started naming off all her exceptions where she would buy clothes and I realized this wasn't something she is serious about. I am serious about this and I can do it!!
• As I stated earlier I love to sew and a few of my favorite articles of clothing are skirts from old jeans. I think I will enjoy having a creative unique wardrobe that is completely one of a kind!
• Now that I'm back living in the grid I need to take measures to adjust my lifestyle and not succumb to the greedy consumer driven society we are all so immersed in.
  

Maybe you're not feeling at all inspired by my plan? Read this post, Recycling Worn out clothing, and hopefully you will at the very least feel compelled to always turn your old clothes to second hand store. Because even if you don't want your old clothes they don't belong in the garbage. Take them to your local goodwill store, value village, or if you live near me take them to the transfer station and leave them on the platform. Maybe I will come by on a Saturday morning and your trash will be my new treasure!

I would love to hear/see/read about how other people are conserving their consumption of retail items, as well as see how people are retreading their threads!