Thrift shopping, or thrifting, is buying second-hand clothing, shoes, accessories, jewellery and even furniture. In North America, the UK, and Europe, thrift shopping is quite common. The Caribbean, however, hasn’t quite embraced the idea of buying used items.

Shopping in thrift stores can be a great way to find exceptional items of clothing or even affordably priced furniture for your home.

If you’re interested in giving thrift shopping a try, then this guide is for you. We’re sharing how to thrift shop like a pro and some of the benefits of shopping second-hand.

Be prepared to dig

When thrift shopping, the clothing might not be as organised as in a traditional store. Come ready to hunt through the racks to find your treasure.

Wear something

It’s likely that there won’t be anywhere for you to try on the pieces you like in a thrift shop, and usually, you won’t be able to return ill-fitting items. Wear a tight-fitting camisole or leggings so that you can try on clothes without needing a private space.

Look for quality

While there’s nothing wrong with picking up a fast fashion item if the price is right, but you’ll get more bang for your buck by looking for quality. Keep your eyes peeled for well-made designer pieces and high-quality materials. Finding a unique designer item for a fraction of the cost is what thrift shopping dreams are made of.

Now that we’ve looked at how to shop in a thrift store, let’s look at a few of the reasons you should give thrifting a try.

Save money

Saving money is one of the biggest reasons for thrift shopping. You can score cute clothing, shoes, even home décor and furnishings for a lot less than purchasing retail. These are expensive times, and it’s great to save money wherever you can!

Support charities

Some thrift shops are run for profit, but many support charities. The money you spend in these places goes back to worthy causes such as help for the homeless or victims of domestic abuse.

Reduce waste

When you buy something second-hand, you’re helping to reduce the amount of waste that ends up piled up in landfills. The airtight nature of a landfill means that it takes fabrics a long time to breakdown. Synthetic textiles such as nylon, rayon, spandex and polyester can take between 20 and 200 years to decompose in a landfill.

Unique pieces

With some digging, you can find some truly unique, vintage or designer items for prices that won’t leave your eyes watering.

Most shops will have some kind of quality control in place, meaning that the items are clean and in good condition for buyers. So give thrift shopping a try, even if you might have to do it outside of your island.

Sources: Reader’s Digest