A Guide to Thrifting

   I go to school in a very small town and run into the same problem time and again, people just don't know how to dress themselves! Although many in my community aren't what you would call wealthy, they also aren't poor enough to have to go to school with stained and ripped clothing every day, but they usually do. Each year, students will start off with a handful of new clothes mixed in with their old outfits and wear them until the next summer, and by that time their clothes have been well worn and beat up. I, on the other hand, always have a rotating array of fresh and nice outfits. I live in a household with similar means as my fellow students, but if you compared my everyday outfits with some of theirs, you probably would find that hard to believe. The truth of the matter is that I probably spend less money on clothing that they do, and still manage to look good. My trick to staying tasteful? Thrifting.

   Ever since I was little, my family has stressed smart shopping. Over the years, I have learned and made some rules that I abide by when shopping for myself that make a huge difference in the quality of things that I purchase and I would like to share them with you, so that you can enjoy thrifting as much as I do.

Thrifting Tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings! If you don't know where all the thrifting hotspots are in your area, ask around and always be on the look out for small, family owned businesses. You can usually find a Goodwill in driving distance, but don't be afraid to venture into local shops, because they can be less expensive and support good causes!
• Don't judge a book by its cover! There is a shop near my home that looks a bit rugged on the outside, so i steered clear of it for a while, but one day I finally went in and discovered that not only did they have great stuff, but that all the clothing in the store was $1! Now it is my favorite shop! Don't let the outside appearance of a shop discourage you from going in.
• Pick out clean, next-to-new clothing! One of the most important tips is to pick out only clothing that looks as if it has been worn rarely, and are in relatively good shape. This goes for all clothes, not just modern ones, because it is possible to find older clothes in great condition, and a retro sweater could be calling your name. 
• Try everything on! This should be a no brainer, but always try on the clothing you pick out to make sure it fits and feels good. If you don't, you might just have to put it in your donations box.
• Check the clothing over! Always make sure to look over every inch of anything you are looking to buy, because nothing is worse than buying a cool shirt and later discovering that it has a big grease stain on it.
• Get another opinion! If you can, it always helps to show another person your clothing you picked out, because it can help to avoid fashion mistakes and buying something with a huge hole and an ugly stain. It also helps to get an honest person to go with you so that they tell you how they really think something looks on you.
• Give back! Always try to donate as much clothing as you take, that way you help out the community, and you have plenty of space for your new clothing.
• Update your wardrobe! I am constantly updating my wardrobe, and am always swapping out new clothing for my old clothes, so that I can always have something fresh and new to wear. It helps to switch out the clothing that is not in season because they are at a better price and have more of a selection because people aren't shopping for them.
• Spread out! This is very important! Thrift stores aren't the only places to find great clothing at great prices, be on the lookout for garage and estate sales too. I find amazing shirts for a quarter at garage sales all the time. Another great place is outlet malls, which sell new clothing at decent prices. Burkes Outlet is my favorite outlet store, because they sell things at up to 95% off their ticket price, but that is another guide altogether! One great thing you could do is host a swap party and invite friends to swap clothes with one another.
• Get out of your comfort zone! Don't think that you have to buy only clothes with tags still on them or clothes that are modern, because if you limit yourself, chances are that you are missing out on some great outfits with a vintage appeal.
• Don't get stuck on brand names! Just because something is a brand name does not make it any better. Stores like Goodwill know which brands people like, and usually price them higher than other brands that are just as good, so if you only look for those, you may be disappointed with the price and selection. There might be one Ambercrombie and Fitch shirt at $5 but twenty regular ones at $2
• Look through all sections! This may sound strange, but don't limit yourself to your genders section. The people that work at thrift stores have to sort through tons of clothes quickly and may place something in the women's section that belongs in the men's. I have found a lot of great men's clothes in the women's section.
• Be Nice! This is probably the most important rule. Thrift stores are labors of love that people put their heart into, and if you are kind, it means a lot to them. I usually have nice conversations with the owners or the people who check me out and have gotten free items as well as discounts for my politeness. Being kind really pays.