Why Shop Second-Hand? 5 Great Reasons!
I have to admit that for many years I was more or less opposed to second-hand shopping. Blame it on a childhood full of hand-me-downs and teen years full of thrift store finds that ended up in yard sales more often than not.
Whatever the reason, I completely avoided thrift stores and yard sales for years. Recently though, I had a major change of heart. For the last two years, I have shopped second-hand for almost all of my clothing purchases.
Why shop second-hand? What are the benefits of second-hand shopping? It’s time to find out!
1: Why Shop Second-Hand? Cause it’s Cheaper!
First of all, the most obvious reason to buy second-hand goods is that it will save you money! But you already knew that.
Seriously though, just this week I found a pair of Old Navy corduroy pants for $6 and they looked brand new! In fact, as I was scanning Good Will (which isn’t the fanciest of thrift stores by the way) I was stunned to see how many items seemed brand new or were in very good condition.
Back in the day, I didn’t want to go thrift shopping because all the stuff seemed 20 years out of date and grungy. Not anymore. I guess one thing you can thank fast fashion for is the fact that people are getting rid of perfectly good clothes now. So why not benefit from it?
And the benefits of buying second-hand clothing aren’t where the savings end! You can find amazing deals on quality furniture! Maybe you will find unique home decor or some nice dishes for a fraction of the price they would be new.
There’s no doubt about it. When you buy second-hand goods you will save money! The surprise is that you can find some really great stuff!
2: You Can Find Really Unique Stuff!
Speaking of great finds, when you buy second-hand goods it may require a patient slow shopping approach instead of the lightning-fast impulse shopping we are used to. Why? Because you won’t find exactly what you are thinking of right away. If that’s the case why shop second-hand?
Simply put, because the wait is worth it! When you shop second hand you are likely to find really unique items. Just the other day I saw a beautiful outfit from India, an awesome leather vest and some really cute vintage heels. When you buy second-hand clothes it gives you a chance to build a more creative wardrobe!
Beyond clothing, when you buy second-hand goods you may find beautiful antiques, hand-crafted home decor, and other funky finds that aren’t right out of the cookie-cutter.
3: It’s Better for the Planet!
The benefits of buying second-hand don’t end with you. In fact, the biggest reasons to consider buying second-hand are much farther reaching than that.
After years of avoiding second-hand options, I was convinced to give it another try when I watched The True Cost, a documentary about fast fashion and its impact on the environment and people.
Think about it, we are consuming everything from clothing to furniture to random tiny gadgets from Amazon and Temu at an alarming rate. We get it, we use it a little and then we move on. Within a year or two we throw that stuff out completely.
Even the concept of thrift shops, giving people a chance to reuse items, doesn’t completely solve the problem. Giant cubes of clothes are sent to third-world countries that are so inundated with them they end up burning most of it.
The production of items involves chemicals that harm the planet, the shipping involves gas, and the amount of trash we are creating with our rapid consumerism threatens to suffocate the entire planet sooner than later.
Even though buying second-hand isn’t the ultimate solution it can help. When you buy a pre-loved item you are not feeding the consumer machine. Instead, you are saving the planet from a little bit of trash, at least for a little bit longer. When you buy second-hand goods you are doing what you can on both ends of the consumer cycle.
4: It’s Better for the People Who Make Your Stuff
Another thing I learned about in The True Cost was the impact of fast fashion is having on people. Unfortunately, it is a very bleak picture.
Everything we own is made by people. These people are either working with machines or making items manually but they are often not paid a living wage and sometimes they are working in very dangerous conditions.
When I saw the stories of some of the garment workers in The True Cost, is when I decided to make a concerted effort to buy second-hand clothes. I could not reconcile buying fast fashion and contributing to the exploitation of people on the other side of the globe.
When you start buying second-hand clothing you are slowing down the demand for fast fashion. When enough people do that the companies will slowly change to take care of their people better.
Another way to avoid fast fashion is to buy from sustainable and ethical brands but sometimes that isn’t in the budget so buying second-hand clothes is a great choice too!
5: Why Shop Second-Hand? It’s Good for Your Community!
Another great reason to buy second-hand goods is that it can benefit your community and other people. How?
Well, many thrift shops benefit different charities. We have a thrift shop that directly benefits the disabled in our community. Others benefit the homeless and those who are improving their lives after substance use or abuse. When you shop at these thrift stores you help the people in your community who need it most.
But what about buying second-hand clothes or goods online? That is also beneficial! When you buy those cute shoes on Poshmark you might just be helping a single mother to make ends meet.
Where Can You Buy Second-Hand Goods?
Why shop second-hand? Now you know! There are lots of benefits of buying second-hand clothing and goods!
But where can you shop second-hand? There are more options than you think. First of all, you can shop at your local thrift shops and thus support local charities. If you have extra time on the weekends you can scan garage sales or Facebook Marketplace. For a little more quality control, you might want to check out some consignment shops. You can even sell some of your nicer items through these shops and get some dough back.
Beyond the obvious, you can shop second-hand online. I have bought a few purses on eBay for a much better price than buying them new. You can buy almost anything second-hand on eBay.
Another exciting option is online thrifting apps like Poshmark or Thredup. I love Poshmark. You just have to be careful to know your size or be familiar with brands that fit you well. Using Poshmark has helped me elevate my wardrobe with nicer brands than I would normally be able to afford.
Why Shop Second-Hand? Why Not?!
So here’s the question. Will you shop second-hand? Will you give it a try for the reasons above? If you do I know you will save money and benefit the planet.
I have to admit that in the last couple of years since I started buying second-hand more I have still bought new items as well. Some things are just too hard to find and other things don’t appeal to me second hand, like bathing suits for example.
I also have to warn you that going to thrift stores or browsing Poshmark can tempt you into buying stuff you don’t really need because you are finding great deals all the time. Be careful not to bring clutter into your home or waste money you don’t need to spend. Stay focused and shop with intention.
Contribute to the Second Hand Supply!
Last but not least, do you need to declutter old clothes that you never wear or household items you never use? While you are at the second-hand store you might as well add your contribution!
Make it a goal to declutter your home before you shop second-hand and never come home with more than you left there. Do a thorough closet cleanout to make room for cool stuff you are finding at the the thrift store! Remember that when you donate stuff you barely use you might be making it available to people who really need it.
Do you need more help decluttering? I created a unique decluttering system that will help you avoid overwhelm and stress! Fearless Decluttering will teach you how to build your decluttering muscles and let go of more and more so you can make a huge difference in your home.
