It’s no secret I love shopping at thrift stores and garage/estate sales, where I can find great bargains and be eco-friendly at the same time. A lot of the thrift stores are nonprofit, donating to needs in our community which makes me feel good when I shop and donate. Some are consignment, where I can sell and or buy clothes, which helps my pocketbook while staying stylish. But no matter where you find your used deals, the one thing all of these have in common is that the items aren’t ending up in our already overflowing landfills.
Really, what difference does it make if I buy used books versus new ones? Well, I’m helping to save trees, which I think is pretty important. When I shop at a Habitat for Humanity Restore
http://www.pikespeakhabitat.org/
or one of our local Discover Goodwill retail locations,
http://www.discovermygoodwill.org/
I know that some of the money I spend is going towards programs that can help change lives for the better. There are tons of wonderful nonprofit stores that specifically help homeless animals, which unfortunately is even needed. (All of our cat family comes from the Humane Society.) There are also nonprofits that benefit medical research like The Cancer Society
I’ve personally seen how some of our local stores like The Salvation Army,
Goodwill, and arc Thrift Stores
have banded together in community emergencies and helped out, along with the Red Cross with immediate needs . (This was so true during the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest Fires.)
I think there was a time when buying used items had a bit of a stigma about it. You might need or like shopping for used items but you weren’t going out of your way to tell others that you didn’t quite know who actually wore your “new” dress before you did. Now I see all types of people, from all walks of life shopping at thrift stores and actually sharing the “best bargain” they found with their friends. I think most people understand that our planet needs help and by either shopping for or donating used items, you’re actually doing something about it.
When I was younger and lived in Texas my mom would take my sister and me to the First Monday Trade Days in Canton, which is the biggest flea market I’ve ever seen. We had so much fun finding the coolest, unique items, which we were thrilled to “discover.” I’ve never lost the love of the hunt.
With so many easy DIY projects on the internet, it’s easy to repurpose items to make your own unique statement in the home or yard too. With a spray of outdoor paint you can change an indoor pot or statue into a lawn accessory. I buy 29 cent votive holders I find at Goodwill and use them for condiment containers when I want to be “fancy.” Towel racks can become necklace holders, men’s dress shirts can be cut up and turned into cloth napkins, and don’t even get me started on all the ways a simple wicker basket can be used.
And even if you aren’t someone who likes to shop for used pieces, you can always donate your own used items and get a tax write off while helping others and our environment.
JUST FOR FUN…
Back in 2012 when we were first getting started, we filmed a video at Discover Goodwill (on Circle in Colorado Springs,) where I helped a friend find some fabulous clothes. She is a very fashionable woman with great taste that tends to run on the more expensive side. Her husband challenged me to find her something she would like and actually wear…
(If you don’t want to watch the video, which I personally love, you can always skip to the pictures of everything we found, along with the prices.)
My Fave Eco-Friendly Habit – 719woman.com
https://www.719woman.com/fashion/goodwill-hunting-charlotte/