Thrifting from the Other Side

As you all know by now, shopping at thrift stores means shopping for things that aren't new necessarily, objects that could have been used a hundred times before, or clothes that could have been someones favorite shirt before they outgrew it. I'm sure many of you clean out your closets and rooms once in a while, to get out the old to make room for new, or to just de clutter.

Now that I have become such an avid and frequent thrifter, I started to think about all the times I gave clothes and books and objects away to good will. My parents have been doing it their whole lives with our things we don't need anymore, and they end up being in nearby places. Sometimes when I am out thrifting I run across a sweatshirt or shirt that has my town name on it, and I wonder who's it used to be. When I thrift and make something old into something new, I imagine what it was used for before it became mine. For instance, the kind of person that went to the Bruce Springsteen concert or Dave Matthews concert and gave their shirt to Salvation Army. Or the cool vintage Penn State clothes I have, how long ago were they students? Who owned the unique wave necklace, and why did they give it away? Maybe I am just crazy and over think, but I find it to be so interesting to think about. So when considering my own donations, I always wonder who will get it next.

Thrifting is a fun past time, and one that to me never gets old. But donating is a key aspect of this. Not just clothes either, but anything you would throw away otherwise (besides actual trash). For example, I love to find books and even shoes or bags at thrift stores, so I always make sure to find books I am done with or shoes that don't fit and give them away in case someone like me comes along later. Even pieces of furniture or decorations that are just taking up space, try to bring them somewhere that they will be used and appreciated again all over.

Some of my favorite articles of clothing are from thrift stores, and an old article of mine could be someone else favorite thing too. It is a strange cycle to think about, but a rewarding one. Nothing is going to waste, in more ways than one. Make sure that if you do end up thrifting one day, consider cleaning out your room for things you don't use or need anyone, you will probably surprise yourself with how much you can get rid of. Ask yourself, when was the last time I used this? Will I need it in the near future? Do I even like it anymore? Does it look good? After these questions, many things end up going in the donation pile. These are just more reasons why thrifting is beneficial in so many ways; things are not going to waste, you can be directly helping someone else with your donation, and you get to clean out your closet to make room for whatever you want to fill it with.

                                          source
When it comes to donating, keep an eye out for bins placed near churches and other community oriented places to drop bags off inside, or you can bring the objects directly to the place you wish.