Is your favorite clothing store in Bridgestreet or Parkway? Chances are, you can only buy one, maybe two complete outfits in one trip. Well, there is a better alternative. When you thrift, clothing items can cost as low as a $1 per item while thrifting or maybe as low as $6 at a consignment shop. Some local thrift stores are Goodwill, Downtown Rescue Mission (which is relatively new), Asbury Thrift Store, and The Saving Way Thrift Store. Of course, there is the consignment store Plato’s Closet as well; however, it is slightly more expensive.

Fall is one of the best times to thrift because thrift stores tend to carry many long sleeve shirts, sweaters, and jackets. Each store has hundreds of pairs of jeans. Thrifting is especially useful if you enjoy wearing baggy clothing, as I’ve found that I definitely do not know my correct size in men’s clothing. Before you go thrifting, I highly recommend figuring out your clothing size in men’s and women’s sections. Thrift stores also have other useful household items like vintage cups and utensils. They have furniture and some even have sports equipment. If you’re into old music, then you may find thrifting very enjoyable. In most thrift stores, there will be a large selection of books along with CDs and movies. 

Thrifting is also a fun activity to do with friends. You can go from store to store, browsing all of the items. It gets you out of the house for a while at least. When you’re thrifting, you can experiment with combining different clothing items with each other, too. It is a great option if you are on a tight budget. Long story short, instead of walking out of a store with three really expensive shirts and calling it a day, you can spend less money and buy more, while supporting organizations that help the less fortunate. Most thrift stores are designed to help the poor and the homeless. Thrifting is just shopping and supporting a good cause!