People are often shocked or surprised when they find out that I can spend less than $30 on four or 5 items of clothing. I’m often asked how I “find the latest deals” or “can you help me find something within my budget?” I’ve been trained in the art of bargain hunting since childhood. I’m what they call, a frugal fashionista, someone who makes careful and practical decisions when it comes to shopping. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look good. As a fashion obsessed girl and broke college student, I’m here to share some of my secrets and tips to scoring stylish deals.
My first secret: try shopping at consignment shops and thrift stores. Let’s be real, every girl wants to look good without killing their wallet. Ever walk into one of your favorite stores and see vintage inspired clothing at extremely unreasonable prices? Thrift stores, have an array of clothing from various decades at the vintage price. Who doesn’t love $5-10 shirts? Plus, you’ll always find yourself with a unique article of clothing. Thrifting is not only good for you and your wallet, but for the community as well. By recycling fashions, you’re also reducing landfills of unwanted clothes and minimizing energy needed to make new clothes. Most thrift stores, like the Salvation Army and Goodwill, work to raise money for various organizations and groups.
3 Tips for thrifting: 1) Take your time and be paitient. 2) Don’t look for something specific. Keep an open mind. 3) Check every section.
San Francisco has a number of consignment shops and thrift stores. Here are some of my favorites in no particular order.
- Crossroads Trading Co. 2123 Market St.
- Thrift Town 2101 Mission St.
- No Shop 389 Valencia St.
- Salvation Army 3921 Geary Blvd.
- Goodwill 2400 Irving St.
- Held Over 1543 Haight St.
- Buffalo Exchange 1555 Haight St.
- Mission Thrift 2330 Mission St.
Want to find thrift stores in your area? Check out these sites:
http://www.thethriftshopper.com
http://www.thriftstorelistings…