Never Pay Full Price

All it takes are those three little words and I’m yours: “It’s on sale.” Over the years my mother has taught me many lessons, some being: Think before you speak, Don’t fight with your siblings in public, Never date a guy who looks at himself more than you, and my favorite: Never pay full price.

Whether influenced by Athletes, Entertainers or Designers, at some point we’ve all fallen victim to overpriced luxuries in hopes of feeling closer to the stars we idolize. And that’s not bad, it’s actually pretty common to desire the products of those we look up to, but to pay an outrageous amount for said items that can be purchased at a more affordable price is a mistake we often do not realize we make.

Vintage Tony Lama Burgundy Jacket:

Original Price: $250/ Thrifted Price:$42

Dr. Martens Leather Lace Up Boots:

Original Price: $150/ Thrifted Price: $25

There is no shame in purchasing luxury products at a more affordable price because in doing so we are learning to shop smart. Yet there is a luxury in purchasing expensive items at full price and that is being counted in the upper percentile of shoppers who can withstand these high prices. And while the instant gratification of gripping your new full priced item makes you ecstatic, it ultimately makes your bank account miserable and could cause shopper's remorse.

We shop because we want the in store experience and feeling of acceptance by the stores we desire and their employees who work the registers we often sell our souls (our wallets) to. Okay, maybe that is a little dramatic, but you understand my point. What if I told you that alternative retailers exist and sell these expensive products at a more affordable price. Two words: thrift store. I have been thrifting for a few years now and since doing so, have claimed countless items for less than $50 all because I began shopping with the mindset to “Never pay full price.” And while some of you may call it shopping cheap, I call it shopping smart.

The best part about thrifting is its affordability, sustainability, and variety. Each item I have thrifted is similar to the styles of those I idolize, yet personalized to fit my own taste. Thrift stores are filled with a variety of styles meant to attract all demographics of shoppers, making it easy to expand closets and experiment with new fashion.

The trick to being a successful thrifter is having an open mind and wide eye, but still a general idea of the product you desire. The one step I always take before thrifting is organize my closet and separate the clothes I wear most from the clothes I do not, then bring those items to thrift stores to be sold. Depending on the store’s policy, some will either give you store credit or cash in return for your clothes while others will provide you with a receipt you may be able to use to take a tax deduction.

My first few attempts at thrifting were more of a learning experience, and though I would leave some stores empty-handed I was still successful because I learned what stores carried the products I desired, how often the store received shipments, and what days the store restocked or replaced their items. A good habit to get into when thrifting is asking store employees how the store acquires their products, how often those products change, and what factors determine the pricing of items that are being sold versus the items you want to trade. Trends play a huge role in any market, especially when it comes to buying or selling clothes, but not all thrift stores look to hold the same products. One thing I have learned from my selling experience is to organize the clothes I want to sell into three categories (Trending, Potential Return, Time To Go) and bring each category into stores I believe would have the most interest in purchasing those items at the highest price.

Which brings me to my next point. Having a better understanding of how thrift stores operate will help you to have a better feel for when and where to shop or sell. Because I learned how these stores operate, finding the items I desire and the ones I want to sell has now become easier and more enjoyable.

A few stores I have had the most success thrifting from:

1. Look Vintage 1

2. American Vintage

3. Crossroads Trading

From brands like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger to Tony Lama and Dr. Martens, I have thrifted countless items for under $50 that I can’t imagine my wardrobe without. Out of all the items I have thrifted, my most favorite and shocking discovery was a pair of Dr. Martens that sold for $25 and fit perfectly. Not only was the affordability and sizing of the boots great, but they were already broken-in so I was able to instantly wear them without any discomfort of having to break them in myself.