Our family wears almost exclusively thrifted clothes…and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I get a fair number of questions about what we do (and don’t) buy second-hand, and how it all works in real life. So I decided it was time to create a one-stop reference post.
Originally, I planned to do a deep dive into all things thrifting — furniture, household goods, gifts — but once I started writing, I realized clothing deserves its own spotlight. (I’ll save the rest for another time. Though I have written a post all about thrifted art in our home.)
WHY DO WE SHOP SECOND-HAND?
Here are some of the reasons we choose to shop second-hand.
- It’s cheaper. Thrifted clothing is often a fraction of the cost of buying new — especially for higher-quality items. (For example, I paid less than $6 for a pair of New Balance sneakers because shoes at that particular thrift store are a flat rate.)
- It’s more environmentally sustainable. Textile waste is a growing global problem. The average American throws out 81.5 pounds of clothing per year. Even brand-new returns are often destroyed because restocking is generally more expensive than sending them to a landfill. Buying second-hand keeps items in use longer and reduces the demand for new production, which comes with environmental costs: emissions, dye runoff, and excessive water use — not to mention the often horrific labour conditions in clothing factories.
- It offers more variety. We live in a relatively rural location. I can’t pop by a mall with dozens of stores on a casual whim. But…when I visit a thrift store, there are clothes from different decades, quality brands I couldn’t buy full price (or even source locally), and quirky finds. In a good second-hand store, you’re likely to find more variety than many retail options.
- It teaches our kids valuable lessons about spending, consumption, and resourcefulness. We want our kids to understand budgeting, sustainability, and how to make the most of what they have.
- It’s a treasure hunt. There’s a thrill in not knowing what you’ll find. Sometimes we walk away with nothing, other times we find something incredible.
WHAT WE BUY SECOND-HAND (AND WHAT WE DON’T)
Before we dive into the list, here’s a quick inventory of what I own that has not been thrifted:
- Shoes: A few pairs I bought new — Blundstones, Nikes, and my old Asics. I bought ON sneakers new last year; they died a quick and painful death.
- Socks and underwear: Mostly new, though I’ve found a few pairs of good socks second-hand. (All my bras are second-hand).
- Exercise gear: One pair of workout pants I bought new for $25 — five years ago! (I still wear them. In fact, I wore them today.)
- A jacket and some accessories: One winter jacket I own was a warranty replacement for an old jacket that I had purchased new but ended up having faulty zippers. I got my Goodr sunglasses and a merino base layer brand-new, but they were purchased with a store credit Kyria sweetly sent my way so I spent $0. (THANK YOU KYRIA!! I wear those Goodr glasses daily.)
ITEMS IN MY CLOSET THAT HAVE BEEN THRIFTED
Everything else…
- Sweaters. I don’t own a single new sweater (knit or athletic).
- T-shirts (short- or long-sleeved, except the base layer mentioned above).
- Blue jeans.
- Pants (except the pair mentioned above).
- Bras.
- Bathing suits.
- Dresses.
- Hats (winter or summer) and gloves.
- All jackets (except the warranty replacement).
- Snow pants.
- Winter boots (unless you count my Blundstones, which I don’t).
- Pajamas.
- Purses (not technically clothing, but I don’t own any that are new).
- Belts
- Most of my sunglasses.
Same goes for the kids — some shoes and all their underwear is new, but 90% of everything else is thrifted or handed down. John buys a few things new for work, but the vast majority is thrifted (his go-to sports coat is second-hand).
HOW TO SHOP AT THRIFT STORES (WITHOUT GETTING OVERWHELMED)
Thrifting is a skill — and like most skills, it improves with practice. Here’s what works for us:
- Find your stores. Not all thrift stores are created equal. Some are cluttered or overpriced or have limited stock, while others always seem to have a great selection. It’s trial and error, but once you find a good store you can go back over and over.
- Go with a list (but stay open-minded). Having a few target items helps — especially if I’m trying to fill in a specific wardrobe gap — but I’m never afraid to grab a surprise gem. When we were heading to Italy a few years ago I didn’t have a raincoat. The weather forecast was looking bleak so I went to a local consignment store specifically looking for a coat…and walked away with my beloved Helly Hansen rain jacket for $40.
- Visit often. Inventory changes constantly, and frequency is key. If you go a few times a month, you increase your odds of scoring that just-right item.
- Look for specific colours and patterns. I scan racks for colours, fabrics, and patterns that suit me, and skip everything else. I’m never going to wear mustard yellow, so I don’t even look at anything in that colour. This really expedites the process.
- Stick to your standards. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s worth buying. I’m picky about fabric, fit, and condition. If I wouldn’t (or couldn’t) wear it tomorrow, I don’t buy it.
THRIFTED STYLE SNAPSHOTS
What variety do we find at thrift stores? Let’s do a little show and tell. Unless I make a note, everything you see in the picture is thrifted (including sunglasses) or has been handed down.
THRIFTY Q&A
How often do you visit thrift shops?
- I would say if you averaged it over the year, we probably visit second-hand stores 30-40 times. We’re fortunate to have two thrift stores nearby that we like, and it’s common for us to take in a small donation (clothes the kids have outgrown, decluttered items) and then stop to browse while we wait for a kid to finish up an extracurricular. Some of those visits might be 10 minutes or less.
Q. How do your kids feel about wearing second-hand clothes?
- It’s all they’ve ever known. Belle loves the thrill of it; Indy enjoys it a bit less, but still participates (and has found some great items). And they both understand the why. It’s part of our family culture, not just a shopping strategy. They occasionally want new things (which is fine!) and we recently bought Belle a new dress, admittedly on clearance.
Q. How do you keep your kids occupied while shopping? Isn’t it boring?
- It’s part of our family entertainment. Going on a thrift store blitz to Halifax (nearest city center; provincial capital) is an event for our family. We don’t spend a huge amount of time at any given store, but we always come home with at least a few treasures.
Q. Do you always get a chance to try on your clothing before you buy it?
- Not always. Some stores don’t have change rooms, which can be frustrating. My favourite thrift store does, but we also shop at a chain that doesn’t. They offer exchanges within two weeks — but you have to buy something else of equal or greater value. That’s not ideal, so I prefer using that store for non-clothing items.
Q. Why do you thrift so much?
- It’s not just about saving money or reducing waste, though those top the list. More generally thrifting reflects our values: sustainability, simplicity, resourcefulness, and joy. (And yes, we find it fun!) We can’t always find everything we “need” and we do buy some things new. But for us, second-hand is almost always our first choice.
Q. What do you do with clothes when they don’t fit or you don’t want them anymore?
- I try to only keep items that fit well and feel good. My wardrobe is pretty minimal, so I rotate pieces when I get bored or find something new. I either pass items on, consign them, or donate them. I rarely — if ever — throw clothes away (except for Indy’s pants, which usually leave this house in shreds). And some clothes I’ve owned and continued to wear for years.
I think I covered this topic within an inch of its proverbial life, but are there any questions?
- What’s your best second-hand find — and where did you discover it?
- Are there any clothing items you wouldn’t consider buying second-hand?
- What tips would you share with someone new to thrifting?
- Have your views on fast fashion or sustainability changed how you shop for clothes?
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I absolutely love that second-hand is your first choice – and not just as a budget-savvy option, but as a whole family philosophy. The way you’ve turned thrifting into both a lifestyle and a shared adventure is very inspiring.
Thrifting your phone case is next level! Well done, Elisabeth!
In my home country Switzerland, people know that I like second-hand stuff and I often get my friends’ things. Some of the stuff is hardly worn and was expensive to buy. It’s a win-win: I’m happy to wear it and they are happy they found someone who takes it! 😊
I’m glad it does feel like an adventure and not a burden!
John actually spotted that phone case for me and I LOVE it. It has a built in “ring” and it makes it so easy to carry my phone when I walk, which is helpful if I’m using Google Maps to navigate us in a city.
Hand me downs are my favourite! Zero cost and I usually don’t even have to leave the comfort of my own home to try it on.
Fascinating, Elisabeth! I love your tips, too. I have always found thrift stores to be completely overwhelming but I admire your dedication to sustainability and your attitude towards thrifting as a treasure hunt.
They definitely can be VERY overwhelming. It takes some trial and error. If I was starting “from scratch” I’d literally just go to a handful of local thrift stores (maybe after looking up reviews online) and just see what it looks like. If it’s huge and cluttered, I likely wouldn’t even bother.
I love this! We have great charity shops in the UK but I find clothes harder. But we have great secondhand apps – I use vinted for most things and am able to find loads new or in very good condition. I tend to buy shoes and underthings in shops, but everything else is via a charity shop or vinted. There’s a very smart Edinburgh neighbourhood that’s my favourite – great secondhand bookshops, record shops, clothing, etc.
Great thrift stores do seem to be clustered in particular areas! Once you find a gem, it’s wonderful to be able to return to it over and over again.
You find such great stuff!
I do not have nice thrift stores in my area. However, one finally organized clothes by size in addition to color for women’s clothing, so finding what I am looking for gets easier. My best finds were some really nice clogs that I wore for years before they finally wore out. I have a very big foot, so finding nice shoes at a thrift store is so unlikely. Also a black Eddie Bauer jumper dress which hides everything, looks nice, and can be dressed up or casual.
I don’t think I’d buy bras, socks, or underwear second hand. Nor mattresses. I don’t think I’d mind anything else. I have hard to find sizes for my husband, so he tend to get new stuff. But he wears his clothes til they fall apart, so it’s worth it.
I have found that buying second hand for my kids is harder now that they’re pre-teens and teens. Not much in their sizes. And my daughter has a body type that a lot of preteen stuff would look terrible. So she gets new stuff because I can’t find used stuff that fits/looks right. I also need her clothes to be easy to put on- no complicated straps or ties. I will say my adult children do shop second hand before going retail for things they want- I guess I did something right!
I think your advice to visit thrift stores frequently is the best tip for a new thrifter. Good inventory moves out quickly, so short shopping bursts work best.
Sizing and having things hung up does make it faster (though my favourite thrift store does have bins for a lot of things, but they’re not heaped so it doesn’t feel totally overwhelming).
A black jumper sounds perfect! Finding staple pieces is such a delight.
I think that lots of items make sense to buy new IF they’re high enough quality to last a long time. I feel like Europeans do a much better job with this than North Americans. They buy things that are relatively timeless and wear them for much longer stretches of time. The price is higher, but so is the quality. So often you get what you pay for.
Short, frequent visits is key!
I was a big thrift shopper when I was young and broke. There is nothing more satisfying than finding a really great piece of clothing at a thrift store and then wearing it for years. Nothing. Plus there is the thrill of the hunt.
There were always some staples that I couldn’t reliably find it thrift stores, like basic black pants for work, and shoes since I have wide feet. Eventually I found that thrift shopping was too hit and miss, too time consuming, and the prices weren’t always that great. Thrifting slowly fell out of my life. The only thrift store that I shop at now is ThredUp, which is a website, so I can thrift from the comfort of my couch. My best success with them is workout clothes.
I can’t think of a “no I would never” for a clothing item. I mean, I’ve never gotten a used bra or undies, but under the right circumstances I would not be opposed. Oh wait all of my workout shorts have built in underwear so technically I’ve already crossed that line.
It is a thrill!
It can be very hard to find staple pieces at thrift stores and one thing I forgot to talk about was sizing. In general, it take a while for me to find shoes because my feet are quite big. I find the nicest shoe options are usually size 7 or 8. (I’m 9-9.5.) I am straight-sized, so that makes it easier for me to have more to choose from (though, again, I often need a large and there are a lot of small and medium options). The most frustrating part of thrifting is finding the PERFECT item and it being slightly too big or too small. Of course in a retail setting, one would simply size up or down, but that’s not an option when second-hand shopping.
I used Thred up to get some nice shirts for work and a great pair of Dansko clogs. It’s great site to shop if you know what type of item you need.
You’re my inspiration! The environmental impact of the textile industry is something I think about a lot. It’s really awful. I am not much of a thrifter, but that’s because I’ve been lazy. I need to try more. I have noticed that the Gen Z and Alpha have really embraced thrifting and vintage, which gives me a lot of hope for the next generations.
It does feel like thrifting is becoming more and more popular – both because of cost, environmental impact, and because it’s seen as “trendy”. I hope the trend continues for a very long time!
I love the environmental benefit. I do not thrift on the regular, but I recently discovered a teen name-brand consignment store that is so awesome and fun to poke through.
Ohhh. Consignment is a great middle ground. Sometimes I find items with tags still on and the quality is almost always much more consistent. Yay – gold stars to you, Sarah.
I am *amazed* at the quality of your thrifting! I haven’t found anywhere around here that has that good a selection … somewhat more luck with homegoods, but clothing is hard. In the past I’ve scored some good finds in the next county over {they are much more urban; I am definitely rural, lol}, so maybe it’s time to try again …
Clothing *is* hard and I do feel like certain stores seem to attract better quality merchandise than others (I’m sure based on suppliers). Consignment stores are another great idea. The clothing is often more expensive, but it’s more likely to be high quality.
Excellent post! Almost all my clothes are thrifted too!
Yay! I hope you do a blog post on the topic 😉
I admire your thrifting capabilities! We have a wonderful thrift store in our town. It’s run by volunteers, and they give all the profits to various community organizations, so everyone wins. I volunteered there for a while when I was a librarian. They donated all the proceeds to the library on Thursdays, so I’d go volunteer after work for a couple of hours.
I have to admit that working at a thrift store is NOT fun. You wouldn’t believe some of the awful things people would donate. The smells, Elisabeth. Oh, the horrible smells that came from so many of the boxes and bags of donations. I finally had to quit working there because I couldn’t take the smells.
That being said, people would also donate some serious treasures! There were lots of brand-new clothes with tags still attached, artwork, jewelry, toys, books, sets of dishes, vases, and baskets. I still love to shop there, especially for non-clothing items.
Ugh. That sounds AWFUL. And I can only imagine the things that people have to sort through 🙁 Especially in a thrift store that takes all sorts of donations. My favourite store only has clothes and they get them direct from elsewhere (you can’t actually donate clothes at that store)…but the other thrift store we frequent accepts ANYTHING.
I’ve never bought any clothes thrifting. I don’t have the patience to go through racks of random clothes. I understand how doing so cuts down on the negative environmental impact of the textile industry, but I’m frugal about buying the clothes I do. And I wear them for years, decades in some cases, so I do my bit… just in a different way.
This is the other way to be sustainable with clothing – invest in items you’ll wear for years and years!!
Yes, fast fashion is a huge issue, and probably the best reason to buy things secondhand. But it’s also WAY cheaper. Having said that, I don’t shop at thrift stores much. I used to all the time when the kids were little, but lately I’ve gotten out of the habit. While reading your post I realized why- I always go to the Goodwill store near out house, and I just don’t love it. I think there are nicer stores that I would like more, I just have to figure out where they are. I have a friend who loves thrifting- I’ll ask her where she goes. Thanks for the inspirational post!
The store matters SO much. SO MUCH. I think it’s a great idea to ask someone who knows more about the local thrift scene to give you some suggestions and save you the work. I hope you find some true gems!
Interesting post.
I would like to know how you thrift for gifts.
And do you have higiene concerns about thrifted clothing?
I’ll do another post about gifts and other items we thrift.
Everything we buy gets thoroughly washed, so I don’t really worry about hygiene!
Almost 90% of my closet is thrifted as well. I also have great luck getting clothes from my local Buy Nothing group, but I also consider that “thrifted”! Sometimes I have to go to Once Upon a Child to find season specific clothes for the kids (I’ve found kids clothes to be mostly a miss at our local thrift stores- especially sizes 2T-10 in boys clothes!) but otherwise we thrift it all!
I also enjoy letting the kids pick a toy from the toy section. It’s usually something that keeps their attention for about a week and then they are done with it and we can recycle it back into the system. But I prefer spending $3 on a toy that lasts a week than spending $30 on a toy that lasts a week if you know what I mean!
I wish I had a Buy Nothing group. There is one but it really doesn’t function. And I don’t have Facebook; I think most people have moved to Facebook Marketplace for that sort of thing. Oh well!
Buy Nothing sounds every better than thrifted because it cuts out the middle man.
Yes to second hand toys. We never really had many toys for the kids, but most of them were either gifted from someone else, borrowed, or thrifted. And when they outgrew the item…we’d just take it right back to the thrift store!
As you know, I’ve been a committed thrifter for almost 50 years now. And I love the treasure hunt aspect, and I also get better quality clothing than what I might afford if shopping for new stuff. I think my best-ever find (thank you FB Marketplace) was a 24″ ceramic-top stove for the cottage this year – immaculate condition, and I paid $120, and the seller, who had a truck, delivered our old one to the waste depot for us. But I also love the burgandy lace dress I found for $5 for Shannon’s wedding a few years ago. It’s all about the hunt! And I’m happy to say both the young mothers in my family are big thrifters, too.
You’ve had so many lovely finds.
I do think there is a pretty established culture of thrifting in the Maritimes. It’s just…something almost everyone I know does to some extent.
You’ll have to send me a picture of the lace dress. It sounds beautiful. And for $5! That must have been Frenchy’s not Valu Village with that price tag.
I love thrifting and love getting a good bargain, but then, like you I come from a family background of buying secondhand clothes and household stuff. I would say 99% of what I wore as a kid if it wasn’t made by hand, by my mother, was hand me downs, or bought at the thrift store. But then, there was always a really good thrift store on every base camp we ever lived at, while my dad was in the military. And, as everyone moved every 2-3 years, it mean a lot of good quality clothes.
You can’t beat a good thrift store in a thriving neighbourhood.
With that many kiddos and so many moves, I bet your mother was a crackerjack at finding good clothing options. And of course that was an era where people still made their own clothes (and mended clothes over and over again). The fashion industry is based on consumption and turnover now in a way past generations would surely find appalling.
Love all your tips and tricks!
We thrift a lot and I am also a big acceptor of hand me downs, and won’t turn down any unless the sizes are just way off. I’m not shy about passing on any that don’t work for us, as there’s almost always someone else I know with a kiddo in a particular size. It’s fun to spread the hand me down love!
My big thrifting for kids tips are to buy gender neutral if possible for bigger ticket items like winter gear and to have a list of things you’ll need coming up in the next season so that you can be on the lookout for them. For example, I know I need a size 5 or 6 snow suit this coming winter so if I find a good one for a good price I’ll know to buy it even though it’s the wrong season. Reduces the chances of getting in a bind when that season comes of being unable to find a particular item thrifted.
Yes! I am always on the look out for snow suits in a size or two ahead. And yes to gender-neutral colours and patterns. It’s hard to go wrong with black or grey anything. Though I will also say it can be tricky. One way to get people to consume more is to make things with specificity. Graphic items that kids no longer like (SO many Paw Patrol t-shirts out there), or very girl/boy colours and patterns.
I’ve had good luck with consignment stores for clothing. More expensive than thrifting but still a fraction of buying new. Your thrifting successes are next level.
Yes! We have one, relatively small, women’s consignment store in town and it is wonderful. Even better now that Belle fits into the clothing there <3
I’m with you on this 100% Elisabeth. Thrift stores and garage sales are my main sources of ‘new’ clothes (when I even get them.) It is a rare occasion for me to buy anything brand new (except underwear 🙂 )
Thanks for this post, Elisabeth. Your thrifting amazes me. I have had some success, although it can be pretty frustrating. My favourite find was a designer pair of jeans in the same make and style as a pair of mine that had recently got a hole in them. I actually picked up another pair of jeans at the op shop a couple of weeks ago. I always stop in to check if they have any puzzles, and while I’m there, I’ll have a browse, and I found a pair of designer skinnies. I don’t need another pair right now, but they are hard to find when you need them, so at least I have them for when my current lot wears out. I do throw out clothes, but almost exclusively because they get worn out. I also try to have a limited wardrobe, but even then, the sustainability issues are a concern. One thing I will be keeping an eye out for from now on is some drawer dividers, they are not the kind of thing that I want to buy new, but my bathroom drawers are pretty disorganised so if I do come across something that fits I’ll be snapping them up.
Thrift stores are wonderful for finding things for organizing drawers!
And I think of you when I spot the puzzle section at a thrift store.
I think I’ve told you multiple times by now that I love your thrifty habits and all the reasons behind it. I enjoy thrifting although thrift stores around here seem to be more expensive (I don’t find quite the deals that you shared). I also probably don’t go often enough to always find the good finds, but interestingly, I have a few thrifted items that I regularly get compliments on and that’s always fun 🙂
I don’t think I would thrift underwear, workout wear, and running shoes, but I would be pretty open to anything else.
Going often is the key which can be a bit annoying. Also, being willing to wait and that can be tough if you need something. Belle is in a wedding in a few weeks and we’re looking for shoes to go with her dress. If we can’t find them second hand, she has to have shoes (and doesn’t own any dress shoes that will work)…so I’ll buy them if need be!
My youngest daughter loves second-hand stores; she’s so against any waste at all. I love this post and you’ve inspired me to shop that way more in the future.
I’m sharing a thrift item in my post tomorrow!
Suz, I am on the edge of my seat. And I’m not being sarcastic. I cannot WAIT to see what you’ve thrifted. Whatever it is, I am PROUD OF YOU!
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