Thrifty Threads

Welcome to another installment of Thrifty Threads, AKA Most Stylish Compact-y outfit, where readers model their favorite secondhand clothes.

A compact-y outfit is used or recycled, from Goodwill, a thrift store, a consignment shop, ebay, Craigslist, a yard sale, a clothing swap, or anywhere else you find used clothing.

Today’s model is Hilda, pictured here on a recent vacation to San Francisco with her husband of 40 years. He’s the pastor of the Calvary First Assembly of God church where they live in Stockton, CA. Hilda says she hasn’t bought anything new since the first of the year, and when she tells friends about the endeavor sometimes they laugh. She loves to shop at thrift stores and garage sales, and she bought this pink sweatshirt for just 50 cents at a yard sale. This is her second winter wearing it and it’s become her favorite.

Wow! Why pay twenty or thirty bucks for a sweatshirt if you can find one for the price of… what exactly can you get for fifty cents these days? Not even a candy bar. Very smart shopping Hilda. Congratulations!

I love this photo because it symbolizes to me the benefits of not buying new. When you don’t spend a lot of money on STUFF, you can save it to spend on things you value more, like visiting one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You can travel and be happy when you don’t have all those money worries.

Thanks Hilda, for that inspiring photo! Readers, it’s your turn. I’m still fairly low on submissions, so put on your favorite secondhand outfit, snap a photo, and send it to me at barton.angela@gmail.com. I never cease to be amazed by the sheer quantity of perfectly good used clothing available for a song.

Have you been shopping secondhand more lately? Please leave your best tips, plus compliments for Hilda in the Comments section. And click here to check out previous installments of Thrifty Threads.

Comments

  1. says

    Great Hilda, and thanks Angela! People often think my boyfriend and I are well-off since we travel internationally – but I tell them we’re definitely not. I get almost all of my clothes through clothing swaps and thrift shops, use the library often for entertainment, have one very old television (now cable-free), drive a fuel-efficient car (and take mass transit to work, etc.) In other words, I’m not spending money on a lot of “stuff.” I’d rather have an experience.

    We should all be proudly declaring our thrift shop finds to the world! I always tell people when I get a compliment if an item is from a swap or thrift store.

  2. Marie-Josée says

    Thanks Angela and Hilda for sharing. Angela, my thoughts exactly too. Spending on experiences is so much more enriching!

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