It seems like every time someone asks me, “Where did you get that dress/shirt/pair of pants?” I tell them the same thing: I got it at a thrift store.

When I say that, I just feel happy about a cool item I found buried in a sea of unorganized clothes and excited about the low price I paid for it. A lot of people assume it’s just a hipster trend or something inspired by Macklemore (although I did listen to “Thrift Shop” while I wrote this). Really, thrift shopping is just the perfect rainy afternoon activity to do with your friends if you go with an open mind.   

I am convinced that shopping at thrift stores should be the norm for everyone, regardless of how much money they make. Thrift store shopping is fun because you never know what you’re going to find. It might be something you’d never pay full price for because you’re apprehensive about actually wearing it, but you can spare a couple bucks to take it home and play with it. I try on things in all different sizes, brands, styles and atrocious colors, because thrift store shopping isn’t something you can take very seriously.

Thrift shopping is also good for the environment. People get rid of perfectly good clothes all the time and instead of throwing them away and making new ones, others can benefit from reusing those items.

The obvious reason to shop in a consignment store is how much money you can save. I have gotten many name brand items for ridiculously low prices. As a college student, I can’t afford to buy a lot of brand new clothes, but I can stop by thrift stores and constantly update my wardrobe on my dining hall employee salary.

The other day someone asked me where I got my shoes. I told her I got them at a thrift store and she laughed at me like I must be joking. Sure, when you’re browsing through the racks of clothes, you’ll find some pretty grody items that have seen better days. A lot of the stuff I find is actually in great condition, though, and I just throw it in the washing machine and everything’s good to go. I’ve never gotten cooties from wearing clothes that once had another owner.

Do I still splurge and buy new clothes? Yes. Do I enjoy a good shopping spree at the mall? Of course. But since I realized what fantastic, fun clothes I can buy second hand, my shopping habits have been revolutionized. I don’t do it to make a statement or because it’s “cool,” I do it because it makes sense economically and environmentally, and because honestly, all the best things in my wardrobe were purchased at a thrift store.