Poppin’ Tags: Busting Myths About Thrifting

Let’s admit it, thrifting has a bit of an image problem. It’s too bad really because some of the best scores I’ve ever made have been made while thrifting.

Vintage dishes, antique furniture and even designer jeans are among some of my amazing finds. Aside from the obvious score, I also feel really good about myself when I purchase something from the thrift store. I’ve done my part to help the environment and I’ve also saved money. It really doesn’t get much more amazing than that.

Today in Pleasantville we’re going to bust some common myths about thrifting to try to shake up that image a bit.

Myths About Thrifting

Myth #1 – The Clothes Are Dated

Not so. I regularly find clothes I love there. Case in point, my favourite Lucky Brand jeans. Whenever I receive a compliment on them, I puff out my chest a little before I tell people I picked them up at Value Village for $9.99. At back-to-school, my daughters found numerous Hollister, Abercrombie and Ralph Lauren shirts for a fraction of the price of what they’d pay at the retail store. When my daughter needed a pair of rubber boots for camp this year, we found a terrific pair of Bogs for $12. TWELVE DOLLARS!!! (For the record I paid $75 for their first pair.) And while there are certainly some vintage finds at thrift stores, it is my experience that you can find a lot of current fashion on those racks.

Myth #2 – Thrift Stores are So Cluttered

Value Village stores are bright and well-organized, much like your favourite department store. My local Value Village happens to be right beside a well-known discount retailer. The set up of these stores are practically identical except that the prices at Value Village are obviously better. So here’s a the myth buster: You will find housewares in the housewares section and books with other books. Jeans will be similarly housed with other jeans and shoes are displayed according to size. Shocker, right?

Myth #3 – There’s Nowhere to Try on Clothes

Value Village has several large fitting rooms for you to try on your amazing finds. In fact any thrift store I’ve ever been in has provided fitting rooms, so I think we can safely put this myth to rest.

Myth #4 – Only Those With Money Problems Shop There

Puhleeze, get over yourself. Shopping at thrift stores make you money smart. Let go of your hang-ups about buying second-hand, because shopping at a thrift store actually makes you a bit of a financial whiz. So, hold your head high and thrift until you drop. You’re one smart cookie. 

Myth #5 – These Stores Aren’t Really Helping

Not so. Every year Value Village saves 650 million pounds of reusable items from going into landfills, employs over 20 thousand people, and they’ve paid their charity partners over 1.5 billion dollars in the last ten years. So the next time you go shopping, tell your partner you’re doing charity work.

 

 

Thank You to Value Village for sponsoring this post and allowing Life In Pleasantville to bust some myths about thrifting. You’ll find all the ladies here are happy thrifters, in fact Sarah claims she owns the Value Village Tiara since she stops there every Friday on the way home from work. Jeni has turned her daughter in a Value Village addict who regularly shops there with her friends.

That’s what the cool kids are doing. Thrifting.