Looking for a new activity to shake up your weekend? How about a thrift store challenge?
Savvy shoppers know that thrift shops in Destin, FL are the place to find clothing, accessories, and home goods at affordable prices. They also know part of the fun of thrifting is finding interesting and unusual items you can’t get anywhere else. Making thrifting a “challenge” by making up rules and setting a budget or time limit only adds to the fun!
Whether you’re a pro or new to thrifting, try one of these fun challenges on your next thrift shopping trip:
Dress a Friend
Thrifting is even better when it’s with a friend! Grab your bestie and plan an afternoon at a thrift store. The challenge is to split up in the store and pick out a creative outfit for the other person — it could be serious or silly!
Thrifty Date Night
For a totally unique date night, challenge your significant other to choose your outfit from a local thrift store. Set a budget ($20 per person usually more than enough) and a time limit (20 minutes) to choose what you’ll wear on your date. Maybe it’s a matching couple outfit, a vintage-inspired look, or something stylish but outside of your comfort zones. Have fun with it, and don’t be afraid to try something different. You may find a new style you would never have tried otherwise!
Thrift Store Scavenger Hunt
This last challenge is great for families. Start by making a list of some specific items you can usually find at thrift stores. Here are a few examples:
Tie-dyed clothing
“Throwback” CDs or movies
An item that makes you laugh
Artwork you’d hang in your home
A book you’d like to read
Animal figurines
Board games or puzzles for family game night
Once you’re at the store, look for the items on your list. The person who has the most photos after 20 minutes wins!
Making your clothes last as long as possible is an important part of living a sustainable lifestyle! It’s also a great way to save time and money. If you’re looking for ways to keep your favorite clothes looking good as new, we have some tips!
Here are five ways to extend the life cycle of your clothes:
Wash with care
Clothing can be damaged when it’s not washed properly. Always try to follow the instructions on the labels of your garments. When in doubt, wash your clothes in cold water with a mild detergent. Bleach should only be used in special circumstances! If you have delicate fabrics, like lace or wool, you may be better off washing them by hand to prevent damage from the washing machine.
Ditch the dryer
We’ve all been there: your favorite sweater somehow ends up in the dryer, where it ends up three sizes smaller than it should be! To avoid heat damage from the dryer, always hang up delicate or shrinkable fabrics or lay them flat to dry. Your clothes will last a lot longer, and you’ll save on energy bills by cutting back on dryer cycles.
Use quality hangers
Make sure you’re using the right hangers for your clothes. Wood hangers are best for heavy jackets, like suit coats. Use padded hangers with rounded corners for dresses and sweaters. Plastic hangers will work for other types of clothing, like t-shirts! Try to leave room between your clothing items in the closet, so they maintain their shape and don’t get wrinkly.
Store clothing properly
When it’s time to store seasonal clothing, be sure you’re cleaning your clothes before you pack them away. Use a plastic or cardboard storage container to keep your clothes out of direct sunlight and away from moisture and insects. Another smart storage option is an empty suitcase! Fold your clothes carefully, using acid-free tissue paper to protect delicate items. You can also place a few dryer sheets in the container to keep your clothes smelling fresh.
Donate your clothes
Another great way to extend the life cycle of your clothing is to donate gently-used items to a thrift store in Destin, FL. You may not need those items anymore, but someone else is sure to appreciate them!
Your donations will be resold in the retail stores, where they’ll generate funds that support life-changing job skills training and employment services for individuals with disabilities and veterans.
Anyone who loves to thrift shop will tell you that the thrift stores in Panama City Beach, FL are the best ones to find unique clothing, accessories, and home goods at affordable prices. But did you know that you can also find rare and even highly valuable items when thrift shopping? It’s true!
The key is to shop frequently and know what to look for. If you see these items while thrift shopping , don’t pass them up!
First Edition Books
When they’re brand new, hardcover books are usually priced higher than paperback books. If you find used hardcover books in good condition at a thrift store, it can be a great deal! Keep your eyes peeled for autographed copies of books from popular authors, which make wonderful gifts for book lovers.
As you browse through classic books at a thrift store, check the edition number on the first few pages. If you see the words “first edition” or “first printing,” you could be holding a rare and valuable book! With a little online research, you can find out the value of the book.
Vintage and Retro Kitchenware
Goodwill always has a great selection of dishes, glassware, and other kitchen supplies. Be on the lookout for these rare and potentially valuable items in the glassware section:
Porcelain teacup with white and pink flowers
Jadeite — Mint green dishes, cups, and serving trays were popular after World War II and now carry a lot of value.
Pyrex — These colorful, patterned mixing bowls, storage containers, and oven-safe dishes were all the rage in the 1950s through the 1980s. Look for collectible patterns and styles while thrifting!
China sets — Teacups, saucers, and other china pieces are highly collectible, especially if you come across a vintage pattern. Even if you don’t find a complete set, it’s fun to mix-and-match china pieces to create your own collection.
Vintage canning jars — The blue-tinted versions are sought after by collectors, but even the plain clear glass jars are always a functional way to decorate your home!
Retro cookie jars — Cookie jars representing cartoons and other whimsical characters are fun and nostalgic collectibles. Not to mention, they’re a great place to store sweet treats!
Luggage and Trunks
A gently-used luggage set can be used for your own travel, but you can also get creative and repurpose luggage into stylish home décor! Look for vintage-style suitcases and trunks that you can cover with a new coat of paint or decoupage with fabric. Stack your collection of suitcases in a corner, use them as shelves, or turn them into easy storage for family photos, holiday decorations, craft supplies, and more.
Designer-Label Clothes
Designer clothes aren’t necessarily rare at thrift stores — you can usually find many well-known and popular brands at your local Goodwill store! But if you’re searching for vintage pieces, pay close attention to the labels.
If you don’t recognize a brand name on the label, it could very well be vintage! Many times, vintage fashion will have a “union tag,” which has the acronym “ILGWU.” Clothing produced before the 1980s may also have labels with an American flag or “Made in U.S.A.” Because vintage sizing is very different from today’s sizes, it’s important to keep an open mind and try to search through every section!
Old-School Electronics
Retro stereos, walkmans, DVD and VHS players, video game consoles, cameras, and other old-school electronic accessories are always fun to find at thrift stores. Many people like to collect these gadgets to remind them of years past, whether the devices are in working condition or not. Turntables and vinyl records are also making a huge comeback, and you can often find great deals at a thrift store!
As we get ready to welcome 2021, now is a perfect moment to think about what changes you want to make in the year ahead—especially when it comes to living sustainably. After all, there’s no time like the present to reduce, reuse, recycle, and protect our planet!
Reuse, Upcycle, Sustain.
Thankfully, living an eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t have to take a ton of time, effort, or money. Here are some small changes you can make in 2021 to live more sustainably:
Use less plastic. Make simple swaps, like choosing reusable straws, utensils, bags, and water bottles over plastic. You can even find reusable “paper” towels, sealable food storage bags, and makeup removing wipes!
Be energy smart. Reduce energy use by turning off lights and the TV when you leave a room, washing your clothes on the “cold” setting, and taking shorter showers. These simple actions will help you save on electricity bills while you do your part for the planet!
Repurpose whenever possible. A lot of product packaging can be repurposed around your home to reduce waste! For example, you can wash and reuse empty glass or plastic containers to store leftovers, coffee grounds, or even potted plants. Used paper bags make great gift wrapping or scratch paper for crafts. You can also use cardboard boxes to keep books, paperwork, photos, and mementos organized!
Donate your unwanted goods. Get a fresh start in the new year by cleaning your home and donating anything you don’t need or want
Go thrift shopping. One big benefit of cleaning out your closets is that you’ll make room for the clothes you really love. When you need to replenish your wardrobe, the eco-friendly move is to go thrift shopping! Not only is thrift shopping more affordable than traditional retailers, but it’s also much more sustainable. Shopping secondhand at a thrift store in Panama City Beach, FL extends the life cycle of gently-used clothing, and that keeps our planet beautiful!
Kids grow so quickly, don’t they? If your children are outgrowing their clothes faster than you can keep up, thrift shopping can be a smart choice for your family. Not only is thrift shopping more budget-friendly than traditional retail stores, but it’s also more environmentally friendly. Thrifting for your kids is a win-win for you, your family, and the planet!
Ready to start shopping secondhand for your little ones? Here are some tips to make your next thrifting trip a success:
Size up
Buying brand new clothes is expensive, especially when your child is only able to wear an outfit a few times before it no longer fits. Save money (and time!) by sizing up when you go thrift shopping. Even if an outfit is too lare now, it will likely fit in a few months!
Shop early for holidays
It’s smart to plan your kids’ outfits for holidays and special occasions like weddings well in advance. If you wait until the last minute, you may not find what you’re looking for! Get a head start by visiting your local thrift shop in Panama City Beach, FL where you can find a great selection of kids’ clothing for every occasion. If you see something you like, consider getting it early — just be sure to plan ahead for any growth spurts!
Mix and match
The great thing about kids’ clothing is that there are no fashion “rules.” It’s particularly fun when young children start to show a personal style of their own! When you go thrift shopping for kids’ clothes, you can feel free to experiment with different prints and patterns. If you stick to one color palette, it can be a lot easier to mix and match and create multiple outfits from a handful of pieces. Because kids grow so quickly, you’ll often find many kids’ clothes in like-new or even “new with tags” condition at thrift stores!
Stock up on staples
Everyone needs wardrobe staples, including kids. There’s no shortage of amazing deals on essentials like jeans, t-shirts, and jackets at your local store! You can find these items (and more!) at a fraction of the price you’d pay when purchasing new. Plus, secondhand clothes make great play outfits. Instead of worrying about your child getting messy in a brand new outfit, you can let them do what they do best — play!
The beauty of thrift shopping is that when your child outgrows their current wardrobe, you can simply donate those clothes right back to thrift stores. Your donation and shopping support keeps our cycle of success in motion, helping people and our planet!
That is how I began my unexpected foray into the world of “slow shopping for the modern age”, as fellow writer Lloyd Alter described it when I told him this story. Over the few weeks, I have made a few necessary purchases. One was for my son’s upcoming birthday. I sent a Facebook message to the local toy store to inquire about a specific toy I was looking for.
The owner responded immediately with pictures of various options and suggestions for similar items. After several exchanges, we settled on a stomp rocket and a dinosaur coloring kit. I e-transferred the money and he dropped it off at my back door the following morning.
A day later, I realized I hadn’t yet bought any Easter chocolate for my kids, so I visited the Facebook page of a local chocolate shop. It listed several bunnies and foil-wrapped eggs, which I then ordered over Messenger. I received a call back, my credit card number was taken, and I was given a pickup time slot. When I arrived, an arm reached out the door, set my order on a stool, and I took it home.
Then I realized on Good Friday that I no longer had any bread pans, as my husband had thrown out the old rusty ones, and I was ready to start making Easter bread with my kids.
So I sent a Facebook message to the owners of a boutique kitchenware store. They responded promptly, we chatted on the phone to discuss the various pans they had in stock, and then I drove to the store to pick up my pre-packed order, which they handed out the door. I had two shiny new bread pans within the time it took for the dough to rise.
Why does this matter?
This has been a fascinating lesson for me. First, it underscores the power of the Internet (and social media) for shopping locally, even though we usually think of it as a tool for making purchases further afield. If it weren’t for Facebook, I wouldn’t know how to contact these businesses because they’re not answering phones as usual.
Second, the local supply chain is more reliable than relying on shipping from afar. I received all of these items much faster than if I’d ordered them online. It only took six hours from the time I messaged the chocolate shop till my pickup slot, and the toy store owner came to my door 12 hours after we’d settled on a purchase.
I had the bread pans within two hours. That’s far better than Amazon Prime, which has slowed down these days anyway, completely inundated with orders. (My kids never would’ve gotten Easter chocolate if I’d gone that route.)
Third, because I’m having to chase down individual vendors for specific items, it’s forcing me to think long and hard about what I actually need. There’s no perusing the aisles and picking up random additional products just because they look appealing. Whether I pick up or it’s delivered, my order is packed, paid for, ready to go.
I’ve had to pay more for certain products than if I’d bought them second-hand from the thrift shops in Panama City Beach, FL, but I justify it as a way to help support my community at a difficult time, almost like a donation of sorts.
Finally, I’m realizing that if it’s possible to support local “Main Street” businesses at a time like this, it’s possible to support them anytime. We really need to stop making excuses for why ordering stuff online from faraway monster corporations is a better option than going to nearby business owners.
I challenge readers to try to provide for their needs by sourcing items from within their own communities. Before logging on to Amazon, take a moment to ask yourself which local stores might sell those same products, and then reach out with an inquiry. All it takes is a message or a phone call, a credit card number exchanged, and those items could be on your doorstep in a matter of hours. Give it a try; it’s deeply satisfying.
5 Tips for Sustainable Shopping Beyond the Grocery Store
Shopping isn’t as carefree at it used to be for me, and it has nothing to do with money. I’m trying to curb the number of things I bring into my home, partly because I’m attracted to minimalism (even if I’m not quite there yet) and partly because I foresee moving to a smaller place in the next three to five years. I’m also paying more attention than ever to the sustainable impact of the things I buy. Yet, there are still some things I need and some things I want.
I’ve gotten pretty smart about making my grocery shopping as zero-waste as possible, and now I’m working on the other types of shopping I do. I get a sense of satisfaction out of a purchase that’s in some way more sustainable than it would have been a few years ago. Here are some of the ideas I’m putting into practice.
Less beauty product packaging waste
There’s a lot of plastic that comes with beauty products, and while I haven’t been able to do away with all of it, I’m taking steps to eliminate it where I can. I’ve switched to a shampoo bar that comes wrapped in paper, eliminating the thick plastic shampoo bottles I used to buy. As a bonus, the bar works much better on my thick, curly hair and lasts a long time. I’d love to find a conditioner bar that works well.
I also purchase a minimal amount of makeup and buy the same makeup all the time. That way I don’t throw away makeup that’s gotten old before being used up. It means my made-up face looks the same all the time, except for perhaps a lipstick change every once in a while. As a bonus, I’ve trimmed my makeup routine down to less than five minutes, and I never have to stare at a drawer full of makeup wondering what to choose.
I’ve also learned how to fix a broken eye shadow so I don’t have to throw away a palate before it’s used up.
I’ve gotten (almost) perfect with taking reusable bags to the grocery store, but reusable bags can be used at all stores. I’m working on that, or choosing to walk out with my purchase without the bag. I now either take bags on my trips to places like Target, the hardware store and the pharmacy, or if reasonable, I put everything back in the cart without the bags.
There have been a few times when I’ve piled everything in my trunk, and then when I got home, I grab the bags and load them up in my driveway to make it easy to carry everything inside.
Buy fair trade
Sustainability goes beyond the environment. Choosing to be more sustainable with your purchases can take people into consideration, too. When I buy fair trade from a trusted source, I know I’m helping someone earn a livable wage in fair working conditions.
I often shop at My Fair Trade Lady, a small store near me that I trust to have authentic fair trade products. It’s my favorite place to buy gifts for others. They get beautiful, handmade, unique presents, and I get to use my money to support artisans instead of big corporations.
Buy used
It’s never been easier to find what I need in pre-owned condition. Facebook Marketplace and private Facebook yard sale sites provide information and even photos of items that are available in my town or nearby right onto my smartphone.
I’m an avid yard sale shopper, and sites like Yard Sale Finder tell me where the local yard sales will be on any given Saturday morning, and I can map out a route instead of driving around looking for signs on trees. Thrift stores in Panama City Beach, FL are filled to the brim with goods at the moment as everyone “tidies up”.
What I love most about buying pre-owned furniture, home and yard decor, kitchenware and clothing is that I don’t have to be a slave to what’s in fashion at the moment. I can choose items that really appeal to me instead of things I’m gong to see everywhere.
At the moment, I’m looking to replace my dishwasher and I’m searching for a used one that’s affordable and in good condition. My son said he doesn’t think our one used dishwasher is going to make a difference against the sheer number that are made new by appliance companies. He’s right. Our one used dishwasher may not, but if everyone chose to replace broken appliances with perfectly good pre-owned ones, it would make a big difference.
Rent or borrow
I know. This one isn’t purchasing, but sometimes the most sustainable action you can take, especially if you can borrow what you need from a friend or rent one. I find this especially helpful with tools and yard equipment.
If I need to power wash my brick home, I can borrow a friend’s power washer. If a friend who doesn’t do a lot of work around the house is doing a one-time project and needs sawhorses, she can borrow mine. I’ve rented a weed whacker while mine was getting fixed.
That brings me to another simple way to be sustainable with shopping: Fix things that can be fixed instead of buying something new. It’s a simple step, but it’s one we often forget in the rush of things.
Hand-me-downs. The very thought brings terror to any new parent who remembers the taunting children suffered for the sin of not having new possessions. We are uncertain already in the face of the daunting task of raising a tiny life to health, wealth and wisdom, without even the benefit of an owner’s manual! How do parents react? Consumerism. Buying new for the baby is a ritual of modern childbirth: new nursery, new carseats, new clothing.
Think again. The German Bundesinstituts für Risikobewertung (BfR, or National Institute for Risk Assessment) has warned that newborns need better consumer protection advocacy. Pediatrician Axel Hahn of the BfR explained: Many parents completely remodel the room for the nursery, without giving thought to the amount of harmful substances newborns face from the new furniture, paint and carpet.
The conclusion? Second hand–even for baby clothing–is often the healthier choice.Second hand articles which are present at the thrift shops in Panama City Beach, FL have had time to naturally lose the dangerous chemicals which are most easily emitted or leached from the articles to which babies are exposed.
New furniture, much of which emits formaldehyde from the glues and particle board constituents or chemicals added as flame retardants, will have rid itself of most of the harmful emissions by the time it comes up for second hand sale.
Baby clothing has been through enough wash cycles to ensure the chemicals added during textile manufacturing and distribution are gone. And who can remember being upset by a few smudges in the paint or carpeting of their nursery?
The discussion was raised in the context of the seventh Forum for Consumer Protection in Berlin. Children are especially sensitive. They have a much larger ratio of skin surface to body size, respirate more quickly and have faster metabolic rates. Attendees of the forum were unified in the opinion that risk assessments done for adults can no longer be applied also for children.
Specialists at the Forum also discussed better labelling of chemical contents. Currently, only toxic product recipes are required to be reported to the BfR, for example from cleaners. But often the risks of chemicals are due to the sum amount of the exposure, of to exposure to a combination of different substances. The BfR proposes a coded system of disclosure of all chemicals in the products.
Thrifting may seem like a simple enough activity – enter the store or garage sale, look around, buy – but serious thrifters know there’s more to it, that adding some strategy to the game can make the experience more financially worthwhile.
An article by Elizabeth Willard Thames, founder of the highly successful Frugalwoods blog and book of the same name, recently wrote a post called, “How to Thrift like a Rock Star.” She is an avid thrifter, buying most of her household belongings and clothing from second-hand sources, and she made two points in the article that made an impression on me.
First, she buys items well in advance. Anything that she thinks will be useful at some point in the near future she purchases, even though that might mean stashing it away in big Rubbermaid bins in her basement (a feature she admits she’s lucky to have). Willard Thames writes:
“Previously, I thought this approach was counter to frugality because it involves buying stuff I don’t need right now. However, I’ve learned it actually facilitates greater frugality because the cost of making a mistake – buying something used that we don’t end up needing – is nominal compared to the cost of buying new…
If I added up all of my ‘mistaken’ used purchases over the years… the total wouldn’t come anywhere near the amount I would’ve spent had I needed to buy fill-in-the-blank new.”
The other interesting thing she does is focus on depreciation, snapping up those items that depreciate at the highest rate while retaining functionality. She uses the example of a bread machine, purchased for $5 at a yard sale, regularly sold new for $269. The same day, she considered buying a glass salad bowl for $5. She went for the bread machine, but not the salad bowl:
“The depreciation experienced by the bread machine is thus much greater than the depreciation of the salad bowl. Put another way, I got the bread machine for 98 percent off the new price whereas the salad bowl would’ve been 65 percent off… [I’ll] wait until I find a salad bowl for more like $0.50.”
Another main category is kids’ winter clothing and boots, which she figures saves close to 95 percent annually by buying used. In fact, the savings are so tremendous that it’s shocking more people don’t do it: “I’m not sure it’s possible to save such a staggering percentage in any other category of purchases.
This right here is a goldmine of depreciation for used shoppers.” I agree, as my children’s outdoor gear comes almost exclusively from second-hand sources, and I can’t imagine paying full price for it.
Willard Thames outlines numerous other motivations for second-hand shopping, which you can read about in the original article. But the point is, if you’re not already taking advantage of the treasure trove of used items in your community – whether at a local thrift store in Destin, FL, an online swap site, or summer weekend garage sales – you should. It’s cheap, practical, and surprisingly fun.
“Shop second-hand” is a message often touted by eco-minded individuals, myself included. “It’s good for the planet! It’s good for your wallet!” we say, which is all good advice, but usually that’s where it ends.
For someone unaccustomed to thrift shopping, it can be daunting to go from new or fast fashion shopping to vintage. The former offers seasonal trends and curated looks, while the latter seems like a hodgepodge of random pieces, vast and confusing.
Fortunately, some professional guidance for navigating thrift stores is at hand. The latest episode of the ‘Slow Your Home’ podcast features an interview with Emily Stochl, a veteran thrifter and host of the ‘Pre-Loved Podcast,’ a show that’s all about shopping second-hand.
Host Brooke talks to Emily about why she thinks second-hand is so important, and Emily says it comes down to embracing a slower, more ethical form of fashion, one that forces you to be more intentional about what you buy:
“I made this commitment that I only wanted to buy things that were already in our consumer world, rather than have things made new, so that I would be reducing my impact and reducing that harm in any way that I can.”
Emily offers some concrete tips for people who might be new to second-hand shopping, want to refine their approach, or have an urge to slow their rate of consumption.
– Know what you need so that you don’t get swayed by what you want. She keeps a list on her phone of pieces that she needs in her wardrobe and uses it as a guide when shopping.
– Know what you like. Without mannequins and trends to guide you, it’s important to have a sense of personal style. Emily saves pictures she likes to a private collection in Instagram, which helps to keep her on track.
– Know your measurements. Knowing your bust, waist, leg, and hip measurements offhand help you to shop more efficiently.
– Look for high quality pieces. Sift through the heaps of fast fashion clothes to find the treasures. These are identifiable by construction, fabric and materials, brands, fit and feel, etc. Check for holes and stains, and make sure seams are solid.
– Look for natural fabrics. Natural fabrics are easier to repair, age well, and do not release plastic microfibres into the water like synthetics do.
– Get a professional tailor. Forging a relationship with someone in your community who can help to spruce up second-hand treasures is a worthwhile investment.
Emily’s tips are perfect advice for all of us, an antidote to the fast fashion frenzy that has taken over main streets, shopping malls, and social media feeds the world over. We’d all be wise to slow down, consider what our fashion values are, and pursue these in a second-hand setting.
As Emily said, many people feel they lack control over how things go in the world, but one thing they can control is what they buy. Thrifting at a thrift shop in Destin, FL can be your way of saying you care about conserving resources, saving money, and respecting people’s work.
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Steve Clark 