Most thrift stores I’ve visited benefit institutions like hospitals or places of worship, or support organizations like Goodwill or the Salvation Army. So buying from them provides assistance to people less well-off than you. There’s no shame in that.
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Funny - we make it an outing and go together 
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I once donated to the Salvation Army 6 ramekins when clearing out my sister’s apartment after she passed. The next day I regretted donating them as they were a unique design, so I went back and bought them, all 6 for the princely sum of $1.50!
I have a few suits and jackets that I will never again wear as I dropped about 25% of my top (ideal) weight through illness. They’re good quality and in good repair. I’m considering selling them online, and was wondering what the best site would be. Any ideas?
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Poshmark, ebay.
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Are there any consignment shops in your area?? I used to frequent one called “Well Suited Man”. I got some fairly nice deals there and the clothing was all consignment.
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I’ve been thrifting for kitchen treasures in the local thrift shops, perhaps some of the same. It has been a while, though. Perhaps I’m pathologically parsimonious as well (For the rest of HO crowd, we’ve met before and saw part of his legendary copper collection. And I can’t imagine his neighbors sorting through the thrift shops at the same rate).
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True story: in high school I used to go to the Salvation Army to buy back clothes my mom donated that I wasn’t done wearing! 
. She had this rule that if you are generally still buying clothes, and you haven’t worn something in a year or so, donate or gift or otherwise remove from your wardrobe because you likely won’t wear it again or need it any longer.
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Me too. I have a couple of friends who are like fricking bloodhounds in thrift stores and always find treasures. I tend to flit about from section to section. So I try to shop with them when possible. Fortunately, we have different focus areas and different clothing sizes. Win win
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What an eye opening thread. I had no idea folks were ashamed to be seen at thrift stores and junk shops.
Not exactly like being seen coming out of the porn emporium but maybe too close for comfort.
Lessons learned!
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I confess, it took me a while to get over my ‘but that’s for poor people’ mentality and check out Grocery Outlet. Now I love it.
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My local GO has even upped their produce quality game to regular grocery levels. I shop there first now, unless I know they won’t have something (Meat still sucks).
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I, too, seriously cannot believe this is a thing.
This, too.
I am truly astounded. And not exactly sure how I feel about it,.
I am actually proud to shop and be seen at thrift shops. Does that make me poor, or just tone deaf to my own status in life? 
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I can’t imagine being ashamed for shopping when it lets you keep more in your pocket. I’m grateful for the perspective of growing up with parents who came out of the Depression and taught me frugality. My husband also, from the same background. We had good educations, lucrative professions, saved and invested well but don’t need logos on our stuff. Why pay more when it’s not necessary? Often times there is value in spending more, but I don’t feel good when I buy something just for the sake of “look what I have”.
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i’m ashamed to buy anything new. for me, adding anything into the world that doesn’t need to exist is a moral failing.
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What other people may think of you isn’t your business.
In past years I have purchased two lovely silk blouces of high quality and one beautiful linen blouce. I have worn them many times and just love them. I was gifted a very nice Vera scarf from the 70’s a dozen or so years ago that I treasure. I appreciate the giver who thought of me when they found it.
I no longer shop in thrift stores, although I really want to. At this stage in my life, I have too much stuff and need to downsize big time. So I donate stuff back to the thrift stores. But not those pieces of clothing.
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My wardrobe is very small for this reason, in contrast to kitchen equipment. I own about 10 shirts. I love emptying my closet of things I don’t wear and my wife loves that she gets most of the closet space.
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Antique shops don’t bring about the same feeling and I would feel fine about perusing an outdoor flea market.
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The GO near my work sometimes has great deals on cheese that’s near expiry, imported butter, good oat milk, eggs with orange yolks, and duck fat.
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This has been a fascinating thread. It is baffling to me that anyone would feel shame for going to a charity shop. I love visiting the ones in posh neighbourhoods in particular because of the things people get rid of.
This led me to wonder about the different between US and UK, though, because charity shops are everywhere and quite plentiful here. So in my search for the differences, I found these stats:
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25,000 consignment, resale, and not-for-profit shops operating in the ‘Thrift store’ industry, which is the near equivalent to the UK’s charity shops. By comparison, there are approximately 10,850
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Approximately 20% of Americans will shop at a Thrift store at least once during an average year. Whilst in the UK over 80% of the adult population in the U.K. visit a charity shop.
Don’t know much about the source, but found this at Skyline Business Services
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Say what now??? I had no idea there were GOs in this area. I thought they were a west coast thing. Looking at the map I see the closest to me appears to be a bit too far for regular visits but I’ll keep in mind next time I go to Glen Burnie or Hagerstown
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