Hey earth muffins! Reading is one of my favorite pastimes; many people agree with me too! Curling up with a good book is such a great way to settle down after a long day at work or to enjoy some much needed self-care time without turning on the TV. As an eco-friendly queen, it is important to choose secondhand reads to reduce your impact on the planet. Keep reading for a list of the best places to buy used books!
The Top Places to Find Used Books Near You:
First up, do a quick Google search to see when your local library puts on a used book sale! Libraries often get a ton of book donations, which means they can sell some pretty great reads at these sales. Plus, if you’re a bookworm, you’ll be happy to know that the proceeds from these sales often support the library in your community. Such a great way to get some new used books!
Hey earth muffins! My Christmas spirit has come early this year… Not sure why, but I’m so ready for the holidays! 😊 There are often a bunch of holiday events to attend in December; many of them have an “ugly sweater” theme. Don’t buy your ugly sweater at the store just yet… You can find plenty of them secondhand! Here are my tips for finding the best secondhand ugly Christmas sweaters this year:
~Start looking early!
The earlier you start scouring thrift stores for “ugly” holiday sweaters, the better your chances are for finding the best ones. If you haven’t started your hunt already, I suggest you get started ASAP. The best idea is to look for them consistently throughout the year too. I’ve even seen a ton of them over the summer months when they aren’t as highly coveted.
Hey earth muffins! Secondhand September is coming to a close in a few short days… But that doesn’t mean you have to stop shopping secondhand! To bid the challenge goodbye, I thought it would be fun to share my list of the best places to shop secondhand. You should always consider used items before buying new, so I hope this post is helpful to those at any stage of an eco journey.
Top Places to Shop Secondhand in Person
The very best place to start is at your local thrift stores. I’m not talking about the chains like Salvation Army (see below for those)… Local, unique, and one-of-a kind destinations are where it’s at! You can find some awesome things at these locations (especially if you follow these thrifting tips); and, most of the time these stores support local non-profits/causes in your community. So, you are helping the planet AND those in your area too!
Hey earth muffins, happy Secondhand September! All month long, the focus is on choosing used instead of new. That means thrift stores might become your new best friend in the next 30 days 😅 If you aren’t sure where to start, keep reading for easy ways to participate in Secondhand September this year!
~Hit up your favorite thrift stores
Avoid the mall this month and opt for your favorite thrift stores instead. The whole point of the Secondhand September challenge is to favor used items over new. You can choose to focus on thrifting clothing, home goods, or across the board if you like. Make a point to go to every one of your favorite thrifting spots in September!
Hey earth muffins! Shopping secondhand is one of my favorite ways to save the planet. Instead of buying new, it is fun to search for treasures among all the used options. From thrift stores to Facebook Marketplace, there are endless possibilities! While I’ve shared my top thrifting tips in the past, I thought it would be helpful to share how I avoid damaged pieces when shopping secondhand. Nothing is worse than finding a broken piece or hole once you get the item home. Avoid the damaged items by following these tips:
Give the item a complete inspection before purchase.
It is obviously important to inspect all the pieces in your cart/basket before checkout. I typically save this for the very end, but you could also inspect each item before it makes the cut into your “to buy” pile. Depending on how thorough your inspection is, you can either do it right there in the aisle or find a quiet corner of the store instead. Make sure you check all angles and sides!
Hey earth muffins! Ever since I started my journey towards low-waste living, I try to choose secondhand shopping as much as possible. Some of my favorites include thrifting and shopping at antique stores. I have definitely been doing a lot more shopping to furnish my house after buying it this December. I’ve created a list of my top thrift shopping tips, but I have never written a post for antiquing… Until today! Here’s the ultimate guide on how to antique shop – let’s jump right into my shopping tips. 🙃
1. Make a list of what you’re looking for before you go.
There can be a lot of stuff at antique stores, so don’t make yourself overwhelmed by going in with no idea on what you are looking for. This list doesn’t have to be specific; I actually would recommend it be very broad! If you know you are looking for a lamp or key hook just leave it at that. You never know what you might find, so don’t close your mind to only super specific items.
Hey earth muffins! When I started my journey towards being more sustainable, I vowed to refuse all fast fashion and opt for secondhand options instead. So far, this has been super successful – I don’t even miss fast fashion at all! 😊 Today I wanted to talk about some fast fashion “faux pas” that our society needs to change. In order to embrace more sustainable fashion, we need to shift our mindsets into new ideas about what we wear and how we take care of our clothes. Let’s jump right into the post!
Once something rips, it is done for. ➡️ Let’s get into the habit of mending our clothes!
The first fast fashion faux pas I want to discuss is the idea that your clothes are “unworthy” once they show some wear. This is stupid for multiple reasons. The quality of most clothing has decreased over the past decade or so. Therefore, they aren’t going to look exactly how they were when you purchased it for long… But that doesn’t mean you need to toss them into the donation bin. Take care of your clothes and mend everything that is easy to fix: sew up small holes, replace buttons, hem pant legs, etc. Why throw away your favorite pieces of clothing just because they aren’t “perfect” anymore?
Once you wear an outfit somewhere, you can’t wear it again. ➡️ Let’s join Lizzie McGuire as outfit repeaters!
Obviously, it isn’t a fast fashion faux pas to wear the same shirts and pants occasionally; however, it seems like once you wear certain things (such as a formal dress to a dressy event) you aren’t “supposed” to wear it again. I hear people talking about how they must go shopping for a new outfit for each event. If you want to do this, then I suggest getting secondhand clothing instead. Or, just use what you already have in your closet! It is so much more sustainable and eco-friendly to not over consume and continue to wear the same outfits again and again. Be a proud outfit repeater!
Secondhand fashion can’t be “cool”. ➡️ Secondhand fashion is the coolest!
I think there has been a big shift in this faux pas over the past few years with the rise of thrifting platforms such as Depop and ThredUp. However, many people still believe that secondhand shopping is “gross” and “uncool”. You can obviously argue that fast fashion is the most uncool form of fashion out there for the planet – the statistics don’t lie! I also think that you can make thrifted pieces totally in style – check out this guide on how to make secondhand fashion trendy!
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Final Thoughts on Fast Fashion Faux Pas
Overall, I think there are many fast fashion faux pas that must be changed in our society to ensure a more eco-friendly future for the clothing industry. Take the time to mend your clothes when they become a little worn. Become a proud outfit repeater! And learn how to make your secondhand fashion finds as “cool” and “trendy” as the crappy fast fashion pieces on the market. Slow fashion is a remarkable thing, and I highly recommend everyone do their best to reduce their impact on Mother Earth by shifting their mindsets around these faux pas. What do you do to take care of your clothes? Comment below!
Hey earth muffins! The fall and summer seasons are full of yard/estate sales. For someone who prefers second hand shopping, these are great places to find items you might be looking for. As you can tell from my latest collective haul, I’ve been doing quite a bit of yard sale shopping these past couple of months. In honor of it being Second Hand September, I thought it would be fun to share some of my best tips for scoring the best deals at yard/estate sales. I’ve tackled thrift shopping tips and even how to score finds on Facebook Marketplace, so I hope this post helps with another second hand shopping option. Yard and estate sales are some of my favorite places to find treasures, so I hope this is helpful to you all as well!
~Go shopping as soon as the yard/estate sales open!
The early bird truly does get the worm with second hand shopping. If a sale opens at 9 AM, I suggest getting there around that time. Not only will less people be there, but everything will still be at the sale. You get first pick from all the goodies! There is a bigger possibility that all the good items will be taken if you show up later in the day.
~Map out a route before you go.
Instead of aimlessly roaming around your city until you find a sign, I suggest having a route in mind before you go. Check out estatesales.net to scope out the major sales in your area. A lot of people advertise for yard sales on Facebook Marketplace as well. Once you have mapped out a few stops, stick to that route as you go shopping! If you find signs around the area you are driving, feel free to veer off and hit up those sales too.
~Hit up sales on the first day (for the most selection) or the last day (for the best deals).
In order to get the best deals at yard/estate sales, it is important to decide what your motive is. Are you looking for the most selection of items? If so, I would suggest going to sales on the first day they are held. And, like I mentioned above, show up right when they open too! On the flip side, if you are looking for the best prices and deals, I suggest going on the last day. Especially for estate sales, many places will do 50% off to clear out as much as possible!
~Only buy things you actually need!!
Even though you are shopping second hand, that doesn’t mean you should buy everything that catches your eye (or is a cheap price). Living a sustainable lifestyle is all about reducing your consumption – only buy what you actually need to get! I have found it helpful to have a list on my phone of everything I am looking for at the moment. From certain kitchen items to holiday decor pieces, this list stays on my notes app at all times. Whenever I am at a yard/estate sale, I’ll only buy items if they are on the list!
~Don’t be afraid to bargain with the seller.
A great way to score deals at yard/estate sales is to bargain for a lower price. This tip depends on the original pricing; if you think the prices were set too high, feel free to ask for a more reasonable one. If the prices are already fair, I would just hand over your cash. 😊 Especially since you are saving money by not purchasing an item new, sometimes it is better to support the seller with the full amount.
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Final Tips for Yard/Estate Sales!
Yard and estate sales are some of my favorite second hand places to shop. You never do know what you are going to find! In terms of getting the best deals, the timing of when you go shopping is super important. But, don’t fall into the trap of overconsumption just because – keep a running list of what you need and stick to it. What are your favorite tips for scoring deals at yard/estate sales? Comment below and share some of the recent finds you have purchased!
