thrift Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Life of an Earth Muffin

Hey earth muffins! I absolutely love thrifting. If you have been following this blog for awhile, you will know that thrift stores are my favorite way to shop secondhand. Mister Corona has prevented me from going thrifting for the past few months… While many of the stores in my area are open, I just don’t see the point in exposing myself to possible germs for no reason. Good thing there are great thrift stores online! 🙂 I personally haven’t been shopping much just because I don’t need anything right now; but, I definitely recommend checking out these sites if you need to spice up your closet. Here are the best online thrift stores to shop at today!

~ThredUP

I know, I know. It seems like every YouTuber who thrifts is advertising for ThredUP… But it is for good reason! They have some great finds on their site, including some nice sales too. Usually, if I am at a store, I always check out all of the sections (this is a tried and true tip for any new thrifter!). However, because you are searching a HUGE amount of clothes on ThredUP, I recommend knowing what you are looking for. Even just knowing the brand you want is helpful! Because the site is so popular, you will need to shop relatively quickly. You wouldn’t want something in your cart ordered by someone else! I also love that you can set your sizes as you search the site. This will filter out any clothes that you wouldn’t purchase anyway. 😊 Lastly, they mark “Rare Find” pieces which can also help you find some awesome deals!

~Depop

Depop is another great option for online thrifting. While they do have a website, the app is much better in terms of filtering out your searches. I love that people can open their own Depop shop for you to browse – it is a great way to support your favorite sustainable influencers when they do a closet cleanout or shop the style of your favorite reseller on Instagram. This app can be a bit pricier than ThredUP just because each shop owner can set the prices… But you might be able to find some extremely unique pieces if you look hard enough! 😍

~eBay

I always forget about eBay when I am shopping online, but it actually has some amazing thrift finds! You can filter your clothing searches using the “Pre-Owned” option, which ensures that you are still shopping secondhand. I personally love that eBay has auctions, because you can score some great pieces for extremely love prices. On top of that, use Typo Hound to find any listings that have spelling errors in the title. This will allow you to get even better deals! 🤑 eBay definitely deserves a spot on this best online thrift stores list.

~Poshmark

Poshmark, like Depop, is another great way to thrift on your phone. Their app is easy to use, including great ways to filter your searches. It seems like I can find “trendier” pieces on Poshmark from brands that are currently popular. However, I definitely believe that anything thrifted can be trendy and with the times… You just have to style it the right way! Plus, buying more classic pieces is better for the environment, as you will be able to wear them for years to come. 😊

~Swap.com

Swap.com is another great thrift store to shop online. While it might not have as many options as ThredUP, there are still good pieces to find! Plus, because it isn’t as well known as ThredUP there will be less people trying to find those hidden gems. 👍 I love that this site also has a huge selection of maternity and baby clothes. It is so expensive to buy maternity clothes new because you won’t be able to wear them for a long time; offering secondhand maternity clothes is a great way to give those garments a new life!

~Other Best Online Thrift Stores

There are a bunch of other online thrift stores to check out as well. Etsy, while it is known for its handmade items, actually has some secondhand clothes. If you are looking to buy expensive brand name items, check out The RealReal. Vintage items are a whole different ballgame, as there are tons of vintage websites to browse through. It is pretty crazy that there are so many awesome options to thrift online! 😍 Have you found anything cool at any of these sites recently?

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Love,
Jenna ♥

Hey muffins! After spending the last five years in Ann Arbor during both my undergrad and grad school experiences, I have definitely checked out many of the city’s thrift stores. Secondhand shopping is an excellent way to reduce your waste and avoid fast fashion. It is also super fun to look for treasures! Now that I no longer live in the area, I thought it would be fun to share some of my faves with you all. These Ann Arbor thrift stores are the ones I would shop at the most; each one has different reasons on why I like it, so here are my thoughts!

1. The ShareHouse

A picture of the clothing section in the ShareHouse in Ann Arbor

Address: 5161 Jackson Rd

This store was my absolute favorite place to shop – I will definitely miss it! The building is large and contains a mix of literally everything and anything you could be searching for. The clothing department is relatively small, but they have a nice chunk of vintage pieces. There are even wedding dresses if you are looking to have a sustainable ceremony. 💒 Even though they don’t have a large amount of clothes, the prices are excellent ranging from $0.25 to $3.

In terms of home items, they have bins of EVERYTHING (ex. utensils, bathroom storage, craft supplies, etc.). While everything is well labeled, you will have to dig through bins if they are full. But you are bound to find some treasures! They have a huge wall of cheap cookbooks and a whole room for games and puzzles. Most things are assigned prices at checkout (except for clothes), but the owners always give extremely reasonable prices. You could probably bargain with them if you wanted, but I’ve never seen the need. A great thrift store to check out – give yourself at least two hours to look at everything! 😀

Best finds: Three 1000 piece puzzles ($4), a huge stack of vintage greeting cards ($4.50), Mickey Mouse shirt for Disney trip ($0.25)

2. Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop

A picture of the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop

Address: 2280 S Industrial Hwy

This thrift store has a moderate amount of clothes, but each week a certain color tag makes those pieces only $0.50! Because the section isn’t massive the clothing turns over pretty quick, so there are always new things to look at. I’d recommend shopping for those 50 cents pieces at the beginning of the week; they are perfect for any thrift flip projects!

If you are looking for crafting/DIY supplies, this is also the place to go. They have everything from single buttons to stickers to scrapbooking paper to fabric to vintage patterns. It is truly incredible and the labeling is on point. The kitchen section is relatively small, but I have found some nice things there. They also have a good game section and check each one to ensure all the pieces are in the box! Unlike the ShareHouse, everything is individually priced. All the proceeds go to support local schools of the area, so I loved supporting this place these past five years!

Best finds: “Technicolor dreamcoat” sweater ($4), Halloween pillow ($4.50), fabric for my DIY Mary Poppins costume

3. Salvation Army

A picture of the Salvation Army in Ann Arbor

Address: 1621 S State St

My favorite “chain” thrift store has always been Salvation Army, and the one in Ann Arbor doesn’t disappoint. This store is basically 90% clothing – it has everything you could ever look for! Because Ann Arbor is a wealthier area, this location is stocked full of amazing brands. This also means the prices are slightly higher, but even as a broke college student the prices were never too high. The store is quite busy, and a lot of people shop here (including college students as it is walking distance to campus). But, this means the inventory turns over often… There are a ton of new items each week!

Best finds: Gnocci “Gucci” shirt ($3)

4. Recycle Ann Arbor’s Reuse Center

A picture of the Recycle Reclaim Center in Ann Arbor

Address: 2420 S Industrial Hwy

This recycling center is close to the PTO thrift store, so I would always stop in when I was in the area. Their “barn” has bits of everything from kitchenware to boxes of books to lots of furniture. Nothing is individually labeled, and I have found that the prices end up being higher than the ShareHouse. But, this center also has a huge selection of reclaimed wood and other materials. If you are a handy person or is about to start some home projects or rebuilds this would be the place to check out!

Best find: Nice golf club for my boyfriend ($8)

Overall, I think there are a lot of awesome secondhand options in Ann Arbor. On top of the ones I mentioned, there are also many vintage and antique stores in the area. The city can be quite expensive overall, so thrifting is an excellent way to save that coin AND save the planet! 🌎 What are your favorite thrift stores in Ann Arbor?

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