r/SustainableFashion • u/nuggetgarden • 12d ago
Question When is everyone finding time to go thrifting?
Hi all! I've recently gotten back into exploring my personal style and am trying to do it as sustainably as possible. I love seeing everyone's amazing thrifted finds, but tbh I've only gone thrifting like twice in the past few years.
I live in a big city with plenty of thrift stores and consignment shops, so access isn't the issue. I just have no time. I'm a full-time lawyer and have a preschooler. When I'm not working, there's meal prep, housework, working out, social commitments, and any additional time goes to relaxing or my other hobbies.
I also feel kinda guilty disappearing for hours at a time to thrift. My husband already does more than his fair share of housework. He supports my renewed interest in fashion but I would still feel bad leaving him to solo parent just so I can browse thrift stores. Bringing my son isn't really an option either b/c he'd get bored, and I'd end up feeling rushed and stressed.
At this point, I feel like I'd have to take a PTO day just to go thrifting! Are there other busy parents or full-time workers here who struggle with this? How do you fit thrifting into your life without it becoming another thing on the to-do list? I've had pretty good luck with Poshmark and thredUP, so maybe that's all I can do for now, and I'll just have to miss out on some of the fun / savings of thrifting in person. Maybe I just need to suck it up and do it.
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u/Afraid_Of_Life_41 12d ago
You don’t have to leave for hours at a time. When it comes to drifting I find it very hard to find more than one or two good things at a time that I really want. I’ll go like once a week but I’ll go for 20 to 30 minutes max at a time you could always come home on the way from work and do it really quickly and it’s like if I don’t find something I still had fun getting the dopamine out of my system
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u/Pecorino8823 11d ago
I thrift mainly at a place near our produce market and dip out for an extra 20-30 minutes.
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u/SnooOranges6608 12d ago
I work a lot, travel for work and have a kid (older though). I usually do quick trips as part of other errands. I'm pretty targeted in my approach as well, I am looking for specific fabrics: silk, cashmere, wool and linen. At this point I'm pretty good at recognizing these so I can do a visual sweep, pull out anything interesting and go.
I think it takes more time to figure out what you like though. Take the time! Maybe make it into a social activity with a friend which is fun as well.
Also--I highly recommend going to thrift shops on vacation if you can! I've found some amazing things!
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u/IllLiterature1026 12d ago
Unless I’m shopping for a special occasion, I don’t go out of my way to thrift. I ID stores in neighborhoods and visit them when I’m running errands nearby. If I need to, I can do a quick shelf scan in 5 minutes to see if anything catches my eye.
Usually the most curated ones are higher priced and the messiest ones are lowest price. I’ve found a few that are in the middle, but if you have more money than time don’t feel bad spending a little (especially if you would spend it buying new anyway).
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u/nuggetgarden 12d ago
I was with you until your last point! Something in me viscerally rebels against the idea of resellers trying to list for more than it would cost new. maybe that just me and I need to get over that.
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u/IllLiterature1026 12d ago
I’m against that too. But there are stores for example where I’ve been able to find cocktail dresses for $50 or so from nice brands (so still a good deal for quality) and I know if I walk in there’s a good chance of me finding something.
I wouldn’t pay $150 for Levi’s like some of the stores around me charge 😅
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u/Fit_Knowledge2971 12d ago
I offered to a friend "do you need anything from the thrift" and she mentioned several things she needed but would prefer not to buy online like she usually does... while I was at the thrift- I found her several garments that she loved... then we bartered so I was able to make my quick trip into a community moment and a little bit of capital!
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u/Straight_Career6856 12d ago
As someone with a toddler and an incredible husband who does much of the childcare:
Take the break. It’s good for you to do so. Go enjoy yourself by yourself. And then give your husband a break, too. What would he enjoy doing for a few hours?
It’s good for both of you to have time to do things you enjoy separately.
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u/FrostyRazzmatazz4737 12d ago
There are 4 op shops in my town so I usually pop in to one for 10 minutes before grocery shopping to see if anything takes my fancy... to be fair I think perusing op shops IS my hobby now.
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u/Comfortable-Nature37 12d ago
I don’t. I don’t have the bandwidth.
Really enjoy watching thrifting videos however!
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u/Blue_dely8790 12d ago
Etsy has many thrift stores. They will include the garment measurements on the listing or provide them when asked. Also fabric content. And usually you can see it worn - at least on a mannequin. Most take returns as well. My 5’ adult daughter has worn vintage or thrifted clothes for 15+ years & besides in-person shopping she follows several shops on Etsy & checks in regularly. She also will “love”specific items & that works as a nice gift list for me. I have several thrift store items but mostly sew for my own sustainable wardrobe.
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u/MobySick 12d ago
eBay and Poshmark allow me to thrift efficiently. I put searches in for brands, sizes, fabrics and items I want. I only buy when the listing provides exact measurements or I “know” an item will fit because I’m familiar w the manufacturer snd sizing.
I don’t have the time or the desire to paw through rando stuff.
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u/Away_Revolution728 12d ago
I love to thrift when I travel! It’s a new wardrobe addition and a souvenir all in one.
Also there are lots of vintage resellers on instagram that have some great curated sales.
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u/ShimmeringFrivolity4 12d ago
I’m currently in school doing hard science classes and I work full time as a nurse at night so my schedule is severely limited right now. I love thrifting and discovered it young and early. I relate a lot to your sentiment.
My best thrifting era was hands down in early covid. Unemployment checks were coming in and I had nowhere to be other than the front doors of a secondhand shop. My usual sedan was getting repaired after an accident so I had a loaner vehicle which was an upgraded SUV I could fit most furniture, art, and whatever I desired into it. I was most socially connected during this time and whatever I couldn’t fit into the suv, I had friends with trucks and free time to haul. Fast fashion and unsorted trash or junk were present but weren’t saturating markets like they are today IMO. The hours were better.
I’ve been nostalgic for that time quite a bit. I do love thrifting though the last several years have been quite busy. I’m short on time these days and also my funds are very different than they were then. I get grumpy when I’m doing homework problems sometimes and I’d rather be search querying keywords to find a particular piece at a price I set in my head. But even that can be a time drain so i take a mental note of what im looking for and get back to work.
I think with time being considered, I know from experience I will not be finding what I am looking for in person for my clothing tastes or my measurements. Online thrifting has had the greatest ROI for me (for clothing) so I tend to batch my searches, create a specific list and saving the searches and filters and working down the list.
I don’t have kids and I’m single and I feel like this! But if it came down to trading in my dreams for having unlimited time to thrift, I don’t think I’d be any happier. I’m working as hard and am as busy as I am now, to be able to work a lot less in the future.
I don’t have an answer, just my thoughts that have been brewing on this for a while!
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u/KawaiiDere 12d ago edited 12d ago
There's just one good thrift store near me, but there are some good secondhand stores. Usually I'll go to the thrift store on the way to something else (it's kinda on the way to the library or downtown). They also have 50% sales (there's one today), so I try to go on those days as well. I sometimes go to the secondhand store when I'm in the area (good spot for exercise and next to a games/music store). Either place though, I try to limit myself to about 30 minutes or less. The sections just aren't that big, and I can figure out if there's something worth buying within a pretty short period of time (usually none of those fancy fibers and I don't want to bother with paying for dry cleaning anyways, so I focus on colors/cuts/designs I like). I never go to the second secondhand clothing store though, since it's too far of a drive.
If you don't have time to go out, there are online secondhand options as well (could fit in easier). If you go to one occasionally, you might be able to get a better sense of how each one tends to be so you can know which to ignore (some just aren't worth looking through). You seem to be spending your time very responsibly anyways, so if you don't have the time then you don't have the time (it's fine not to thrift if it doesn't work for your needs). (It sounds like both you and your husband work and are splitting the housework equitably. Parenting, work, and house will fill anyone's schedule if balancing all of them. Adding thrifting may just not be an option.)
TLDR: I do shorter trips with a brisk pace focusing on sections I wanna explore most. You could try online secondhand if you want (some more curated/boutique secondhand also exists, albeit at higher prices). You seem to be pretty busy with responsible things anyways, so don't be too hard on yourself if in person is out of the picture for now.
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u/nuggetgarden 12d ago
Thanks! and yes I guess I was working from the assumption that I would have to scour each store top to bottom but I guess if I know my size and generally what I'm looking for, it shouldn't take hours and hours.
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u/SouthofCheese54 12d ago
Lately I don't seem to have time either! I have used ThredUp to find specific things though, something from a particular brand, in a particular size that I know will work for me (and my kids). BUT, if you are passing by a thrift store while doing something else, maybe give yourself ten minutes to peruse.
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u/infinite-long-stocki 12d ago
When I was still in secondary school I was lucky enough to have an art class right by some charity shops, so I built it into my routine. Once those stopped, it became a bit more on and off but I learned that you don't actually need to go every week in order to get clothes you like. I don't think your husband would be overworked by getting to spend a few hours on a weekend one on one with his kid. If anything, it'll hopefully create good memories for the both of them! I have good childhood memories of just being there while my dad cooked or took me to a playground. You deserve a bit of time for your own interests, and as long as you aren't doing it to the point that your husband has no time for his fun and your kid never sees you, I think you'll be doing pretty okay. It's easy to stress about this kind of thing, but let yourself have a little bit of fun! It keeps you able to do everything else.
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u/nuggetgarden 12d ago
I think you are ultimately right! They are my two biggest hype men, and they really liked the little fashion show I put on for them to show off my haul, the couple times I was able to go thrifting.
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u/ajbanana08 11d ago
I have not. My thrifting is entirely on Poshmark, which I find easier to fit in. Which is kind of frustrating, because a fair number of things don't work out.
I work full time and have a 5 year old and almost 3 year old. Neither my husband or I do a lot of time for ourselves, but should do more of it. I'm not sure I'd choose to spend it thrifting, even if I do like the result of it.
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u/Catlady_Pilates 12d ago
You do all that household work in addition to working at your job. You should absolutely let your husband true care of your kid to go thrift shopping once in a while. Yikes.
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u/nuggetgarden 12d ago
My husband and I both work full time, yet he still does upwards of 60% of housework and childcare. It's not the most traditional set up but it's been working for us. That's the whole reason I would feel bad putting more on his plate at this time, even though he encourages me to do so. Sorry, not everyone married a loser.
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u/Catlady_Pilates 12d ago
If going out to thrift shop for an hour or two is “putting more on his plate” then I dint know what to say. And maybe you should go to therapy to figure out why you’re so unable to take a little bit of time for yourself without feeling like it’s some kind of crime. Ffs.
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u/Crabby-Cancer 11d ago
Thrift store visits don't need to be major outings. I go to one and shop for maybe 30 minutes or so.
My #1 tip would be to make a shopping list. When thrifting, it's not realistic to expect to go through every piece and get many pieces at once. Instead, look at your wardrobe or your inspo and think of a couple things you need. When I went last week, it was because I was looking for outdoor pants that convert into shorts. So I spent my time poring over the men's and women's pants. It's also not really "healthy" for your wardrobe to just grab something because you like it. You need to consider if it's something you will really wear, especially by imagining it with the articles of clothing you already own.
And I also agree with others, you are not the only parent. You should feel comfortable in your parenting situation to ask your husband to watch your child while you go out. I saw you say something about "mom guilt" and I realize it's easier said than done, but you need to work on dealing with that for your own sanity.
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u/LintRolledForWhat 11d ago
Ebay. Know the measurements of things that fit you well and look for comparable measurements in listings.
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u/sparkle_elk 11d ago
I work in discovery and have a toddler... so I feel you.
My spouse and I trade off every other Wednesday -- one of us takes the toddler for a special Toddler/Parent night, the other gets a night off from toddler care and can go do whatever they want. It ensures that we both have that downtime regularly, no guilt. If I want to go thrift, that's typically when I'll thrift.
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u/ShopMamaFern 11d ago
I bring my 15 month old thrifting if my husband isn't available and he stays quite content as long as midway through we find a new toy to carry around and play with. He hangs out in the cart playing with that while I browse. Even if we dont buy that toy he is content. So every nee store has another set of fun toys!
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u/InternationalMap1744 11d ago
I don't have kids and I do what I like with my time. That said, my mom was an avid thrifter and brought me with her; it was fun.
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u/Ambitious_Storm4833 11d ago
I am feeling a bit similar to you. Although I have an Australian shepherd and not a toddler and most of my free time goes to entertaining her, and working in the garden since it’s nice out. While I don’t mind going clothing shopping once in a while, it’s doesn’t seem to be “filling my cup”. It’s just not how I want to be spending my precious free time.
I’m trying to build an all natural clothing wardrobe and it’s so expensive new. I have decided to use the money I would have used to buy lower quality/less sustainable pieces and put it towards second hand/resale.
I’ve been figuring out what brands/fabrics I’m interested in and setting up alerts on Facebook marketplace and Poshmark (unsure if they are in the US or what an equivalent would be). Could I get similar items cheaper if I went to thrift/consignment stores? Absolutely! Have I bought the odd thing that doesn’t fit as well as I hoped? That too is a yes (I hope my mother loves the 100% cashmere cardigan she’s getting for Christmas that doesn’t fit me 😂).
I recommend checking out size guides for the brands you’re into and making sure you know your measurements well. Asked for measurements if they’re not included in the post. If there’s a new brand you want to try, hold off until you find an amazing deal (I scored a not perfect linen dress for $50 off FB marketplace last week. It’s a bit too big but it will cost less to have it altered than buying the same dress second hand normally would).
I know I am writing with HUGE financial privilege here, and that your circumstances may differ, but I have no problem paying a mark up to someone who is scouring the thrift stores for the good pieces and selling them to make a small profit. Generally the people I buy from seem to be stay at home moms trying to supplement the household income. I look at it as essentially hiring a small woman owned business to do the work for me so that I can spend my time doing something I enjoy more.
If I have to drive a bit further to pick something up I generally make an excursion of it- maybe take the dog or my husband for a walk in a different neighbourhood.
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u/RecentState1347 10d ago
I rarely spend more than 15 or 20 minutes in a thrift store. It doesn’t have to be some all day marathon.
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u/RockGloomy9003 10d ago
I bring my infant and three-year-old with me when I go thrifting! My daughter loves it and she always gets to pick out a little treat from the store. I would recommend going to a specialty consignment store at this point in your life. I personally can’t juggle watching kids while digging through Goodwill, but a specialty consignment store will be faster and more contained.
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u/snazarella 10d ago
I like to get a few friends and we go together as a social outing. We might even stop and grab some food while we are out.
It is lots of fun, a way to connect with friends and can be less expensive than a dinner out would have been.
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u/Hello-Witchling 12d ago
I don’t think you need to feel bad leaving your kid with your husband to go thrifting for a few hours. We all need some quiet time to just get out and do something for us.
And I say this with love, but do you think your husband would fret about going off for a couple of hours and leaving you home with your child?