The Do's and Don'ts of Thrifting

Hello, hello, hello. I just had two cups of coffee and it's my day off of work; so, post number three, comin' atcha.

In my last article I talked about resale stores and consignment - which are great methods of grabbing some nice new-ish clothes on the cheap. However, if you're looking to add a bit of adventure to your shopping itinerary and save a little more green, thrift stores may be the option for you. I'm not talking about sparkling clean, neatly organized resale stores - in this article the term "thrift store" refers to places like Goodwill or Salvation Army: places that have underwear that's older than you are for sale at ten cents a pop and at least two rows of John Grisham books on the shelf. 

Places like these aren't a metropolis of designer deals and you're not going to walk out with a two-season old Prada crop-top, but you can find vintage pieces with a lot of character and basic staple pieces for when you're not too worried about looking like you just stepped out of a Maserati.

Define Your Goals

Going into a thrift store without a game plan is a rookie move. You'll go from wandering the sweater section to porcelain chickens and then you'll come across the VHS section and get caught up in memory lane. What do you need/want? Make sure you have an idea of what you're looking for before you're overwhelmed by the cheap everything.

Hygiene

This is by no means a knock to thrift stores, they provide a great service and many of them do amazing things for their respective communities. However, if you touch each and every item in the place, you're going to walk out with some nasty hands - which I have affectionately named "second hand". It's the nature of the beast, but it can be avoided by being picky. Touch only what catches your eye.

Don't Be A Total Brand Loyalist

Sticking to brands you know for things like shirts and pants can save you a lot of time in the thrift store; however, if you're looking for something like shoes or a leather jacket, don't worry so much about the designer. Look at the construction, feel the material, then try it on if it rubs you the right way.

Locate The Mirrors

Usually in thrift stores there aren't too many mirrors. Locate one in your primary shopping area and locate a rack in close proximity to the mirror with a little bit of space on it. That rack is going to be home base, and you're going to monopolize it like Point Place. Gather everything you've deemed worthy and set up shop. This is now your fitting room. If it's in a narrow aisle, make sure to keep watch and move out of the way if someone needs to get by, but don't give up position. It's a dog-eat-dog world in the thrift store. 

Something fit well? Buy it. It's five dollars.

Stay tuned! I'll update with another post next week.

Second Hand, Hands Down

The everyday frugal fellow (or lady) generally has two main objectives when shopping for clothes:

1) Get some fresh threads

2) Leave enough to pay rent

Unfortunately, at general high-end retailers and department stores, this usually incites some compromises. Let's face it, the clearance rack limits your options. Instead of the jacket of your dreams on the "New!" rack with the leather trim and a Thriller-esque amount of zippers, you're stuck with the less exciting option that's 30% off. If only there was a way to get a deal without compromising, or a way to get a cool new piece without refinancing. 

There is. 

Second-hand clothing is the savior for those of us who are balling on a budget. You still have the selection of top designer brands like Prada, Armani, Boss and Burberry at your fingertips; but, depending on your source, you could save a ballpark estimate of sixty to ninety percent. "Whaaat? Where!?" Well, friend, there exist several chains of resale stores, such as Crossroads Trading Co. and Plato's Closet. Also, if you look, you can usually find a consignment store in your area (consignment is when a shop sells your item for you, but they get a percentage of the sale for their trouble). 

Is it going to be the season's hottest piece? Probably not. Is it going to be a good-quality, designer piece for less than a tank of gas? You've got it. Looking great doesn't have to chokeslam your wallet - and it shouldn't. Get yourself to a resale or consignment store and re-up for spring. You deserve it.

Stay tuned for next week when I'll talk about the do's and don'ts of thrifting.

One - Remember to Have Fun

Saving money is important, there's no getting around that. However, so is having a little bit of fun and taking a break here and there. Budgeting for entertainment is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy, sane lifestyle.

If you pinch your pennies and eat the same thing for all three meals, will you have some extra money in the bank? Yes. Will you also be bored out of your mind? Probably. When I first moved to Chicago I walked two miles to my part-time job because I couldn't afford the bus. I ate breakfast burritos from Walgreen's three times a day (which will always hold a special place in my heart), which were high in protein, and during the time I had to myself, I drank $3 bottles of wine and slept. I had calves like Lou Ferrigno, but I was miserable.

When my hours picked up and I made more, I was so used to living this way out of necessity that I kept doing it. You can imagine how quickly you can get burned out on an hour-and-a-half commute on foot and "sweet red". I started budgeting in more exciting food choices and entertainment (stand-up night at the local bar, karaoke, taking the bus to explore the city, etc.) and my outlook became infinitely more positive. Could I have saved and bought myself some nice things or started an IRA? I definitely could have; but, budgeting in time to yourself and activities with friends is priceless. Spend an extra few dollars to treat yourself at the grocery store, hit up local bars that are having specials or just hop a bus to a new place, it's worth it.

Introduction

What up, though?

I'm Kiev - no, I'm not from Eastern Europe. I'm from St. Louis, the land of underrated pizza and mispronounced French (you'd get it if you lived there). I have always gotten a rush from getting a good deal or saving a little cash by taking the road less traveled, and two years ago I took the financial risk of relocating to Chicago. When you make a big move at an entry-level wage, you learn a lot of things on how to save some dough here and there; you have to. In that light, I decided to start a blog that might help some of you folks come up with some ideas to save a little green of your own.

The main themes of this blog are going to be as follows, with the implied "on a budget" suffix.

• Fashion (Men's. Because I'm a dude. Although, I'm sure some of the tips will carry over.)
• Home Improvement
• Entertainment
• Food
• Job Hunting (A little off topic, I know, but to budget you need income.)

Because I live in a big city, many posts may not be applicable to suburban or rural areas; however, if you ever visit, I'm sure you'll find some helpful advice to keep some of your nickels and dimes.

That's it! I'll be updating about once a week, so check back often!