Every Fall semester since my freshman year, I have been on a very tight budget. This is because my scholarship money to cover most of my college expenses doesn’t arrive until early November.
This causes a few different issues; one of them is not being able to satisfy my urges to go clothes-shopping.
My brilliant solution? Thrift-shopping at Goodwill.
If you’re not too familiar with Goodwill (although I doubt it), it’s a chain of stores that offer secondhand clothes at affordable prices.
To be honest, you can find all sorts of out-of-date and worn out junk there; but with a lot of diligence, you can find some pretty good steals!
You get a bang for your buck.
For example, for only $21 I was able to purchase:
Four cute tank tops, a Fall-inspired kimono, and a romper that actually fits me well!
I had to go through a lot of seriously old-fashioned clothes before I found them, but boy, was it worth it.
For another $18, here’s what I bought:
A casual green turtleneck, a gray-and-white striped skirt, and oversized green and brown tops which I can use as makeshift dresses or wear over leggings (and they’re perfect for colder weather!)
In comparison, my recent shopping trip to Forever 21 cost me over $70 (welp) – and that’s only for four new tops!
Note that Goodwill also has weekly color tag sales where clothes with a certain color tag are discounted!
It’s an enjoyable activity with friends.
I’ve gone to Goodwill twice this semester, and both trips have been in the company of friends. Obviously, if you have friends that you like, any shopping trip with them is fun.
But the fact that it’s an extra challenge to find things that fit your style and the added excitement of getting things so cheap make the experience so much more awesome!
It’s for a good cause.
I should also mention that true to its name, Goodwill does a lot of good work for the community.
It’s actually a non-profit that provides opportunities for individuals belonging to demographics that typically struggle to find employment.
Goodwill spends 87% of its total revenue on programs that help the “youth, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities and criminal backgrounds” train for careers in industries like banking, IT, and health care.
If you haven’t tried shopping at Goodwill yet, hopefully, you’re considering it now!
Spend within your budget, have fun with friends, and support a good cause all at the same time.
P.S. Obviously, not having enough money to spend on clothes isn’t the most important issue that’s caused by the delayed financial aid drop. I’ll spare you the other depressing details. For now, anyway.
Photos by Apeksha L.
Ferna’s interests include blogging, reading and learning all things digital media! She hopes to soon become a half-decent baker.
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