Thrift shopping, or second-hand shopping, has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. Well, actually, for many reasons. Not only is it a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to fast fashion, but it can also be a thrilling and rewarding experience. It’s exciting to sift through racks and racks of clothes, dusty miniatures, and colorful accessories, not knowing what hidden gems you might stumble upon. It might be a $2 china or someone's discarded trophy. Nonetheless, each item already has history and it's a thrill to give it the new home that it deserves.

More importantly, buying second-hand clothes reduces the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills, which is a big win for the environment. And the good news is: it's giving fast fashion a good fight. Just in 2019, it is reported, secondhand clothing expanded 21 times faster than conventional apparel retail did. As consumers become more and more aware of the negative environmental impact of fast fashion, many are turning to second-hand shopping as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative. And we couldn't be happier for it.

While we're all about those bargains, the thing we love the most about thrift shopping, especially garage sales and flea markets, is that it offers a chance to find unique and one-of-a-kind items that you didn't know you need in your life. That beautiful $5 Turkish tea set you spotted in a flea market? You might have a perfectly fine teapot you inherited from your ancestors. But this is from Turkey of all places, and just take a look at all those pearls! Who could say no to this for the price of two Pringles cans?

Another great thing about hunting for those second-hand gems is the affordability of items. Shoppers can find high-quality pieces at a fraction of the original price, allowing them to stretch their budget further. According to a report by CouponFollow, a company that tracks coupon codes from online merchants to help consumers save money, thrift store shoppers "save nearly $150 a month, or $1,760 a year, on average." That's quite a bargain!

Let's not forget about the affordability of second-hand shopping. Thrift stores offer clothing, accessories, and home goods at prices that won't break the bank. You can refresh your wardrobe without having to spend a fortune - just take a look at that vintage Sue Wong dress - and you can feel good about doing it sustainably.

But thrifting is not only about getting, it's also about giving. Garage sales offer a unique shopping and selling experience that can't be found in traditional retail stores. Sure, it's great for finding amazing deals on items that would cost a fortune in a regular store. But garage sales aren't just about shopping: they're also a chance to connect with your community and get a glimpse into the lives of your neighbors. Even if you didn't manage to drop the price down by the good ol' negotiation, you most likely had a few good laughs about it.

Buying unnecessary knick-knacks for an irresistible price is actually one of the pitfalls of thrift shopping, we are told. "It's too easy to get caught up in buying random things and having no place for them because they are 'cheap'," Jennifer Rizzo, the author of Jennifer Rizzo Home + Studio blog and avid thrifter, told Bored Panda via email. One pro-tactic that usually helps Jennifer to seal the deal (or realize that it's a pass), is a "sniff test." 

"I always do a 'sniff test', especially on furniture and soft goods (and anything that really can't be washed well). Anything with off-odor, musty smells, etc., is a no-go," Rizzo explained. "Even though thrifting can have lots of fun finds and discoveries, it's important to remember these did come out of other people's homes and basements." You don't want this to happen to you, do you? Jennifer also tells us to be extra cautious when buying vintage dishware or painted items because "regulations for lead and other heavy metals" have changed quite a lot throughout the decades. 

Jennifer, who has been thrift shopping for over 12 years, since she was a teen, says "It has changed a lot over the years." Back then, she would score things like a full-size loft bed with a desk ("The look on my parent's face was so funny!") or a vintage bus bench sign from 1909 ("one of my favorite items to this day"). No surprise, then, that "80% of her home is decorated in thrift, vintage or second-hand items," some of which she brought back to life herself. 

But then things started to change. "Due to the interest in decorating with vintage and flea market decor, it's actually harder to find original pieces and there are a ton of 'new vintage' reproductions knock-offs out there." This is, unfortunately, a sentiment shared by many thrifters. Just take a look at the plethora of articles helping people to see which piece of vintage furniture is a real deal.

As a seasoned thrifter, however, Jennifer explains it's not always easy to spot the hidden gems lurking in the depths of the store. Some of the most interesting finds can be tucked away in the back of the shelves, just waiting to be dug up. "Don't overlook things that are tucked in the back of the shelves," she advised.