The Joy of Thrifting - What a Thrill!

Who doesn't love a bargain? We all love saving a few dollars right? However ... it is easy to spend too much on things we don't need just because it is cheap and therefor overspend unnecessarily. There is a fine line and we must exert some self control if they are to remain true bargains. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has experienced this. Right?

There are lots of great reasons to buy second hand, whether it's a T-shirt or a car, saving money is just one of them. We can help reduce landfill, conserve resources, help local economies, foster community connection and much more. So many reasons for the joy of thrifting - what a thrill!

On the science side of things there are other reasons we like bargain hunting. According to the article in the link below "As you browse through thrift store items, your brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward."

The Thrill of the Hunt

Finding items that fit your individual personality can also give you a sense of achievement and fulfillment. I've seen may videos where people have found unique, or sometimes ordinary, items of clothing and put their own personal touch on them. Altering and adding until it is just what they want. I know one young lady who buys things like tablecloths, sheets and large amounts of unused fabric and lace and makes her own creations! Such creativity and talent.

When the kids were little I remember scouring op shops for clothes for them and found lots of bargains. Growing up myself my Grandma worked at the local Vinnies and she was always bringing home clothes for us to try on. Even now I love finding bargains at the local second hand shops, in fact my favourite sun hat cost me $3 from the Vinnies store in Nyngan when I was on a camping trip there about 15 years ago! Still going strong, it's washable and scrunchable and still holds it's shape. It brings me joy whenever I wear it, having sheltered me for many years and never let me down. I recently got my teenager an Oodie style thing for $5 and they love it. The long and the short of it is that saving money or grabbing a bargain just never gets old.

Thrifty - adjective - using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully

Thrifting or Op-Shopping isn't just limited to clothes either. There's plenty of money to be saved buying second hand furniture, garden items, sheds, cars and just about anything you can imagine. When it comes to buying the larger items second hand there are lots of avenues to go down. GumTree, Marketplace, Tip Shops, family and friends, Facebook groups for buy, swap and sell. The old drive around when council bulky pick up is due is another way to find free stuff if you're willing to invest the time. As for electrical goods, there are some Men's Sheds that are fixing them and reselling them, some even offer to fix the broken one you have or even run workshops on how to fix things. A bit of a lost art. Imagine the joy you could get from meeting someone at a place like a Men's Shed and they fix something for you, or even show you how to fix it yourself?

Australian Men's Shed Association

The creatives among us will buy cheap furniture (or even get it for free!) and restore or re-purpose it, even making a business out of it. I have found several channels on YouTube where people are restoring or re-purposing furniture. Refinish with Jade is a great example. A quick search will bring a long list for you to sift through.

There are just so many great things about going thrifting, buying second hand, op-shopping or whatever you want to call it, and all of them can bring JOY. Do it on your own, do it with a friend, do it regularly, do it once in a blue moon, just do it!

ROAD TRIP!!

Imagine going on a short road trip with a friend or two discovering small country towns and exploring big ones searching for bargains! A well laid out itinerary with bakeries for lunches and accommodation suggestions and the occasional side quest ... I'm already on it!!