Why You Should Thrift in College
SaveDiscover how thrifting in college can help you save money, express your style, and support sustainable fashion-all on a student budget.
By Mari Whitmore — April 23, 2025
While you are probably primarily focused on your academic goals during college, relaxing, pursuing personal interests and hobbies, and having fun is important! One engaging (and economical) activity to explore during college is thrift shopping. Getting into the thrifting or second-hand world is a great way to support the environment and have fun in college. You can thrift alone or make it social and bring a friend. Plus, who doesn't like saving (and possibly even making) money? This article will explore some of the perks of thrift shopping and tips for doing it well.
Types of Thrift Stores
One of the most obvious benefits of shopping second-hand is the money you will save over buying new. Although thrifting has become quite trendy in the past few years, second-hand goods' prices are typically far better than buying the same thing new. College is a time of development and change, and your sense of style may shift as you grow up. Perhaps you want to explore a new aesthetic without breaking the bank. You may need a blazer for an internship or job interview, and you don't have hundreds of dollars to spend. Thrifting to the rescue! Even small towns usually have multiple thrift stores. And online thrift stores are almost universally accessible!
Large Chain Stores
Large chains, such as Goodwill and Salvation Army, are the most well-known types of thrift stores. These stores generally have large inventories, mostly clothing, but also sell household goods such as cookware, dishes, home decor, and sometimes furniture. Large thrift stores often contain a wide selection of brands, sizes, and clothing styles. While some of the clothing is in perfect condition, you may find clothing that is worn out, stained, or damaged in some other way. Inspect items carefully. This way, you don't get home with that awesome sweater and then notice the gigantic hole under the arm! The size of large stores can also be a benefit, however.
Items usually need to be carefully sorted with respect to their original value, and most things are priced fairly similarly. You may find that used low-quality clothing is priced similarly to items from Patagonia, Nike, Lululemon, etc. Your experience may vary. Don't be afraid to look up brands you don't recognize and try out new things. Many large stores even have return policies, which is convenient if there aren't any dressing rooms, you don't want to try them on in-store, or if you decide to purchase a few items and later realize they aren't what you wanted. Be sure to double-check with your own store before purchasing if you're unsure what the return policy is.
Local Charity Stores
Explore smaller, non-chain thrift stores as well, as you may find even better prices on goods at small stores. Many small stores are affiliated with local religious groups, organizations, and charities and are often involved in the local community's needs. They may sell items at extra low prices as their infrastructure is small and their items tend to be local donations, and there is usually no variation in pricing on different brands.
You can often find extremely cheaply priced dishes and cookware, and you might even score some low-cost appliances for your dorm room! Check to see if appliances work, or decide if you're willing to take the risk of fixing a potentially broken item if the price is good enough. Check for store sales as well! Also, local shops usually support charitable initiatives directly within your community and often need volunteers, making them a great way to give back.
Consignment Stores
Consignment stores have slightly higher price points than charity shops, as they are usually for-profit businesses. Typically, people sell their unwanted clothing and goods to the shop, which organizes and lists them. If the item sells, the original owner receives a percentage, and the shop keeps the remainder as profit. If an item doesn't sell within a certain span of time, it may be donated to a charity, or the original owner may be able to reclaim it. Consignment shops tend to offer "nicer" items, as they tend to sell better. You can often find new or like-new items priced much lower than they originally were. This makes consignment stores a great place to look for professional clothing and name brands.
Remember that since some of the work of sorting through lower-quality items has been done for you, the pricing is likely to reflect this. Furthermore, items from high-quality brands are likely to be priced accordingly, as the store owners are more likely to be looking to profit from expensive items and not simply listing everything at a similar price point as charities typically do. Consignment stores can also be a great way to get rid of clothing you no longer need or want. You can clean out your closet and make a few extra dollars with little extra work. However, consignment stores are generally much more careful about checking the quality of items they accept. Don't be surprised if they reject your worn-out clothing or less desirable brands.
Online Second-Hand Stores
As thrifting has gained popularity in the last few years, online options have sprung up to make second-hand shopping even more relevant in the technological age. Stores such as ThredUp and Depop have massive selections at reasonable prices. While it can sometimes be more difficult to determine the details of an item online, many stores have return or resale policies to supplement this difficulty. Look into online consignment platforms such as Poshmark, especially if you're looking for specific items by specific brands.
Prices on platforms like Poshmark are set by individual sellers and can sometimes be inflated relative to an item's second-hand value. Of course, eBay is the most classic online second-hand platform. You can also check out second-hand groups on Facebook and other social media sites. Online platforms are a great way to make a little cash if you have items you no longer want and have the time to create and maintain listings and handle shipping. Be careful on online platforms, protect your info and payment details, and exercise reasonable caution when interacting with strangers.
Thrifting in college is a great way to explore your developing sense of style, save money, interact with a new community, and support the environment. While the most environmentally friendly thing is to lessen your consumption overall, thrifting can help minimize the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills and reduce the demand for new clothing. Want to make consumer decisions that benefit your budget and the environment while supporting your local community and being fun? Go thrifting, and bring a friend!
Mari Whitmore
Mari Whitmore recently graduated from a tiny private college in the middle of beautiful Wyoming. She spends her time traveling, adventuring in nature, writing, and working as a barista and bartender. Recently, Mari relocated to the gorgeous hill country of Central Texas. In her free time, she loves to hike, paddleboard, read, paint, watch movies, and gather with friends and family.Articles & Advice
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