Recycling my closet

You've heard about the saying "Reduce, reuse, and recycle;" especially when referring to trash, but how about your closet?  Being under the age of 16, I can't get a job and my parents don't constantly give me money to spend for shopping. To save, I like to recycle my clothes. I collect the items that I haven't worn in awhile, I go down to a second-hand store, and give them what I have. They go through the items one by one,  picking out the items that want. For some stores, I'm able to take cash while in others I'm allowed to "trade" for items in their store. This opens up a great opportunity for me to put a little cash in pocket or save immensely. During one of my recent trips, I was able to save over $60 on a brand new Topshop dress!

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While I love to go from store to store trying to find new treasures, others don't find this activity to be quite appealing. The idea of going through second hand items don't sound exciting to people nor does the time it can take. From experience, sometimes it takes a while to find great pieces. I've come to appreciate the moment when I come upon an item that I actually really like and am able to where over and over again. Sometimes, it's not even the time that causes people to turn away when they hear or see the word "thrift", but the smell of the store. Something about second-hand stores that give it that musky smell of an old person. At first, the smell bothered me a little, but with time my nose has become accustomed.
Whether it's a brand new piece or completely vintage, I can find a wide range of new items that bring life to my closet. It allows for a vast variety of clothing without having to spend hundreds of dollars (even better trading it for free)! What's better than a fresh closet? For a girl who loves clothes but doesn't have the deep pockets for it, this is one of the best substitutions. This summer, I've made it one of my goals to go outside of San Diego and in to Los Angeles to scout the thrift stores there.
           

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 If you decide to try out thrifting, here's some tips:
1. Great second-stores to try is Buffalo Exchange and thrift trader in Pacific Beach.
2. Don't give up too soon (Go through a majority and if it feels dead, then know you gave it a try).
3. Be creative about the items you pick up.
4.  Look, don't scan because you could past a really awesome item.