How to Feed Your Thrifting Addiction While in Quarantine

GUEST POST BY LEIGH CULBERTSON, MY FAVORITE SECOND-HAND SHOPPING GURU

There are so many things I miss being able to do right now - hiking, seeing movies at the theater, partying with friends - but the thing I miss THE MOST is thrifting. I miss thrifting, a lot. Before quarantine, most weekends you’d find me at the goodwill, salvation army, LA flea markets and vintage clothing shops scanning, sifting and shopping for secondhand treasures. During the week, I’d hit up the nearest thrift store during my lunch break or right after work. But all that came to a halt when much of this country went on lockdown back in March, and I was forced to depend solely on online thrifting resources to service my needs for secondhand treasure. Luckily, it turns out there’s still plenty to discover on the web!

Secondhand shopping is a great way to minimize your carbon footprint by giving new life to older items that would otherwise end up in landfills. Try to look for items that can be shipped to you from nearby states or cities, to reduce carbon emissions from shipping. Below the are two sites that I use the most, along with some tips and recommendations for how to use them. Happy thrifting!

Ebay

The old standby.

Before the lock down, I mainly used Ebay to flip quality pieces that I’d find while thrifting. When the thrift stores closed down, I turned to Ebay as a buyer, and a collector. I collect a few things; vintage stoneware diner mugs, vintage postcards and other ephemera, vintage “Save The Planet” T-Shirts and Polly Pocket compacts from the 1980’s and 90’s. Ebay became a perfect place to expand those collections during quarantine. Here are 5 of my tips for using Ebay:

Sort your search “Price + Shipping: lowest first”. This’ll bring up the bargains first as you scroll and will remind you to factor shipping into the cost of the item (both financial and planetary!).
In order to get an idea as to what the item you’re looking for is worth these days, use the “Completed Items” and “Sold Items” filter in a search. This’ll show you what has sold recently and for how much.
If you want to get a jump on a collection, or possibly a good deal, add the term “lot” to your search. A “lot” is a bundle of similar items all for one price and there can be as many as 200 or as little as 2 items with in it. My husband buys Star Wars figures this way, and I’ve gotten some great deals on Polly Pocket compacts with in a lot.
If you’re not sure about purchasing a “Buy it Now” item right away, click the heart to add it to your “Watch List”. The seller will see that you liked the item and more often than not, they’ll offer you a deal on it, and it’s up to you to either accept the offer or try to haggle them down, it’s like being back at the flea market!
If they deserve it, leave sellers positive feedback. This will reflect positively on you as a buyer or even as a future seller.

Etsy

It’s not just for hipsters!

I’ve been an Etsy addict (and store owner!) long before this quarantine, but during this time of economic uncertainty for so many, it’s become my #1 way to support artisans, artists and small business owners. Plus -they offset all of their carbon emissions! Whatever your interest, someone on Etsy has a shop for you. Here are my top 5 genres to shop on Etsy:

Secondhand Clothing: There are so many incredible secondhand clothing shops on Etsy and they range anywhere from “sifting through bargain bins” to “shopping your eccentric aunts closet”. In order to sell secondhand clothing on Etsy it has to be considered vintage, meaning it was made before the year 2000, so you’ll be sure to find some awesome 1-of-a-kind-pieces.
Vintage Home Goods: Cookie Jars, mugs, corning ware, Pyrex, table clothes, planters, you name it, they’ve got it on Etsy. Was there a mug or a dish or a tea towel you loved at your Grandmas house? They’ve probably got it on Etsy, and maybe it’ll bring a little joy to your home.
Crafting supplies: Stuck inside and need a project? Etsy also has shops that sell supplies for whatever you’re looking to make. Miniatures, beads, biodegradable glitter, embroidery floss, natural yarn, looms, stickers, fabric, paper scraps, vintage sewing patterns, DIY kits, you name it, they got it, so you can make it.
Masks and Hand Soap: I’ve bought a handful of handmade face masks, and soaps for my husband and I from sellers on Etsy, some of them even made from repurposed materials! It’s a great way to help a small business owner while also protecting yourself and the ones you love.
Selfcare Items: Teas, creams, smudge sticks, candles, mugs, tea pots, crystals, cozy blankets and more. Not to mention there are many shops create these items sustainably or source them second hand.

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Some other apps and websites for my fellow thrifty addicts to try out:

Just remember, if you decided to pick something up in person, make sure to follow the CDC recommendations to wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands immediately afterward! I