For me, shopping second hand is my first impulse. Before I think to head to a retail shop for clothing or home goods, I make the rounds at all my favorite locations for second-hand items. In this video, we’re going to breaking down the places and online spaces where you can shop to find the best deals and on second-hand clothing and gently used almost new clothing.

Second-hand clothing is, in my opinion, a great first step to make towards living a more sustainable life. You are not only reducing waste in a landfill, you are helping to provide meals, jobs, and much needed financial resources to people in need. It’s my favorite way to shop. If you’ve never tried shopping second-hand, you could be missing out on your all-time favorite pieces.

Consignment

Consignment is where you or other’s consign your items and are paid out over time once the item sells. Shop online and in your hometown using apps like Thread Up or on eBay. My personal favorite consignment shop on eBay is Linda’s Stuff! But I also love my local consignment shops and nearly always visit consignment shops when I’m traveling.

Instagram

Instagram now has tons of people selling their clothing! Whether that’s “sell outright”, consignment or vintage Instagram users are now selling through the app. They are simply posting a photo and price and sending a link to Paypal through direct message.

Most sellers I’ve seen tend not to use an online shop because it’s one more step they have to go through to sell their clothing, but some Instagram sellers do have some sort of online shop you can click through to. Make sure they have lots of sales and do your homework before making any purchases.

Facebook Marketplace

Marketplace and selling groups in your area are a great way to sell, trade, or shop! Either search on Facebook through the “Marketplace” tab in your profile or ask your friends on Facebook if there are any selling groups they recommend. You can send and receive payments now through Facebook so the transaction process is that much smoother.

Thrift Stores

Similar to consignment but oh so different, thrift stores are purely donations based and some percentage of the profits goes towards a charitable cause of some kind. Thrift shops will have hidden gems among junk, treasure buried under trash. You have to hunt! Do a Google search for the best thrift stores in your area.

Selling Apps

Websites like ThredUp and PoshMark are popular for their easy-to-use mobile apps. You can easily search for brands you love, sizes, and colors that suit you and make offers on higher-end items on PoshMark.

I didn’t mention in the video

Clothing swaps are a great way to find what you’re looking for nearly free. There is no transaction fee, but you do have to barter or be comfortable with giving away something you own. Although I’ve personally never done a clothing swap I think they are another great way to shop for second-hand clothing.