It’s no secret I love thrifting! Repurposing is the centerpiece of my business, and I’ve written many blogs explaining the reasons I can’t help hitting the thrift stores. But this blog is all about you. Why should you be thrifting? What’s to gain? Isn’t that just old junk? Whether you’ve never visited a thrift store or you used to go but not recently, I hope to spark your interest and get you thrifting again!

1. Budget: If you’re on a budget, which most of us are, thrifting is a built-in money saver. You can find all kinds of great things at a thrift store for updating your décor—from one-of-a-kind quality furniture pieces to wonderful accessories and everything in between!

2. Creativity: Often the items you find at your local thrift store need a little updating or TLC to make them relevant again. This is a great opportunity to express your creativity. Whether it’s brandishing a paint brush or hammer, or sewing a new seat cushion cover, it’s a great low-risk way to get your creative juices flowing!

3. Fun: Think of thrifting adventures as treasure hunts! You never know what you’re going to find—and that’s part of the fun. Go when you have plenty of time to hunt for special items you can work into your existing décor, or let your unique treasures inspire you to change things up!

4. Community Help: Many thrift stores are more than just places to find amazing items. They provide a hand up to those in need. Whether through job training or simply raising funds for those less fortunate, it’s a great way to contribute to your local community.

5. Go Green: We can be a wasteful culture. We want bright, shiny, new. Thrifting can still satisfy that itch for something new but do so in a more responsible way. What’s old and in need of discarding to someone else can be new and in need of repurposing to you. If we all make a habit of seeking out “pre-loved” instead of brand new, we can have a significant impact on the planet!

I do more than my part to reuse and repurpose items (just ask my family), and I’ve recently added furniture refinishing as a core feature of my business. But my impact is small, so I hope I can expand it by inspiring everyone who reads this to pull into the next thrift stores you see. Check out a few stores because they can vary widely. Go on. Give thrifting a try!  I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you find, what you can create, and how good you’ll feel doing it.

Now, what will you do next to love where you live?