I went to my local consignment store today. In order to appreciate this, you need to know how much I hate going clothes shopping:
- I hate the “going” part – I prefer to sit at my computer and take 5-10 minutes to research what I want and then have it magically appear at my doorstep within a few days.
- I hate the “shopping” part – I hate trying on clothes because I have a non-standard shape and can rarely find things that fit well, and I hate how much the kind of clothes that DO fit (and fit my tastes) cost.
I hate most kinds of shopping, but clothes shopping is the worst. I would rather go to the dentist. Truly. Or get a flu shot. Or have a house full of screaming girls.
So when I tell you I not only went to my local consignment store today, I actually emerged smiling, I want it to mean something! Because that is exactly what happened. Here is why.
First, I found some really nice clothes. Quality brands that are meant to last a while, some never have been worn. Okay, the jeans I got might be a little bit long, but I am used to that and can work with it. Some really nice styles, too – I think people were cleaning out their closets for the holidays. Thank you, people.
Second, I was not overwhelmed by the selection. This happens to me if I go to a mall. There is simply too much, and it feels like a waste of my very precious time to go from store to store to try things on, price things out, and then end up back at the first store. I know some of y’all love shopping and that is fine. But I hate that process. The exception is if I know exactly what I want, and can just go and get it.
Third, I felt like I was doing something for the environment. You know: reduce, re-use, recycle. These perfectly good clothes are not ending up in a landfill, the energy that was used to create them just went twice as far.
Finally, it was amazingly cheap. I ended up with 3 pairs of pants, 4 sweaters, 1 shirt and 2 lightweight jackets for $67. Which makes me feel okay if I end up not loving something as much as I thought I would.
I still don’t love shopping, but I sure appreciate it when it appeals to so many of my values.
I just love to go to a Consignment store to shop. They threat you better than at womens department store at the mall.