If you know me or have been following my blog for a while, you know that sustainability and the environment are big passions of mine. Check out these previous posts where I share some of my favorite tips! While we won’t be likely to be showing whole outfits to anyone outside of our COVID bubbles for a while, going with my “Look Better, Feel Better, Be Better” mantra means it’s important to still look our best (at least from time to time) for the sake of our mental health! That’s why I am recommending these tips for a sustainable wardrobe refresh… plus tips to potentially help you either save or make more money, and possibly help other small business owners!
For many personal reasons (like living far away from almost everyone I know anyway), there have been few negative impacts from COVID-19 on my life. I know that that is a huge blessing and privilege that not many share.
One of these drawbacks has been that I haven’t been able to do much shopping… And usually I’m on the hunt for bargains. I love stores like TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Marshalls, etc… Because when I’m in the right mood, I love the thrill of the search and the happy hormones I get when I find awesome deals!
It is for that exact same reason that I ALSO love thrifting… But with thrifting, the deals are even better! However right now doesn’t seem like the best time to spend a lot of time in thrift stores… You know, in the middle of a global pandemic!
But, since we just got a new house, and I still want to look cute for some zoom sessions (and money is a bit tighter for the aforementioned reason of buying a new house, and the fact that I lost my part-time job at the beginning of quarantine and have only done a handful of shoots as a model and makeup artist since March)… so I still want new stuff!
Fortunately, like so many other things, thrifting has gone virtual, too!
The first site/app I used was ThredUp*, and I loved it! I actually used it first as a seller. I just requested a bag, and they sent me one. I filled it with items from their list and sent it back. They then sent me some money to my account (you get more if you use it as a credit, or you can have them send funds via paypal), so now I have a bit ready to spend there! So if you’re browsing ThredUp* and see something that you think would look good on me, please send me a message! 😜
Next, I tried Poshmark*, again first as a seller! Since then, I’ve become a bit addicted… I am continually listing things, and have made a few purchases of brand new items at great prices, without leaving my house. Score!
The benefits of sites like Poshmark and ThredUp are seemingly endless, whether you’re a buyer or seller!
Buyers get things they want (sometimes discontinued items that are impossible to find in stores), at lower prices, and don’t have to leave the house. They also get the satisfaction of knowing that they didn’t contribute to the environmental issue of fast fashion, or sweatshops and other downsides to inexpensive clothing. They also get the satisfaction of knowing that someone somewhere is doing a little happy dance because they sold something and earned a little money – yay!
Sellers, of course, get to do the aforementioned happy dance! And if you’re thinking “But I don’t have designer items… I won’t sell anything on Poshmark!” then you had the same misconception that I did! It’s not solely designer, though that is an option. Every brand under the sun can be found there!
So, as the holidays approach, I encourage you… If you need a cute new top for your family’s socially-distanced Zoom, do a sustainable wardrobe refresh using sites like ThredUp and Poshmark! If you have some gently-used (or even brand new) items of your own, why not try making an account yourself, as a seller? Then you can join us in the happy dance-a-thon, clear up some clutter (hello, Marie Kondo, are you listening?), and make some extra cash for the holidays.
If you’re looking for items other than a sustainable wardrobe refresh, like gifts for home or other things, Poshmark has a wide variety of things available I encourage you to check out! I also would suggest doing your holiday shopping by supporting small businesses, local, and handmade items… I am sure that you know that most big corporations are already doing great, and the Mom & Pop shops are the ones hurting from the pandemic! You can do this without leaving the house via Etsy, too!
Well, there you have it… A way to either make some money and clean up yourself, or to do a sustainable wardrobe refresh and get some new duds (or whatever else you need) in an environmentally-friendly and wallet/budget-friendly way!
I’d love to see what you buy, sell, or both!
Happy Holidays!
xoxo,
Mandie
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*Affiliate links… For ThredUp and Poshmark, if you sign up using my link, we each get $10! For anything on Amazon, I just get a few pennies for the recommendation, and your price and experience are the same! For Poshmark specifically, please use the code “MANDIEBRICE,” as I’m not sure the link is enough!
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