Guest Writer: Story From a First Time Thrift Shopper

Today I'll be handing the reigns over to a friend of mine to give you guys a post about what thrift shopping is like for someone who has never gone before.  You're in the for a treat!  She also takes way better pictures than me.

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Hi there! This post is going to a bit different, because I’m not Erin. My name is Allison and I’ll be doing a guest post this week. If you would like to read more of what I have to say, check out my blog full of college advice at http://adviceforthealmostadult.blogspot.com.

I have almost no experience with thrift stores; I’ve always been a bit weary of them because I thought they were all disorganized, smelly, and full of ugly clothes. It probably comes as no surprise to you thrift store savvy folks that the thrift store I went to was actually quite nice.

I decided to go to the Delta Humane Society Thrift and Gift Boutique because I wanted to support their cause. This post will be about my experience exploring the store as a novice, but Erin has already written a very informative review of this store, which you can find here http://2nd-hand-stories.blogspot.com/2013/03/thrift-store-review-delta-humane.html.

That's a Rap: Thrift Shop by Macklemore Has No Effect on Goodwill Sales?

I've avoided it for long enough.  I've tried my best to review every thrift store in Stockton, give you some anecdotes about my life as a second hand shopper and take pictures of interesting things I find.  But, the elephant in the room must be addressed.  The elephant wearing an enormous fur coat and sunglasses.

10 Commonly-Used Thrift Store Terms

This week I'll be giving you a quick run down of thrift store, dare I say it, lingo.  I am no Webster's Dictionary, or even UrbanDictionary, so these are all my own interpretations based on how I've seen the words used.  Some of it is hard to decipher.  I've left out the ones that make me weep for the future of the English language.  Here are some common ones:

1.  Thrifting:  the act of going thrift shopping.  Most commonly used by the high school/college age, usually preceded by a hashtag.
Origin:  People's tendency to make any noun into a verb by adding "ing".
Often seen with the words: adventure (how exciting, let me get my pith helmet), spree, haul, trip.

2.  Secondhand: the namesake of this blog, meaning exactly what you think it means: it's been owned by someone before you.  Commonly used by advertisers trying to get around the word "used".
Origin:  May be a shortened version of hand-me-down.  (which still doesn't make sense to me)

Second Hand Story: Choose your adventure

This week's post is a change in format from your regular reviews while I go and locate more thrift stores to tell you guys about.  As you must have guessed from the title, I've put together a little simulation of sorts for those of you who don't have the time to go thrifting. 

Based on a true story

Part 1:  

You have an hour to kill between classes, work, or some other engagement.  You remember someone saying something about a thrift store in the area, and you decide to give it a look because you're a little short on cash after spending too much on an expensive lunch and, more importantly, bored. 

Click below to continue!

Thrift Store Review: D Thrift (Stockton, CA)

This week's post is a review for D Thrift, one of the larger thrift stores in Stockton.  You might know it as Delta Thrift, but the inside is the same and they have a wide selection of items to browse through.

D Thrift rivals Superior Thrift in size but not in quality or price.  Unlike the smaller thrift shops like the Delta Humane Society or Shelter Thrift, it lacks something in presentation and appears more like a warehouse with its long, narrow aisles and concrete floor.

Second Hand Story: Quest for the Holy Grail

Until very recently, my opinion of tea has been that it's the equivalent of drinking hot water with a couple leaves in it.  If I'm going to drink any hot beverage, then it might as well be something with actual flavor in it.  But much like my love for curry and bell peppers, my interest in tea was abrupt and completely out of nowhere.

And so now I have taken part in a noble quest.  It is the quest for my own personal mug.  A mug that I will not allow anyone to drink from.  And the best place to look for really weird mugs is at a thrift store.

Thrift Store Review: Shelter Thrift

This week's thrift store up for review is Shelter Thrift, a small second hand store with a great selection, fairly cheap prices and friendly employees.  It's next to the post office off Pacific Avenue, just a block or two away from the store reviewed last week.  (Delta Humane Society)

In any case, what this store lacks in size it makes up for in presentation and charm.  Click below to find out more!