Don't Forget to Donate

Two bags of clothes, ready to be donated!

 Not everyone has to face struggles such as running out of hangers or closet space. Some people face a little more serious issues- such as having clean clothes that fit appropriately. I know that I have always been incredibly blessed and that I have never gone without anything in my life. I also know that there are many people that aren’t as lucky or as blessed as I have been. 

I had always grown up giving my hand-me-downs (or clothes that I had grown out of) to my younger sister. Starting in my early high school years though, I started buying a lot of my own clothes with money that I earned working. Whether or not it was the right thing to do, I felt like if I was paying for my own clothes then I should decide what happens to them after I grew out of them. From then on, I gave my sister some of my “hand-me-downs” and the rest I donated to Goodwill. 

I always feel a lot less guilty about purchasing new clothes after I donate some clothes that I no longer wear.  Other places that accept clothing donations are homeless shelters, churches, schools, and soup kitchens. 

 It doesn't take too long to go through your closet and drawers and pick out clothes that don't fit or items that you no longer wear. Collect them in a bag and next time you are running some errands, take them anywhere that accepts donations.

So, next time you feel like you need a little retail therapy, consider those who can barely afford to put a shirt on their back.  There is no better feeling in the World than the satisfaction received from helping others.

Avoid the Mall

Going to the mall is probably one of my least favorite things to do. The only time I find myself going is if I receive a gift card to a store in the mall or if one of my friends is looking for something specific and I am just tagging along. It’s hard to find a good bargain in the mall, so that’s part of the reason why I dislike malls so much. Another reason is because every time I try on clothes at the mall, I leave the building feeling crappy about myself. Stores like H&M, Forever 21, Charlotte Rousse, and Hollister make their clothes for girls who are 110 pounds and 5 foot 8 inches. We won’t go into details…but the clothes made for girls of that size don’t look so good on me. Instead of wasting my time (and most importantly money) in the mall, I’d much rather go to Goodwill.

The only time I see most of my friends who I go to college with in Goodwill is when they are shopping for a themed party. Shockingly enough, Goodwill has more to offer than tacky Christmas sweaters and 80s garb. Some of my favorite articles of clothing are from Goodwill. I’d say I get more compliments on my clothes I get there than the clothes I have from a store in the mall. I can say with confidence that by purchasing the majority of my wardrobe at Goodwill I have saved several hundreds of dollars throughout my time as a college student. 

Two of my favorite Goodwill finds. 

There are some people who are skeptical about shopping at thrift stores, and I understand why. My two rules for shopping at thrift stores, like Goodwill, are to always thoroughly check the clothes for damage before buying them and to wash them before wearing them. Another reason some people choose to stay away from thrift stores is because they don’t like digging through piles of clothes. I think that is half the fun. Finding a cute top in a pile of ugly ones is like finding treasure buried in the sand. 

You don’t have to like shopping at Goodwill, but if you want pinch some pennies, I’d do my best to stay away from the mall.