Ballin’ On a Budget

I’m ashamed to say I shop at Forever 21. What can I say? They have good deals! There has been a rebellion going on lately against “fast fashion” (aka stores like Forever 21, Cotton On, Charlotte Russe, etc.). By definition, fast fashion is “inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.” Basically, it is mass-produced trendy clothing that, in some cases, is made by underpaid garment workers.

To fight this fast-fashion wave, I decided to hit up the local thrift stores and see what I could find. Not only are thrift stores significantly cheaper than most retail stores, they also carry items that are one-of-a-kind that you may never find again. I went to three “thrift stores” in total, and all of them are fairly close to Point Loma Nazarene University.

Thrift Shop #1: GOODWILL

The most classic of thrift stores, Goodwill, is just right down the street from school on Rosecrans Street. They are open from 9am to 8pm every day of the week, except Sundays when they close early at 6pm. If you’re a freshman and don’t have a car, or you’re an upperclassmen who’s trying to save a buck, then this place is perfect for you! The off-campus shuttle takes students to the nearby Target, and from there, the Goodwill is only a 10 minute walk. It’s almost too easy.

I’m sure that all Goodwills have their own treasures and great finds, but from this one in particular I bought an oversized striped tee shirt and a pair of velour Nike track pants for only $6. Similar Nike pants sell on their website for $60. You do the math.

Thrift Shop #2: Kobey’s Swap Meet

Alright, even though this one isn’t technically a “thrift store”, I found so many goodies here. Kobey’s Swap Meet happens every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 3 pm on Sports Arena Boulevard. (There’s a Chick-fil-A right next to it if you need some good grub before shopping). I’m gonna warn you now, it does cost $2 to get in to the swap meet, but you shouldn’t let that deter you from going in, it is worth it. I promise.

Once you wade through the used sports equipment and people trying to sell you jacuzzis, you’ll find hidden gems where there are racks of old tee shirts and piles of $10 Levi’s Jeans. You’ll find the jackpot. At the swap meet, I scored an old motorcycle tee shirt, a pair of Lee jeans, and a vintage Fila sweatshirt that sells on UrbanOutfitters.com for $60, and I got it for only $10. I give this place an 11/10.

Thrift shop #3: BUFFALO EXCHANGE

If you hate digging through racks and racks of clothing to only find one or two cute articles of clothing, then Buffalo Exchange is for you. Yes, it is still technically a “thrift store”, but it’s a curated one, meaning that each piece of clothing is hand-picked for the store. You’ll be sure to find something here. And lucky for you, there are two locations near Point Loma! One is in Pacific Beach on Garnet Street and the other is on Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest. Buffalo Exchange also lets you trade in your old clothes for a store credit or cash, which is great for when you’re trying to make a quick buck.

While there are lots and lots of clothes here, I decided to go for the accessories on this thrift trip. I went to the Buffalo Exchange in Pacific Beach and picked up these Austin Powers-esque boots and a dainty star necklace!

I hope that these few places have inspired you to get out there and thrift! Your wallet will thank you.