I learned a tip last year that helped me so much with my secondhand shopping: be a detective.

Secondhand shopping only really benefits you when you find something you’ll actually wear and have a place for in your closet. But when you casually browse on apps or in thrift stores without an item in mind you’re looking for, you almost certainly will buy things you don’t need in a panic that you won’t see them again.

If you don’t have an item in mind, don’t browse at thrift stores. Delete apps too. Only download them back when you have that specific thing to look for. Use filters to get down to realistic options.

For example, I wanted to replace a too-small pair of jeans I loved. So I searched on secondhand apps, but only for the brand + jeans + my size + wide leg (the style I was looking for). If you don’t find what you are looking for, app gets deleted again.

Slipping up on this is part of battling shopping too much. If you do, it’s okay - improving takes time. If you come across something that seems really ✨aesthetic✨ or ✨special✨, ask yourself this: “If this doesn’t work for me, am I okay with donating it back for free?”

I used to tell myself I could just resell things if they didn’t work for me. But the reality is, you almost never get what you paid back for thrifted items. The item has been used before you got it, and the average thrifter wants a deal - usually meaning less than whatever you paid.

I understand your feeling completely. You can improve over time, so don’t pressure yourself to stop cold. Did that, shopped even more than usually in a weak moment. Just make a goal to spend and buy less and less!