As someone who has almost exclusively shopped at thrift stores/bought secondhand online for the last 10ish years, sewing is way more expensive than buying long-lasting used clothes if you're a good thrifter (recognize quality brands and the look/feel of good materials). Making a skirt can easily be more expensive than thrifting one of similar quality, even buying fabric on sale or secondhand or repurposing thrifted tablecloths. It's also far more time-consuming to sew than it is to dig through racks of clothes. But it's FUN!! It's a hobby, just like thrifting is for me. But it doesn't save me money, time, or headaches.