Thrifting in 2025 : A Lost Art?

Finding Peace, Purpose, and the Priceless in a Pricey World

Thrifting in 2025 isn’t what it used to be—and that’s exactly why true thrifters know where to look.

Commercialism has cornered the market. Big-name resale chains now mirror retail pricing, trendy “vintage” racks come with boutique-level tags, and online reselling has turned secondhand goods into speculative commodities. What was once about necessity, creativity, and community has, in many spaces, become just another profit-driven industry.

But real thrifting? It’s still alive.

You won’t always find it under neon signs or curated Instagram and Facebook aisles. You’ll find it tucked away in hole-in-the-wall shops, mom-and-pop thrift stores in small towns, neighborhood yard sales, church bazaars, and fellowship halls that still smell faintly of coffee and pound cake. These are the places where thrifting hasn’t lost its soul.

The Market Has Changed—But the Mission Hasn’t

Inflation has reshaped how we shop. New items are expensive, fast fashion feels disposable, and many families are stretching every dollar. Ironically, even thrifting has become expensive in some places. When donated items are priced like luxury goods, it defeats the purpose.

That’s why seasoned thrifters, (like yours truly), adapt.

We go where the prices still make sense.We go where the people know your face. We go where shopping is slower, friendlier, and rooted in community. Because thrifting was never just about buying things—it was about making do, making memories, and making meaning. It was about giving back to the community.

A Christmas Trip That Took Me Back

Recently, I went shopping for Christmas décor at a local thrift store here in Salisbury, North Carolina. I wasn’t looking for anything fancy—just a few pieces to bring warmth and joy into my home.

The moment I walked in, I felt it.

Christmas music played softly in the background. Not the loud, frantic kind you hear in big stores—but the kind that wraps around you gently. Shoppers smiled at one another. Strangers shared their excitement over ornaments and tinsel like old friends. There was no rush, no pressure—just joy.

Then I saw it.

Bins and baskets filled with items priced at only .25 cents!

Just like the old days.I was instantly transported—back to when thrifting meant treasure hunting, not budgeting stress. Back to when you could fill a basket without doing mental math. Back to when joy didn’t come with a receipt shock.

Thrifting as Therapy

That trip was more than shopping—it was calming. Therapeutic.

In a world that constantly demands more, thrifting invites you to slow down. To touch history. To imagine the hands that once held the item you’re holding now. To appreciate reuse instead of replacement.There’s something grounding about sifting through bins, about finding beauty where others might overlook it. It reminds you that value isn’t always shiny or new—and neither are we.

For many of us, thrifting has been a way of life. A skill learned out of necessity, refined through experience, and carried forward with pride. It teaches patience, creativity, gratitude, and resilience.

Where the Best Thrifting Still Lives

If you’re thrifting in 2025 and feeling discouraged, here’s the truth:

• Skip the hype-heavy resale chains

• Look for locally owned thrift stores

• Visit church bazaars and rummage sales

• Stop at yard sales in established neighborhoods

• Support small-town shops that still price with heart

These places still understand what thrifting is for.

Once a Thrifter, Always a Thrifter

Trends will change. Prices will rise. Commercialism will keep pushing.

But thrifters endure.

Because once you’ve learned how to find joy in the overlooked, comfort in the familiar, and peace in simplicity—you don’t forget it.

Once a thrifter, always a thrifter.

And in 2025, that might be more meaningful than ever.

With Love,

Lynn