It’s early evening and I’m slumped on the sofa. There is a quiz show on the TV which I’m paying very little attention to and Tom and I are “phubbing” (an underused portmanteau of “phone” and “snubbing”). We’re ignoring each other in favour of our dopamine delivering digital devices.
But it’s a new era for me. I’m no longer trawling the holiday photos of people I’ve otherwise ignored for the last fifteen years. I’m scrolling second hand clothing sites, with intent. It’s my latest heady addiction. And by god it’s good for the endorphins.
Why is shopping second hand good for my mental health?
Better for the planet
The climate is in crisis, and high street stores greenwashing with “sustainable” clothing lines isn’t going to stop us from burning. Shopping second hand means I’m not encouraging or endorsing stores to make yet more stuff. It may be a small swap but they say we’ll have a chance of preventing imminent climate disaster when loads of us doing our bit imperfectly, rather than just a few doing theirs flawlessly.
Better for my wallet
Preloved things often come with a smaller price tag which means I’m not quite so horrified at the end of the month when I check my bank balance and my spending.
Wonderfully nostalgic
Shopping for children’s clothes second hand has meant I have relived parts of my own childhood, most recently in the form of Osh Kosh dungarees. Shopping second hand for myself means I have found replacements for clothes I’ve loved - but lost, stained or worn out - even when they’ve gone out of production. A satisfying treasure hunt.
Constantly surprising deliveries
I love post. I get relentlessly mocked by Tom for once saying ”people love stamps” at a post office. Maybe “people” don’t, but I certainly do. Second hand post comes in some weird and wonderful packages, with handwritten notes and sometimes even Lion King stickers.
Opportunity to sell on
Preloved marketplaces are making it easier for us to sell as well as buy. A few months ago I bought some preloved dungarees for my baby, and today I will be posting them to their next owner with a tenner back in my bank account. When I get an email confirming that one of my items has sold, oh the adrenaline! Cha-ching.
Supporting founder friends
I’m lucky to know two brilliant people who have founded two brilliant preloved marketplaces. Ana runs The Octopus Club selling everything a resourceful parent needs including baby, kids and maternity clothes, as well as toys, cots and carriers. Joe runs Thrift + which is the place for fashion and planet conscious men and women to get their garms. You can buy and sell on both sites, shop your favourite brands or discover new ones. It makes me smile to know that I can support their success in a small way every time I shop.
I’m riding high on second hand shopping smugness. Join me.