thrifting should be a sport

So, I've been a little low on money. Well, very low on money. I have been waiting for my paperwork to go through, and can't get paid until that happens. Okay, so they scoot me a little cash when funds are getting low, but I mean, come on, I have to buy food! And maybe a little wine. Everything is wrapping up, thank goodness, but until then, I have been window shopping and racking up lists of things to buy. Except when I go thrifting.

So, after school today, I went for a little wander in the square, mainly because the 2000 Forint I had just recieved for a private lesson was burning a hole in my pocket. Private lessons produce cash. Cash that I can spend on something I want. The only problem is that 2000 Forint is about 10 bucks. And I still had to do food shopping for the week.

I wandered into a thrift store, just to look around of course. I immediately spot my competition: A girl in her mid-twenties about my size and shape with a similar style. You see, when you are thrifting, you must size up any competition and get to the good clothes before she does. It's like a race.

So, I casually brushed past her to the pile-of-crap clothes just out of her reach. I'm digging, searching through these piles of unwanted clothes....for....a nice color? Maybe a sweater? A nice blouse? A cute vintage-y dress? Who knows?

The girl caught on though and looking at me quickly, she moved on past me. I looked around the shop, the only other people were a mom and child and 2 older women...much bigger than me. Mom was looking through the kid bin, and the older ladies were admiring the Bill Cosby sweater I tossed aside earlier. Amateurs. I should also mention the little old man watching the madness with his mouth agape. Not searching, or shopping...just watching. If I was going to find something, it had to be fast! The opponent was digging furiously to find the good stuff!

Luckily, in the pile I was searching through, I scored a pair of capri pants. I didn't know my European pants size, but they looked like they'd fit. I certainly wasn't putting them back on the table until I decided....The competition would have snatched them for sure. As I moved past the girl at the table, I noticed she discarded a white blouse after looking at it twice. I grabbed it to check it out...nice embroidery, clean, right size. Mine.

That's the second rule, if your rival throws something aside after looking at it for a bit, it's worth looking at. Thrifting is about taking worn, ugly, and misguided lonesome clothes and offering them a new canvas to shine. Give them a little revamp. Sew up that seam. Say, "Hey, I can remove that little stain." It's about being poor and still being able to buy new clothes. And not looking like a dirtbag--this is key.

All in all, I was happy. The pants (size 10 apparently?) fit like a glove. The blouse is different and lovely. I also scored a semi-ugly dress that I'm pretty sure I can rock after I remove a small stain. And I spent 500 Forint on all 3. This little poor girl has a new outfit and a half for under 3 dollars.

Sometimes a girl just needs to go shopping. I'm not athletic, but I'm pretty sure if thrifting were a sport, I'd be a damn good competitor.