College is traditionally a time when students begin taking on a bit of responsibility for themselves. That may be because your parents are struggling to put you through college, or it may be that, even if your parents are well heeled, they’d like you to at least make an effort to demonstrate you know how to live on a budget.
But no matter which side of the economic fence you fall on, there’s a lot to be said for being thrifty. One of the best ways you can do that is to purchase recycled goods. Not only do you save money, but you keep lots of stuff out of landfills by using it over – and we all should know why stuffing landfills is not a good thing. Plus, buying second hand goods is an interesting pastime. Sometimes you can even find treasures of cultural, historic or artistic interest. OK, so you probably won’t end up with a heretofore unknown Monet or a priceless pre-Columbian artifact, but you may stumble across a battered mid-century modern Eames chair or a pre-plastic era Bakelite masterpiece to grace your shelves.
Buying recycled goods is a great way to furnish your Athens Ohio rental homes or to build your wardrobe for a fraction of what it would cost buying new stuff. So here are some of the best thrift options close by:
Habitat for Humanity: Sells gently used furniture, home furnishings to raise money for its projects.
Reuse Industries – Yes, you can find second hand goods here, but it’s so much more than that. This organization also finds ways to repurpose waste and discarded resources, and includes a tool library and fix-it space and fix-it workshops.
Athens Goodwill – You know the drill at Goodwill. Donate your used stuff in good repair, or buy recycled clothing, household goods and furniture for your own use. First Tuesday of every month is 50 percent off day.
New to You Thrift Shop — Proceeds benefit foster children in the area. Look for furniture, toys, clothes, gift items.