The thrill of spending $6 at a smelly Salvation Army and finding three new favorite shirts.

When I was a kid, my mother used to drag us to the local Goodwill to look for bargains.

I would look around frantically, hoping, begging, that I wouldn’t be noticed, or that I wouldn’t see anyone I knew. Of course, in hindsight, if I had seen a friend, we probably would have been in the same boat.

So how is it now, so many years later, that I positively get a thrill out of thrifting? Usually the place smells like eau de cigarettes and is packed with people, so what is it? Maybe it’s the penny pincher in me, or perhaps the love of shopping. Where else can you find a hundred different styles on one rack? For the low, low price of $2.00? (And if you hit it right on half-price day? Score!)

I recently went on vacation a few states away and the only souvenirs I brought home were three thrifted shirts. I paid $6.00 (total!) for them. Maybe you’re someone who gets a kick out of brands and logos. But that’s not me. I feel good knowing I found something that looks good, is in near-perfect condition, didn’t cost much and won’t contribute to any more waste.

It’s the epitome of those good ol’ three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle—heck, even my five-year-old knows those.