Where is the Salvation Army Auction?

Shopping at the Salvation Army !?

• ohkay, soo im gonna be 16 & i have been volunteering at the nearby Salvation Army since a couple of months now. today, everything is 50% off & while working about i found 3 really cute cardigans that all happened to fit me, they were things i would actually wear soo i bought them. my dad is very mad that i bought the because it was from the SALVATION ARMY -_- they weren't like regular cardigans either, they were from Banana Republic, H&M, & Victoria Secrets and i spent about $5 for all 3 ! i am honestly not the kind of person to shop at Salvation Army, im more of Forever21, H&M, etc.. my dad does not like the idea that i bought the clothes from the Salvation Army & is upset with me. what are your opinions? Is it ohkay for a 16 year old to buy clothes from a Salvation Army? (& this will probably be the ONLY time i ever get something from there since my dad is upset)

• Answer:

  Personally, I LOVE clothes from thrift shops. I make sure to thoroughly launder/sterilize anything I buy second-hand, and I won't buy underwear or swimwear, but everything else is fair game. I think it's terrific to buy a $50 pair of Levis for $5, or a $200 Coach purse for $15. However, the important thing is to understand what you dad is concerned about. If it's health issues, you'll need to do some research on what's safe and what isn't, and how to clean/sterilize things so your dad feels they're safe. He may feel threatened, that he will look like he can't provide 'new' stuff for you or that it will look like your family is in financial difficulty - you need to reassure him that reused/upcycled clothing is VERY hip and chic, and that many people do it for ecological reasons rather than because of need. In many cases, you're also supporting VERY worthy charities, like animal welfare, domestic violence, healthcare, and more, and that while people need to DONATE to these charities, they also need to BUY from them so they get cash. Try to pick a relaxed time to discuss the issue CALMLY with your dad, and realize you may not resolve the issue completely in one talk - you may need to have several talks spread out over time to clear the air. Good luck!