Last year I was on a mission. The mission to save as much as humanly possible for my Europe adventures in 2017.  In an effort to make saving a little less boring I gave myself a challenge; I could only buy second hand clothing for six months.

To some this may seem like a breeze, but to someone with a weakness for shopping it was slightly more challenging. It was eye-opening and disturbing to realise how often I had the urge to shop and how unnecessary it was. I found that really, my only reason to want something new was because I was bored with what I already had. Thankfully, taking up this challenge helped to wean me off my shopping habits whilst being sustainable and supporting charity.

If you’re feeling up for the challenge here is what I learnt:

1. Op-shopping is a skill:

Op-shops may be smelly places filled with junk for some, but are an exciting jack pot for others. I think, when op-shopping you have to be prepared that you won’t always find something. It really is a lottery, but if you’re savvy you can increase your chances.

First hit a couple of op-shops at once, make a day out of it, usually they are clumped together anyway. When you’re searching look for denim and good quality brands, these are the items that are classic and will last.

Then, when you think you’ve found something you like try to imagine it in your favourite shop (like Sportsgirl) – would you buy it there?

Lastly don’t just buy something for the sake of it. Are you really going to wear it? Think about what you can wear it with and what outfits you can create. Avoid cluttering your precious cupboard space.

2. Hand-me-downs are a blessing:

Let your friends know about your challenge and ask them to let you know before they get rid of any clothes. You might even make a clothes swapping event were you encourage everyone to clean out their closet and bring their unwanted items to exchange with each other. I was so lucky to have a couple friends pass on some of their unwanted clothing to me. It’s free and keeps things new and exciting. I think it’s really important we are more mindful about being less wasteful in our ridiculous consumer culture. Plus it feels super fresh to clean out your things.

3. Be happy with what you’ve got:

If you’re anything like me you’ll find that you’ve collected a load of clothing over the years. There is a trend that is gaining popularity called the capsule wardrobe that can make life a lot simpler. I’m pretty new to the capsule wardrobe world and am not an expert by any means, but it’s definitely worth having a look into for yourself. I found that http://www.un-fancy.com/ and http://bemorewithless.com/ really inspired me to downsize and be content with what I already had. After all, wearing something more than once is not a crime.

4. Take on the ‘Seaside Scavenge’:

These guys are awesome! I was down at Burleigh Beach one day and they had set up an event where you can literally buy clothes with rubbish. Here’s the deal; you sign up and they give you a bag and gloves to go and pick up rubbish. You go and raid the area. Then you cash your rubbish in for tokens. Then you go and purchase pre-loved clothing with said tokens. Brilliant! The way I see it, you walk away a complete winner!

• Spend time outside at the beach=WIN
• Care for the environment by picking up rubbish=WIN
• Get new items of clothing for free=WIN

For more details check out their website: http://www.seasidescavenge.org/

5. Stay away from the shops:

If you don’t see it you can’t want it or ‘need’ it. Don’t torture yourself, stay away from the shops.

Hopefully that’s given you something to chew over and I encourage you to take up the challenge!