AITA for going thrifting?
In a cluttered thrift store, where racks brim with vintage tees and worn-in denim, Emily, an 18-year-old high schooler, unearthed a checkered shirt that screamed “steal” at five bucks. Her grin widened—another win for her wallet and the planet. But when Jen, an acquaintance, spotted the shirt and learned it was thrifted, her compliment curdled into a lecture. Jen insisted thrift stores were for the needy, not middle-class kids like Emily. Suddenly, Emily’s bargain hunt felt like a moral minefield.
Thrifting’s allure—affordable, eco-friendly finds—has hooked a generation wary of fast fashion’s toll. Yet Jen’s words stung, hinting at privilege and gatekeeping. Emily’s Reddit post lays bare this clash: is thrifting a universal good, or does it belong to some more than others? Her story pulls us into a debate about ethics, access, and the true cost of a good deal.
‘AITA for going thrifting?’
Emily’s run-in with Jen exposes a prickly debate about who “owns” thrifting. Jen’s gatekeeping—claiming thrift stores are only for low-income shoppers—smacks of misplaced virtue. Thrifting’s bigger than that; it’s a jab at the fast fashion beast devouring resources and ethics.
Sustainability expert Dr. Jennifer Gordon says, “Second-hand shopping diverts 2.5 million tons of textiles from landfills yearly” (EPA). Emily’s thrifting habit, driven by budget and a dislike for child labor, supports this. Thrift stores like Salvation Army fund community programs with every sale, not just for the poor. Jen’s view ignores this, assuming Emily’s middle-class roots mean she’s hogging resources. Wrong—there’s no clothing shortage; the U.S. discards 11.3 million tons of textiles annually.
Emily’s not the villain here. Jen’s lecture, though well-meaning, oversimplifies a complex system. Emily can keep thrifting guilt-free, maybe donating her old clothes to balance things out. This supports stores’ missions while reducing stigma for all shoppers.
These are the responses from Reddit users:
Reddit didn’t hold back on Emily’s thrift store saga, dishing out wit and wisdom with equal zest. Here’s the unfiltered pulse from the crowd, packed with cheers and shade:
![[Reddit User] − NTA. I think a lot of the issue people have with thrifting is the ‘reselling’ aspect: people thrift all the name brands or cute clothes and spend $50-150, and then resell them on Instagram or Poshmark, thereby clearing out most of the cute inventory that people could shop for.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/328349cm-02.png)
Redditors gave Emily a virtual high-five, shredding Jen’s gatekeeping with stats and snark. From charity benefits to landfill woes, they backed thrifting for all. But are these hot takes the full picture, or just Reddit’s echo chamber?
Emily’s thrift store tale reveals thrifting as more than a budget hack—it’s a stand against waste and exploitation. Jen’s judgment, though off-base, sparks real talk about privilege and access. With mountains of discarded clothes clogging landfills, thrifting’s a win for everyone, not a gated club. Emily’s doing her part, one shirt at a time. What would you say to Jen if you were in Emily’s shoes? Drop your thoughts—how do you weigh ethics and access when shopping second-hand?
