Budget-conscious Americans are thrifting in 2025: Here are the hottest spots for second hand finds

Death of nan nosy budget: Americans opportunity their discretionary spending has dropped by 42% successful nan past year, according to a caller survey.

The canvass of 2,000 American adults recovered that galore are looking for ways to prevention successful nan existent economical environment, arsenic complete half of those surveyed (52%) revealed that they’re worried astir nan authorities of their finances.

According to nan findings, two-thirds (66%) of Americans are turning to thrifting connected a regular ground to equilibrium their budgets these days.

In fact, astir 1 successful six (17%) are moreover thrifting arsenic often arsenic erstwhile per week, pinch Gen Z secondhand shopping much each week (28%) than different generations.

And thrifting successful 2025 isn’t conscionable a brick-and-mortar shopping experience, since nan study recovered that almost 1 successful 4 thrift shoppers (22%) for illustration to do truthful online.

Conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Mercari, an online marketplace, for National Thrifting Day connected August 17th, nan study recovered that much than a 4th of thrifters (26%) person picked up secondhand shopping successful nan past year.

Looking astatine nan “why” down this uptick, astir three-quarters (72%) said they shop secondhand to prevention money.

However, galore respondents person further motivations for thrift shopping, pinch half of thrifters (51%) saying they deed nan thrift stores because they bask nan thrill of uncovering a bully deal.

Forty-two percent relish searching for unique, one-of-a-kind things, and 28% are connected nan lookout for collectible items.

And for 30%, they simply bask nan vibe of thrift stores.

Clothing (71%) is nan astir celebrated commodity group are thrifting this year, followed by location decor (45%), books (40%), location equipment (39%), shoes (31%), collectibles (30%), and furnishings (26%).

And respondents estimated that 34% of their belongings person been purchased secondhand, connected average.

“As nan information shows, thrifting is multidimensional,” said Jeff LeBeau, vice president of maturation astatine Mercari. “It’s thing group are doing to walk work these days, but it’s besides a hobby for many. Not only is it an affordable action for shoppers owed to financial constraints, but thrifters besides conscionable thrift for nan nosy of it, and to find unsocial deals. From apparel to video games to books to furniture, astir everyone has thing they bask browsing for erstwhile thrifting.”

Thrift shopping is besides thing astir secondhand shoppers (57%) see to beryllium self-care, and Gen Z (70%) is nan astir apt retired of each generations to explanation thrifting arsenic portion of their self-care routine.

Zooming successful to analyse nan quintessential thrifting excursion, galore thrifters (37%) for illustration to make it much of an acquisition than an errand by hitting up aggregate stores successful 1 day.

Twenty-nine percent besides for illustration to meet up pinch a friend to thrift together, and a 4th (25%) said that treating themselves to a java aliases beverage to sip connected while shopping is simply a must.

And from inexpensive but dearly cherished items, to once-in-a-lifetime designer deals, thrifters person really scored large successful nan past.

The study asked respondents to stock their champion secondhand deals to day and uncovered that galore person walked distant pinch hidden gems, including vintage and designer clothing, retro video games, collectibles, ancient furniture, and nearly-new tech.

“It’s not different to locomotion distant from thrifting pinch a slayer deal,” said LeBeau. “That’s portion of nan joyousness of thrifting — searching for and uncovering thing that’s cleanable for you, astatine a value you tin afford. And pinch nan emergence of online thrifting, American consumers now person much opportunities than ever to observe unthinkable bargains.”

America’s Best Thrift Wins:

● “One of my favourite things I’ve thrifted is simply a vintage leather overgarment that looks timeless and high-quality. I estimate it primitively costs astir $300 new, but I recovered it for conscionable $40. It’s go a staple portion I emotion wearing!”
● “It was a transcript of my favourite book that I past gave to a friend. [It] wasn’t valuable, but I wanted her to person a copy.”
● “Probably a video crippled that was rare. I gave $25 for it.”

● “My astir caller favourite find was a 1974 Expo ’74 ornamental plate. It went good pinch my collection.”
● “One point I recovered was an aged Schwinn bicycle that was nan nonstop aforesaid arsenic [the one] I rode erstwhile I was a kid, and I bought it for $10. Restored, it’s worthy a decent magnitude of money.”
● “I bought a designer overgarment for $34 that would person costs complete $200 marque new. It was successful cleanable condition.”
● “Sets of devices that I bought for $40 that would usually costs complete $200 marque new.”

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 wide organization Americans; nan study was commissioned by Mercari and administered and conducted online by Talker Research betwixt July 24 and July 29, 2025.