Synopsis:
A history of thrift in American culture.
Review:
While the history that comprises most of In Cheap We Trust was well-researched and presented, I really wanted a lot more present-day analysis. I really appreciated the chapter on the greenwashing of consumption, and how buying secondhand is, in many ways, a lot more eco friendly than buying something brand new even if it’s made sustainably. I was also hoping for a lot more practical suggestions for being thriftier, but I was just mistaken about what kind of book this was going to be, and that’s my problem, not the book’s!
That title is catchy. I appreciate the idea that buying secondhand is sometimes better than buying a new item. Very true. Personally, some of my favorite clothes have come from thrift shops, and what parent doesn’t see the value in buying certain baby items at consignment sales?