“From Student Teacher to Thrift Explorer”

Hey there, Madlang Ka Hivers! It’s me Juvs again bringing you another fresh day, another exciting blog to dive into. Can’t wait to share today’s adventure with you all! In this blog, I'll be sharing my experience with thrift shopping. I hope you enjoy reading it! Let’s begin! ----  **Are you familiar with the term "ukay-ukay"?** **“Ukay-ukay”** is a term widely known in the Philippines, refers to the practice of purchasing used clothing, shoes, accessories, and other things at affordable prices. ----  I didn't enjoy thrifting at first since it felt like a tiring task with so many clothes to look through. ----  One time my boyfriend took me to a thrift store since I was feeling bored at home so I offered to go with him. ---- As soon as I walked in, I could see people already going through the items.  The first time I ever set foot in a thrift store, I was just overtaken by the absolute amount of stuff there such as clothes, shoes, bags, and so many more.   ----  _{This is the shirt I bought for only 85 pesos. Its brand is Lacoste.} I enjoyed myself since I managed to acquire a very nice shirt that interested me, so I decided to buy it. ---- _{This is what my boyfriend and I bought, and we really got lucky. With patience and effort in thrift shopping, you can really find branded items. For such a low price, we really hit the jackpot because what we got is amazing. The fabric still hasn't faded much either.} ---- The next day, I joined my boyfriend again to do some thrift shopping near our place in the city. I only go with him when there's no classes especially on Saturdays and Sundays.    Since they were displaying new arrivals we didn’t let that day pass by. ----   And tadaaa! We found another branded item that most people will definitely love and will surely like it. ----  That’s because we got some beautiful items, instead of wearing them, my boyfriend and I decided, "What if we sell them? Maybe someone would buy them because they’re still beautiful and the fabric isn’t faded." We posted the items we got from the thrift store on Facebook Marketplace, and unexpectedly, many people messaged us, inquiring and even buying them. ---- Unexpectedly, many people bought, some of them are mostly from Manila. So what we did was deliver their purchases through J&T Express.  We are incredibly thankful to God for always being there for us, regardless of whether our earnings are big or small. We feel truly blessed that despite everything, people still choose to buy from us. ---- One day, my boyfriend and I thought about setting up a stall or display at the plaza in the City of Naga, considering how many people visit the place. We were hoping that, even if just a few, people would buy from us.  That's why we didn't hesitate to buy a stall where we could hang the clothes and items we planned to sell. ---- The stall for hanging clothes is ready, so we decided to display at the Plaza in the City of Naga. Since it's February 14, 2025, Valentine's Day, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to bring a little extra love to the city with our display.  Here it is, Hivers! We've just finished assembling the stall where we'll hang all the items we’re selling.  Let’s take a quick picture before we start entertaining the buyers. ---- Did you notice that I'm wearing a uniform? It's because I just came from our campus where we submitted the hardbound copy of our research.  ---- Due to the great spot we had, a guard stopped us and told us to move to another location because it was apparently not allowed where we were placed. So what we did was move to a different spot.  ---- We ended up next to the flower vendors, and luckily, the guard didn’t stop us anymore.  ----  I, while waiting for a customer to buy. ----  It was Valentine's Day that night, a lot of people went out to celebrate. ---- After waiting for a few hours, some customers approached and a few of them made a purchase.  ---- This night has truly made the wait worthwhile! By the grace of God, customers are pouring in, and now we’ve got some earnings to celebrate and cherish.  I’m beyond happy! At least, there are buyers that night. Thank you so much dear buyers. 🫶🏻 ---- Since it’s already 10:00 PM, my boyfriend and I decided to go home. It’s getting late, and we need some rest because tomorrow we’re back to hunting for items at thrift shops to sell again.   ----  This is for todays blog mga ka Hivers! Selling thrift items is more than just making money it’s about giving old things a new life. As more people look for sustainable options for me secondhand goods are in demand. So why not give it a try guys? With some creativity and a love for finding treasures thrift selling can be a fun and rewarding experience. _{Again this is Juvs. I’m thrilled to share with you the journey of my life from being a dedicated student teacher to stepping out of my comfort zone and trying my hand at being a seller of secondhand clothes, or “ukay-ukay.” It’s been a wild ride full of lessons, challenges, and unexpected moments of growth. Thank you so much everyone!!}