The Thrift Store Summer Nobody Planned but Everyone Needed

Thrift store summer is not a trend. It is a rational response to the cost of everything right now. Eighty-three percent of Albertans say thrifting makes economic sense given current conditions, and Habitat for Humanity Restore locations in Calgary are seeing ten percent more foot traffic than last year. The secondhand orbit has expanded well past Value Village. Marketplace, Kijiji, buy-nothing groups, garage sales in the right neighbourhoods, and a microphone bought from a guy in an alley are all part of the same equation. The hosts compare notes on what they own that is actually new. The answer is not much. Fast fashion gets donated. Thrifted pieces stay. The math on that is starting to land for a lot of Canadians. Topics: thrift store summer, secondhand shopping, cost of living Canada, vintage clothing, Habitat for Humanity Restore Originally aired on 2026-05-29