As college students, every dollar counts. Over the course of four years, finding deals can become a sport, and thrift stores an arena. In Harrisonburg, Plato’s Closet and Goodwill take very different approaches to thrifting but together provide an impressive array of options if you are willing to take the time to search.

Plato’s Closet, a national chain, specializes in secondhand clothing from popular brands. Upon entering you will find yourself immersed in a sea of color-coded garments of any style you could imagine. The layout is very intentional, with each type of clothing earning its own section. Many shirts can be found for less than 10 dollars, and pants range from 10 to 12 dollars. Though these prices may feel high for secondhand, they often come from well-known brands.

If you are looking for an added discount, you can bring in your used clothing to sell. Speaking from experience, the vetting process is highly selective — I still don’t understand why they didn’t want my Hollister tank tops from 2010 — though this often makes for higher-quality finds overall. A golden find on this trip was a pair of Chacos in fairly good condition for thirty dollars as compared to over a hundred retail.

Goodwill is a more traditional thrift store. Items range from “fairly new” to “found in a great-grandmother’s attic.” This store is more for the thrifters that enjoy the “thrill of the chase.” Its strength lies in its extremely cheap prices: many items range from one to five dollars.

The best luck can be had in the housewares section. There is little organization in the area, but with a bit of searching, it is a good place to find basic things like tableware and silverware. A great find from this section was a 1989 espresso machine for five dollars — my roommates and I have yet to try it out but are very excited!. In terms of quality, the products range in levels of wear and tear. However, for the cheap price, they are often worth the gamble.

gamble. Depending on what type of items you are looking for, Goodwill and Plato’s Closet satisfy a variety of needs. Overall, Plato’s Closet has a large variety of good-quality products for mid-range prices and is a go-to for clothing and shoes. Goodwill is more hit- and-miss but a great place to find home essentials. Happy thrifting!