TikTok is the latest platform that spawns countless viral products that many of us have seen or bought ourselves. 

I remember the Hydro Flask trend a few years ago, and the Stanley trend earlier this year, and now the Owala water bottles are getting mainstream attention.

It doesn’t stop at water bottles, of course. Beauty products, clothing, and so much more are being sent out in force to get specifically targeted groups of people to buy a growing pool of products and services like TEMU and SHEIN.

I’m not a big fan of these products, services, or advertising methods. But rather than a large attack on the issue as a whole (that wouldn’t do much to help), I want to open the idea of using more individual and cost-effective solutions.

As college students, we can’t spend hundreds of dollars on bespoke and fancy clothing or items. There are ways, however, to be better and be more cost-effective at the same time, while also supporting local businesses.

Firstly, thrifting can be a great way to buy clothes and items on a budget. 

Thrift stores, also known as second-hand stores, are places to donate clothing for resale at a much lower price than one may have originally bought it. It’s recently become popular with Generation Z and Millennials to thrift and resell on services like Depop.

This, along with other reasons, has been cause for prices to rise at thrift stores such as Goodwill. While still a valuable resource for people who don’t want to spend a ton of money, one must shop intentionally anyways.

To shop intentionally is to be more aware of how stores will manipulate you, and then be mindful of how you’re shopping.

This happens before and during the shopping trip, or hitting a link on social media. If you intend to buy something because you need it or have wanted it for a while (I try to wait at least a couple of days before making an impulsive purchase), then that’s when you’re ready to make the purchase.

If I fall victim to every ad I see (food does this to me a lot), I would be very well in the hole with a hundred reusable water bottles I’ll never use.

I keep a list, mental, digital, or physical, every time I go to a store. If it’s not a bookstore, chances are I may not come out with anything.

Sometimes there is also a case for more expensive but quality items. Going to a local craft fair (like the upcoming Birches Craft Fair in Sewell) or farmers market, there are plenty of vendors and local artists that make quality pieces. 

They aren’t cheap, but if you’re able to spend a little more for handmade and local items, not only do you have a nice piece that could last a long time, you can help a local vendor make their work possible.

A little while ago, I bought a wooden clock and a match-striker plate from a few craft fairs. I got to meet, shake hands with, and chat with the very people who made these items, which is a far cry from buying from faceless, and possibly unethical manufacturers.

How can you shop better as a Rowan student?

To thrift, there’s a Goodwill off of Delsea Drive. Look for deals, because even with rising prices, Goodwill will have a sale where a different color tag is a lower price most days.

To buy local crafts, the Birches Craft Fair is November 23rd in Sewell.

To buy online, look for used items on eBay or Facebook Marketplace (always with safety in mind). While shipping may not be cost effective, you’ll still be helping individuals directly, and if you find a good deal, you can save a few bucks too.

Of course, not all of this can be practical for everyone (especially if you don’t have a car), but it’s critical to take care and do your due diligence in learning how you shop, and how you can shop better, instead of letting an algorithm tell you.

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