Inspiration strikes everywhere we go. Maybe you’re walking down the street and see someone’s cool or experimental outfit which strikes your fancy. Or you watch a TikTok that makes you yearn for the clothes someone has on. To what avail? The chokehold that new fashion and unique styles has on us young women is dangerous, especially when you consider our very low or nonexistent income. But is it too much to ask to at least look stylish while school drains us of energy and will? Fashion is a way to show personality and be confident in what you love as well as what you are on the outside. It shouldn’t be a negative thing to shop, should it?

There are many ways to combat or at least lessen debt by shopping so that we can continue doing this thing we love, guilt free.

The most common way this generation overcomes shopping cravings is by thrifting. The realization that all trends come back around brings the reminder that the new clothes and online brands you see “following the trends” are making and selling apparel that already exists. For instance, in 2024, cheetah print made a huge comeback, and folks fail to realize that this is not a new idea. You can find something cheetah print at practically any thrift store considering it has trended over and over through the decades. So why buy new items, which use new materials for a higher price, when you can buy the same thing for cheaper while simultaneously helping the environment through repurposing?

For those who really want to take control of their shopping habits, another helpful activity is to make a pact with yourself. This means that you can still shop; it just has to be conditional. If you struggle with self control, it can be valuable to tell yourself that you have to accomplish something you’ve been putting off before you buy that item. It could be something school or work-related, but it could also be personal, such as removal of an unhealthy habit like a social media app or binging. This self-trading system allows the reward of shopping while also preserving your mental and financial health. It is also important to note that when something becomes less frequent, it becomes more special. If Christmas was once a month, it just wouldn’t be the same. 

If it’s not the clothes themselves that we crave, but rather the novelty of acquiring or experiencing something new, you could consider cutting out the act of shopping entirely. This can be achieved through many different hobbies that differ from person to person. If you want to stay up with what’s trending, watch a new movie or read a new book and engage in active community chatter. Maybe reading’s not your thing and you’d be more interested in a crafty activity such as learning how to sew and make your own clothes. Whatever the choice is, it’s the personal outcome that matters more than the activity itself. 

Within every high school, there is a lot of unique style and fashion expression, so sometimes it’s not the clothes itself, but how they are styled. A challenge that everyone should take on is to change their mindset and perspective about the clothes they already own, for an accessory can really make all the difference. Maybe your friend group could make fun outfits and ideas out of each other’s items, as a fresh eye can create something that may have been overlooked countless times. 

If these ideas don’t really appeal and it sounds better to just keep shopping, there are also many ways to make extra money. Side hustles may be the way to go! Everyone knows how difficult it is to have enough time in the day for a traditional job, and for many, working those hours is simply not realistic. Luckily, it’s incredible how many niche side hustles you can find if you look hard enough. Even if time and location is an issue, there’s most definitely something in your community you can do to make money. You could sell old clothes and accessories on Depop, Vinted or Poshmark instead of donating. Small things add up, so even babysitting or yard work for your neighbors and family makes a difference. 

This generation is ever-changing and full of individuality, attributes that allow flexibility within daily life. My hope is that these tips help those who’ve read this to continue living your creative lives. A community full of artistry and innovation really can bring people together, and this can be achieved without emptying your wallet. 

The post A Shopaholic’s Guide to Saving Money appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

Revival Vintage

If you’re looking for apparel that looks like it was sent from a kaleidoscopic rockstar in the ’70s, Revival is the thrift store for you. From your first step into the store, the excitement of finding one-of-a-kind clothes and accessories is overwhelming. From Frye boots to fur coats to strange toques, there’s something for every dreamer. The idea of following trends becomes utterly lost as the opportunity to dress and express yourself in so many ways becomes apparent. If a Fleetwood Mac song was turned into a vintage shop, it would be Revival. Fit with lace and leather, you can leave as a completely new version of yourself than when you entered. 

Humane Society Thrift Store

Are you someone who wants to thrift while simultaneously contributing to a good cause? The funds from the Human Society Thrift Store go towards sheltered animals’ needs, and have been doing so for over 50 years. You can find many clothes as well as home furnishings, books, and much more. It’s perfect for crafty folks who love to thrift-flip clothes into cooler visions. You may find an old t-shirt that has holes, but the print is neat and has full potential to become a cute tank top blouse with just a sewing machine and a bit of ribbon. As they are, the clothes at this thrift store may not catch your eye, but if you stop browsing and start searching, everything has the potential to be beautiful. 

Regroup Thrift Store

Regroup is another organization dedicated to helping the community, by donating their proceedings to Partners in Care (a hospice foundation), Bend Spay and Neuter, and Together for Children. This store has quite literally anything you can think of. It’s perfect for affordable and useful clothes to help those who like to shop but would rather not spend an arm and a leg at the local boutiques. Regroup also puts on a $1 sale Fridays and Sundays at their warehouse on Wilson Avenue, where there’s an abundance of overflowing bins of clothes to get lost in. It’s one of those stores that can surprise you in the best way, you truly never know with Regroup.

Old Boy Vintage

Searching to live out your ‘80s, granola fashion dreams? Old Boy is the best vintage store for this type of carefully curated apparel. A $10 sale is hosted the second Saturday of every month, attracting many. Eager customers form a long line outside the door prior to opening, so the competition is strong. Everyone who has been knows that these sales contain lots of goodies. Not only does this sale appeal to customers, the shop itself has a groovy vibe with racks and racks of styles for all generations. As you browse, the music playing in the background just perfects the experience, as you truly are transported from a mundane back street into a gem of a vintage store. It’s only been here in Bend for about two years, but the thrifting community in Bend has already gotten to know and love it.

City Thrift

Tired of finding normal things at thrift stores? At City Thrift you never know what you will stumble upon. For trinket lovers who live by the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” you could be the one who brings love to forgotten objects and clothes. Whether you’re looking for rock skis, postcards, lamps, table settings or anything else you can think of, it can be found here. Since it’s on the cheaper side, you can find great deals of all shapes and sizes on a whim. 

Truffle Pig Trading Co.

Down a small alleyway in Downtown, the best way to find this delightful shop is by accident. The brick walls mixed with plants and colorful vintage clothing serves as the perfect thrifting aesthetic. This hidden store is perfect for true lovers of iconic apparel that would’ve been worn by your favorite celebrities in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Once you walk in, you are transported to a VIP backstage experience at a concert. The shoes will have you wanting to make an appearance at a red carpet premiere; the miniskirts will have you feeling like an off-duty star caught by the paparazzi; the fur coats will make you want to run away as a groupie for your favorite band, and so on. Purses that could very well hold your future belongings or hats that could receive countless future compliments, can be found here. The apparel at Truffle Pig Trading Co. will make you yearn for life in the fast lane, and you never would’ve known about it if you didn’t walk down that little alley.

Runway Fashion Exchange

There is little room on the racks at Runway because they have so many cool, trendy and vintage clothes. A mix between new and used, there is something for those who chase every trend big and small and those who can’t choose just one style and instead wear all of them. This is the type of store where you and your friends could spend hours collecting bundles of clothes to try on, since their supply seems to be neverending. Tucked in among the outlet stores, Runway Fashion Exchange has easy access to the cutest apparel.

Bend Village Merchant

Step off chaotic Greenwood into this charming little shop where 2000s meets southern belle. While enjoying the ambience, you can pair a silky slip dress with some cowboy boots and an assortment of mixed jewelry. Every item has its own story, whether it was found in the back closet at an estate sale, or a once highly desired piece, just gone out of fashion. Not only clothes can be found here, but the most darling household decorations from art to glassware to fine china. If you’re searching to add a unique yet tasteful touch to your home and your wardrobe, Bend Village Merchant is the place for you. Finely curated for the watchful artist’s eye, this shop is a lovely getaway from the busy streets, where you can finally take a deep breath and find peace among the charm.

Wrapping Up

From precise collections to a melange of items, from pocket shops to warehouses, there is much variation for anyone searching to thrift in Bend. For fashionistas with an overwhelming need for new clothes to satisfy that soulful urge, or clever artists desiring to bring a creative twist to normality, this assortment of thrift stores have something for anyone who wants a smattering of novelty.

The post Bend Thrift Store Round Up appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

The students piled into cars and drove out to a designated area off the side of a small road, grabbed shovels and plants and got to digging. They split up into groups and claimed areas of the reserve to bring the habitat back to life.

“I had a wonderful experience seeing all of the Bend High students giving back to the environment and the community,” Keown said. She’s been part of many environmental advocacy efforts in the past, and is delighted to “facilitate the field trip as the leader, and share my joy and excitement around restoring habitats to their natural conditions.” Now, she is happy to involve these students in environmental efforts as well.

Out in the field, students had a great time working together and being part of the community. “It was very educational and hands-on…and very beneficial, not only for me, but for everyone that wants to learn about the environment and how to contribute to it,” said Amelia Helwig, who has been a member of the club for three years. This mindset was the general consensus of all the students that took part. What normally would be considered a tedious activity was brought to life by drive and excitement to be involved in something that truly matters. 

They also had the opportunity to see the progress of the plants that were planted two years ago, when the club first volunteered to help on the Ochoco Reserve. The results were very satisfying, as that part of the creek was now so lush with plants that they were unable to walk through it. It’s fulfilling to see that the work they are doing actually has a measurable and important impact. 

The Bend High Environmental Club recently became a certified Oregon Green School because of their many efforts to improve sustainability and give back to the community, such as the annual clothing swap, hosting educational speakers, composting school wide, an anti-idle campaign, and many more. 

At McKay Creek, Mowry helped everyone understand the purpose of this project. She showed the students the assortment of plants that were laid out, including Showy Milkweed, Jacob’s Ladder, Oregon Checkermallow, Large Leaved Lupine and Rydberg’s Penstemon. The others, such as Narrowleaf Milkweed, Sulfur Buckwheat, Showy/Royal Penstemon, Munro’s Globemallow and Lewis Flax were for drier areas. The wet plants were placed closer to the edge of the creek and more muddy places, and as they grow, they will work towards reducing soil erosion and providing shade and habitat for wildlife. The dry plants were placed in rockier, looser soil, further from the creek to provide more habitat for pollinators like butterflies and bees. Milkweed was planted in both wet and dry areas, because it is the most vital for Western Monarch butterflies. This is due to the fact that Monarch butterflies can only lay their eggs on Milkweed plants, and there has been a decline in these plants as of late, ultimately leading to a decline in the population. 

Photo Credit: Lisa Keown

The Deschutes Land Trust is working with many collaborators to restore Monarch habitats all along their path of migration, and this project at McKay Creek is only a small part of this massive restoration. Monarch butterflies are the key to get this area blooming with wildlife again. 

Events like this are very important for creating awareness because if everyone knows and understands how to help, they can share their knowledge and be a factor in the bigger picture. The more volunteers that give their helping hands, the more hope and progress towards the final goal of Ochoco Reserve.

The Bend High Environmental Club urges everyone to take part in sustainability, even in the smallest ways, because community is not only the people, but also the natural world all around it. When you gather a group of students passionately dedicated to a cause, vital steps towards making a difference occur, and this is what the Environmental Club accomplished at the Ochoco Reserve.

The post Bend High Environmental Club Lends Their Green Thumbs to Aid Habitat Restoration appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.