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Show THE ecycling and I go way back. When I was six, I remember reprimanding my mom for tossing an egg carton in the trash instead of the glorious blue bin my family hid in our garage. In an adorable, environmentalist fury I accused my mother of being big, dumb and stupid. "How dare you throw that away?" I probably screeched at my unsuspecting mother. "I CAN MAKE A THING OUT OF THAT!" Back then my mornings consisted of hours plopped in front of my parents' television watching the heroically goodnatured programs of PBS Kids. When they weren't filling my noggin with inspired arts and crafts, they were teaching me the basics of being a responsible earth citizen — and yes, 90 percent of these lessons revolved around the idea of recycling in one way or another. Whether I was stapling toilet paper rolls in the shape of a dinosaur or releasing my scraps of gnarled construction paper into the recycling bin, I was Earth's most cherished guardian, valiantly fighting for a brighter, greener future. Or something like that ... R WITH ADDISON BUTLER PHOTO BY DANE GOODWIN Anyway, this spirit of conservation has followed me through the rest of my life thus far. I leap at the opportunity to filter through the surface of someone's trash bin for recyclable material. The paper bags from shopping excursions have an infinite list of post-purchase purposes. Similarly, there's a selection of cardboard boxes decoratively lining my room, providing a unique functionality that would never have been possible had I just tossed them. The most significant realm of my life affected by this recycling hype is my closet. Don't get me wrong — I love the crisp freshness of a brand-stinking-new shirt or pair of trousers just as much as the next obsessively fashionable person, but there's a separate breed of exhilaration saved for when a rad shirt from the '80s is passed down (or rather pilfered) from my dad or as I walk the aisles at one of Salt Lake City's beloved thrift stores. That's right — if I'm not spending far too much money on clothes, I'm spending not nearly enough. Thanks to chains like the D.I. and Savers, there are Here is a set of rules every thrifte should follow to avoid some of the more embarrassing failures I've personally experienced. hi. ■Never buy pants unless you are 100percent sold on their cut or intend to tailor them to fit a more modern silhouette. Flare-legs and parachute pants can look really cool when worn right but can be a disaster if worn incorrectly. ■Nobody needs used undergarments ... EVER. ■No matter how incredible those shoes look, they're old and falling apart. You're better off buying something new. ■Be extremely cautious if it was produced within the last 15 years. Contemporary clothing companies often hack production costs to increase profit margins, leaving a vast majority of recent clothes looking dingy and awful after just a couple of years. It may look fine on the rack, but believe me: It's not. opportunities to thrift in just about any city in the valley. Because the stock of these stores depends on local donations, each location has its own personality and, dare I say, style. A significant number of my coats and jackets were thrifted from stores like this, including three very beautiful and different suede bomber jackets, about a million denim jackets and a really sweet, mustard-yellow barn jacket. Another thrifting favorite of mine is Decades, a thrift and vintage store located on State Street and 600 South. Although their men's selection is admittedly small, their women's selection — which takes up roughly three quarters of the space — is to die for. They have pieces ranging anywhere from the '20s to the '80s, all at surprisingly reasonable prices. So why don't you take a chance and head over to a thrift store? You'll be surprised at how much you can find if you look hard enough. a.butler@chronicle.utah.edu @ChronyArts FINDING ACTIVITIES ON THE CHEAP s the weekend looms, you may find yourself lying face-down on the couch, asking yourself why you don't have any money. Life as a college student can be rough. You have class and work all day, homework all night and no money to spend on the weekends. Though the cost of weekend activities can leave you in a funk, you can still find things to do on a budget. A Game Night with Friends Assemble a group of your closest friends and have a game night. No, you're not too old to have a game night. Have each of your friends bring something, whether it be a snack or a board game. Don't have any games? No problem. There are plenty of games out there that don't require anything but your hands and feet. Chances are at least one of your friends will know one game to break the ice and get the night started. A game night is a great way to spend time with your friends without having to spend an arm and a leg. Movie Night with Friends Are games not your thing? Have a movie night instead. Sometimes it's nice to just chill on the couch and watch a movie while still having some company. With all the inexpensive ways to watch movies these days, you don't need to worry about spending too much. One of your friends is bound to have Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon Prime. If none of the movies on Netflix seem appealing to you, hit up a Redbox location. For $1 a night, renting a movie from Redbox is the way to go. Want to make your movie night a little more exciting? Put up a tent or build a fort and watch your movie in style. 4 { THECHRONY I NEWS I OPINION I ARTS I SPORTS I WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 2015 } Explore SLC Salt Lake City never fails to surprise. There's so much character and culture in every part of the city. Plan a day to go exploring. Walk around downtown and journey through places you've never been before. Hop on a bus (which is free with your UCard), and let it take you where it wants to go. If you feel like you've already explored everything, design a scavenger hunt for you and your friends. See who knows Salt Lake the best. This can be a great way to get to know the city you live in while on a budget. There are so many opportunities for fun that don't cost much or even anything. You just need to look around you and make an activity out of anything. Instead of worrying about the cost of pricey activities, make up your own. This will provide you with closer friends, memorable weekends and more stories to tell. c.peterson@chronicle.utah.edu @ChronyArts GRADUATING? CONSIDER A CAREER IN TEACHING. Earn your Master of Arts in Teaching in ONE YEAR. Our MAT degree will prepare you with the skills and knowledge necessary to become an engaging, dynamic teacher. And with a Masters degree behind you, you'll earn more too. Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education licensing programs available. Students can begin in May or August. ■Generally stay away from anything that is too specific to its time period. These end up looking more costume-y than anything. Nickelcade Hanging out at your friend's apartment can become a little boring after a while. Spice things up and head to the Nickelcade at 4160 S. Redwood Rd. in Taylorsville. The Nickelcade gives you all the fun of going to an arcade without the pain of having to spend a ton. To make things even greater, university students get in for free with a student ID. Come and play your favorite childhood games, win prizes and enjoy an exuberant atmosphere. ratan . iRdPido! ene WESTMINSTER SALT LAKE CITY • UTAH; 801.832.2200 westminstercollege.edu/MAT 5 |