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thrift

thrift /θrɪft/

nounverbB1SATACT

generallifestyle

The quality of using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully; (as a verb) to shop at thrift stores or second-hand markets.

As a noun, it represents a virtue of financial wisdom. As a modern verb, it refers to the active hobby of hunting for bargains in second-hand shops.

The story behind the word. Remarkably, 'thrift' originally had nothing to do with saving money; it meant 'prosperity' or 'thriving condition,' derived from the Old Norse verb meaning 'to thrive.' Over the centuries, people realized that the best way to thrive was to manage resources wisely, shifting the word's meaning to economical management.

Word relationships

frugality: Frugality focuses strictly on sparingness and avoiding expense, while thrift carries a historical connotation of thriving and prosperous management.

extravagance: Extravagance is the lack of restraint in spending money or using resources.

Commonly confused with

parsimony: Parsimony is extreme unwillingness to spend money, often to a fault, whereas thrift is positive and balanced resourcefulness.

Word family

thrifty (adjective): Using money and resources carefully and wisely.
thriftless (adjective): Wasteful or uselessly extravagant.

Collocations

thrift store
practice thrift
thrift shopping
spirit of thrift

Example sentences

"Through hard work and thrift, they managed to save enough money to buy their first home." A grandmother's advice on household finances.
"We decided to spend Saturday afternoon thrifting in the arts district, looking for vintage records." A weekend activity with friends.

Memory hook

To 'thrive' in life, you must practice 'thrift' with your wallet. Thrive through thrift.

When not to use

Do not confuse with 'cheapness' or 'miserliness'; thrift implies wise, sustainable management of resources, not just a refusal to spend money.

Fun facts

The first 'thrift shops' in the modern sense were started by religious charities in the late 19th century, designed to raise funds while providing affordable goods to immigrants and the working class.