Times are hard, that's no newsflash. We're seasick from watching the stock market heave like a schooner in a typhoon, our life-savings hunkered below deck. Even so, we all still need--and want--more stuff.

Purchasing retail feels a little gross right now, though, doesn't it? Buyer's remorse doesn't quite capture the feeling. It's more like what happens inside when we realize we've killed our favorite houseplant. We know there was something we could have done to prevent that heap of brown, shriveled leaves where bright, happy greenery once stood, but we were too lazy or set in our ways to care.

It's easy to avoid the shame and guilt of retail shopping. Shop the friendly neighborhood secondhand store near you.

Boy, that was easy. See you next week!

Just kidding. I'm well aware that for some, shopping secondhand is a little, well, complicated. Emotionally, I mean. Some of the more delicate among us break out in hives at the thought of something touching our skin that was worn a few times by someone we will never meet.

I should know, I was one of them in junior high. I was cured when, while trying on clothes in a department store, I noticed a white, greasy streak on an inside seam of a blouse I had half-shoved over my head. It was someone else's deodorant--someone I would probably never meet. Guess what? I lived! Ever since I realized that even the new stuff has been worn before, I have been an enthusiastic secondhand store patron.

In years past, the words "secondhand store" have been synonymous with a dingy, disorganized hole in the wall in which nobody would be caught dead. At some point, the secondhand set got a hint and upped its game. Sometimes the only way to tell a consignment store from a high-end boutique these days is to check the price tag.

In fact, resale is big business. According to the National Association of Resale and Thrift Stores, Goodwill Industries alone generated $1.8 billion in sales in 2006. That's a 67 percent increase from levels five years before. The resale industry as a whole is growing about 5 percent per year.

Just try to come up with an easier way to get into a multi-billion dollar industry (and remain a law-abiding citizen).

Shannon Wilburn and Daven Tackett thought it sounded easy, too. The two went for it and formed Just Between Friends, a franchise that hosts seasonal sales that attracts thousands of consigners and shoppers to huge inventories of gently used maternity, baby and children's items and clothing.

With JBF, consignors make 65 percent of the selling price of their items, or 15 percent more than the consignment industry average. The average consignor goes home with $350-plus in their pockets.

Because quality vendors demand top-quality merchandise, secondhand shoppers can snag high-end goods for minimal cash. Compared to prices found at the mall, consignment offers discounts of 60 to 80 percent, said Ellen Harris, owner of Designer Consignor, 6642 S. Lewis Ave.

"The only thing better than shopping consignment is shopping consignment when there is a clearance," she said. A winter sale is going strong at the 2,000 square-foot store at which Harris said she has seen a host of new faces since the economy took a nose dive.

Ladies can find clothing, jewelry (some locally made), handbags and shoes at Harris's store--"better brand names and true designer clothing," ranging from gently used to never worn. Harris offers consigners 40 percent of the selling price of their items.

Not in the market for clothes? Maybe you know a guy who has lived in his home for six months and still sits on milk crates. Any household good you can think of to buy at a big-box retailer is probably available at a secondhand shop at a deep discount. In fact, household items are the fastest growing segment of the secondhand industry, according to NARTS.

Though winter was historically a sluggish season for retail, business boomed at Mustard Seed Home Consignment, said owner Diana Clark. People are downsizing, she said, but it's more than the economy--our society is rife with baby boomers looking to simplify. Budget-minded newlyweds and new college grads are scooping up the surplus as fast as it comes.

The store employs a full-time designer who professionally merchandises the furniture and décor in the 7,000 square-foot showroom at 8290 E. 41st St., enticing buyers to part with their cash.

Then, there's me. I'm a sucker for books. Let me loose in Barnes & Noble and I'll show you how to spend a car payment. Instead, I go to Gardner's Used Books & Comics, 4421 S. Mingo Road.

Since 1991, Gardner's has bought or traded books, comics, magazines, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records and dolls--actually, "there aren't many collectible items we don't buy," said owner Richard Gardner.

The store, which sprawls nearly half an acre, boasts more than two million volumes. Gardner sees about 2,000 books and 200 CDs and DVDs come through his doors everyday. Collectors don't even have to drive to the store to sell or trade; Gardner's will come to you.

It all sounds so easy. But, before you head out to shop yourself silly, read on for some pointers on how to navigate the world of secondhand bargain-hunting.

Shop often, especially when looking for something specific. Because turnover is high at the quality secondhand stores, it's best to check in regularly for the best deals on choice items.

Get on the mailing list at your favorite shop. You'll be the first to know about special promotions.

Before you cast your shadow on the check-out counter, give your items more than just the usual once-over. Sales are final at many stores, so check for stains and tears.

Take plenty of time to shop, and look closely. When clothes shopping, look through individual items on the rack. Try on anything you expect to be able to wear out of the house.

Who couldn't use some extra cash? But before you go trotting your gently used stuff to the nearest second-hand port, educate yourself on the tricks of the trade.

Check with trusted sources for the reputation of a store before consigning or selling. Is the store a member of local and/or national secondhand retailer associations?

Is the store clean, adequately lighted and well-staffed? Does merchandise turnover quickly? Are items for sale clearly displayed?

To maximize the price at which your items can sell, take the time to spruce them up a little. Clothes should be spotless, freshly laundered and ironed. Dust and polish furniture and décor. Wash glassware with a little vinegar to add extra brightness.

Have a chat with the store owner. Does the store do business on a consignment basis, which means the owner will keep a percentage of the proceeds at the point of sale, or is it resale, where a store pays for an item up front? What happens if your items don't sell?

After your item has sold, make sure to get a check on the spot.

Only send in-season clothing to your favorite consignor.