Like many women, she loves shopping in town at regular haunts like H&M, Topshop and Zara.

She loves looking at the clothes that are stocked there, yet she's more than happy to leave empty- handed.

Miss Hanamariya Halim, a 22-year-old student, explains: "I don't buy clothes from those stores because I know sooner or later, I will find something similar or sometimes, even better and at a fraction of the price."

Miss Hanamariya prefers thrift shopping.

Her room in a corner terrace house near Siglap is filled with clothes, shoes and books bought at thrift stores.

Dresses with eclectic prints and unique cuts - like a vintage flare dress - look like they are about to spill out of her very full wardrobe.

She started thrift shopping seven years ago and says that she normally wouldn't pay more than $5 for tops, or more than $10 for dresses, unless they are designer items or something she thinks she can't get elsewhere.

Thrift stores are typically run by non-profit organisations such as The Salvation Army, Singapore Red Cross and Singapore Council of Women's Organisations, and they sell items donated by people who want to dispose of them.

Though they sell anything from clothes to tea sets to electrical items like blenders, these are far from junk stores for shoppers like Miss Hanamariya.

Her thrifting skills can come to good use as it has earned her some extra cash on the side.

When vintage bags were popular a few years ago, she would buy them for about $3 to $10 and sell them on for about $30, which was half of the market price back then.

Miss Hanamariya laments that she can't thrift shop as much as she used to a few years ago, mainly due to her studies. Now, she usually visits the Singapore Red Cross thrift store at Opera Estate every Friday to hunt for bargains.

But she is not the only bargain hunter.

Miss Hanamariya says that she has noticed more people frequenting these unconventional shopping joints over the past few years.

She has also introduced many friends to the culture of thrifting.

Mr Tony Tan, 50, sales supervisor at Hi-Thrift, a store in Geylang, says he sees more students coming in for cheap items as they want to save money.

A spokesman from The Salvation Army, which has five thrift outlets, also says that they have seen a significant increase in the number of younger shoppers, students and even fashion designers.

And while getting cheap finds is certainly a bonus, it isn't the only motivating factor to rummage through racks of previously unwanted clothes.

Miss Hanisah Zelani, a 22-year old student, says: "Cheap prices used to be the reason I resorted to thrifting, but now I head to the stores for unique designs that I can't find on the street.

"It's like treasure hunting."

Some of these treasures are designer goods - sometimes sold for less than $20.

"I almost screamed when I saw a pair of Prada shoes for $15," Miss Hanamariya recounts, showing off the shoes with pride.

Among her other treasures are an $8 Salvatore Ferragamo bag and $20 for a pair of Chanel glasses.

But such gems are not easily found. Shoppers have to dig around and comb through racks of clothes.

Mrs Rana Wehbe-Flinter, a freelance fashion stylist, says that some shoppers may be discouraged when they find that items aren't neatly presented.

The 30-year-old, who is also a full-time fashion blogger, adds: "Patience and determination are key.

"You shouldn't have any expectations going into the store, so your mind is open to any possibility."

She also shares that while the cheap prices may excite shoppers, it is important to check the quality of the product. For instance, cotton items can often be worn out and stretched.

Fashion apparel apart, it seems that furniture, tea sets and even ovens are a hit at thrift stores.

Miss Hanamariya's mother, Madam Rohaini Shukor, is such an avid thrifter that almost everything in her living room is second-hand.

The 56-year-old housewife does not limit herself to thrift stores, saying that garage sales are a gold mine for the "part-time trawler". This is because they are often held by expats who are moving out of Singapore.

Madam Rohaini, who usually shops with a group of friends, snagged cushions with designer covers by Jim Thompson at a dollar each at one such sale. They would normally cost around $60.

"It's good that we save so much. It means we have more money for my children's education," says the mother of four.

There is a certain amount of satisfaction when shoppers go thrifting.

Miss Hanamariya explains: "I like showing off my top, which only costs $2.

"I love the thrill of paying a lot less for something worth a lot more."

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