I Love Thrifting — Here Are My Biggest Thrifting Tips
I love thrifting. That’s no secret — I mean, it’s right there in the title.
Thrifting is a widely popular thing to do, but it’s also very practical. When you’re on a budget, thrift stores are the go-to for when you need to update your wardrobe, home decor, or media. The thrift stores can be treasure troves, stock full of incredible, priceless items. That being said, some thrift store trips can be flops. You won’t get lucky on every thrift store trip. For me, lately, my thrift store trips haven’t always been fruitful. You have to be patient.
Here are some of my biggest thrifting tips for someone who wants to make thrifting their full-time job. (Or at least act like it is, because everything is so expensive nowadays.)
Before you go…
Make a list or Pinterest board.
I love checking my style board on Pinterest — every couple of weeks, I check it and save different outfit ideas. I visit the board whenever I’m in the mood to thrift. The board gives me an idea of what to look for: jeans, sweaters, tank tops, etc. It narrows down what types of clothes or shoes I’m looking for, depending on the season, occasion, or vibe.
Check store discount days.
Some thrift stores offer discounts on select days. For example, a thrift store I have frequented offers discounts on Wednesdays. Now, that’s a terrible time for 9-5 girlies like me, so be sure to scour thrift stores in your area for discounts and sales. Most have Facebook pages!
You’ve walked through the door…
Check every rack.
Time to stroll down every aisle! Go to your size (most stores organize clothes by size), but don’t be afraid to size up! That being said, don’t stick to your gender. For women, visit the men’s sections! You may find an oversized t-shirt from the men’s section. In the men’s sections, check for oversized button-downs, graphic tees, and jackets.
Scan for quality materials.
Wool, 100% cotton, leather, silk, and denim tend to be more durable and expensive when new. You never know what you will find!
Inspect each item closely.
Check for stains, missing buttons, broken zippers, or smells. While some things can be fixed, others are deal breakers. If a jacket has too many stains or feeling very stretchy in the sleeves, then it may not be worth it.
Don’t skip all the sections!
Bookworm? Movie-watcher? Tech-savvy? Don’t skip out on the books, film, and tech sections of the store. Depending on the store, each store dedicates one corner of the store to books, movies, CDs and vinyls (yes, people still listen to those), and tech. I found a couple DVD players that still work at the thrift store. I found a Mac keyboard for $6. I once walked out of the store with seven DVDs for $30. Don’t even get me started on the books I’ve picked up at the thrift store. Make sure to hit all the sections. Furniture, housewares, tech, books, movies … the thrift store has some hidden gems!
Go often, go early.
Like I mentioned, you’re not going to hit the jackpot every thrift store trip. Go often — but not too often. Thrifting is budget-friendly, but you can’t buy everything. Go often. But also go early! On the weekends, try to aim at arriving as soon as the doors open. Thrift stores are also open on weeknights; after work, check out your local thrift store for hidden gems. Bonus: they’re not that crowded on weeknights.
Don’t expect perfection.
To wrap things up, go in with an open mind. Don’t go in expecting you’re going to find a timeless artifact or the perfect item on your style Pinterest board. You may go in with an idea of what you want, and then walk out with something completely different. Thrifting can surprise you — you never know what you’ll find!
