Why I love thrift stores
Thrift stores are a great place to find deeply discounted clothing.
Most thrift stores offer housewares as well, but I’ll be talking about shopping for clothing in this post.
For me, it’s nostalgic
This might relate to only a few people, but I grew up shopping at thrift stores. By the time I was in high school, visits to the thrift store were always an event and we would get excited about possible finds.
I always say that I have few skills, but thrifting is one of them because of the number of hours I have put in 😂
There’s a sense of adventure
I get excited every time I get ready to go thrifting. You just never know what cool item you might find this time!
You can find some really good deals
Shopping for clothing is generally my reason for going thrifting. You can usually find some really good items for under $20 an item.
How to Search Thrift Stores for the Best Deals
Disclaimer: it definitely takes more planning and time than it did 10-15 years ago
My guess is that this is due to so many people buying stuff to sell online.
But there are still some great finds!
Shop Local Thrift Store Chains
While I have gotten some good finds at Goodwill and Volunteers of America, I find that local thrift stores tend to have better items at a generally cheaper price point.
Go in with an idea of what You Want to find
Know your size. It’s also a plus if you know your size for specific brands.
Thrift stores can be overwhelming with the sheer number of items they shove on racks.
Knowing that you are looking for summer dresses can cut down on the amount of time you spend searching.
Wear tighter-fitting clothes so you can try stuff on over them
Many thrift stores don’t have changing rooms but have mirrors hanging up throughout the store.
When I shop, I separate the clothes that I want to try on and save for when I get to a mirror.
Search the entire rack
Sort through each thing – often you will find gems tucked behind other clothes. While this can be time-consuming, you can find some great items that have been pushed to the back. I once found an Irish wool sweater for under $10 this way!
Keep an eye out for colors or textures you like. Some thrift stores sort by color and some sort by size. Some don’t sort at all.
Knowing what colors and fibers you like wearing helps when you’re sorting through all the hanging items on a rack.
Look for half-price tags
Most thrift stores offer half-price tags or a dollar tag. I almost always just get the half-price color unless it’s something I really want.
If there’s an item you want, but it’s a little more than you want to pay you can always go back the next week to see if it is still there and on sale. Most thrift stores rotate their half-price colors on a daily or weekly basis.
Sign up for notifications of sales
Sign up for text or email alerts if available.
I receive text alerts from a local thrift store chain. They will occasionally have random 50% off sales. I always try to make it to these if I need something!
Some of the best finds I’ve gotten
Nice Flannels – I got one from L.L. Bean that I wore most days this past winter! I think I paid around $5 for it.
French tablecloth – I don’t normally shop for linens, but this one caught my eye as I was walking past. I had a coupon so I only paid 99¢ for it. When I got home, I found out that tablecloths from that company retail for upwards of $300!
Shoes – I have found two pairs of Dansko shoes and a pair of lightly worn Birkenstocks at thrift stores. These shoes cost anywhere from $5-$20. If buying new, each of these kinds of shoes costs $100 or more.
I have found these items over years of going to a variety of thrift stores. Having an eye for what I know I like and my size helps tremendously!
Don’t forget Rummage & Garage Sales!
Rummage Sales
Local churches or community centers tend to host rummage sales as a fundraiser. I have found lots of great and cheap items in rummage sales over the past few years.
I went to a rummage sale where it was $3 for a paper grocery bag full of items – I got 2 nice coats!
Garage Sales
Garage sales can also be a great place to find deeply discounted items. I haven’t been to many over the past few years, but depending on the area you live in, these can be great to visit.
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