I love thrift shopping so much! I think it is fun, and the fact that it saves money is a huge plus. Of course there are some risks that come with shopping second hand. There are no returns and since the items aren’t brand new you have to check everything carefully for damage. To help you navigate the world of second hand shopping I have compiled this list of all my best thrifting tips!
If you are new around here be sure to check out my monthly thrifted outfit posts. Each month I pick out 4 outfits from Pinterest and I recreate them using thrifted items. Thrifting is a great way to get new clothes for work or school at a lot cheaper than retail and Pinterest is the perfect place to find inspiration. August’s outfits are some of my favorites but April’s outfits were really stylish and great transition outfits!
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1. Don’t assume all Dirt is Permanent
The looser smudges are just dirt. That will easily come off. The smaller reddish/brown spot is a stain that will not come out.
First of the thrifting tips up is: it is important to learn the difference between surface level dirty and stained dirty. Thrift stores are not the cleanest places a lot of times and clothing and other items can get dirty just sitting in there being handled by lots of different people.
However, most of that dirt can be washed off once you get it home. This is why it is important to learn the difference. A stain is usually concentrated to small areas, often circular in shape. Surface level dirt on the other hand will usually come off if you start brushing at it with your hand.
2. Give Yourself Time
Do not go to a thrift store expecting to run in, grab the one thing you need and get out. That is what the dollar store or Walmart is for. At the thrift store you need to give yourself time to search for the gems hidden among the duds.
I like to give myself an hour or two to really have time to look around, inspect items and actually try on the clothes.
3. Try on Clothes
This is one thing I don’t understand how people skip. I struggle buying clothes online because I never know if it will fit right and I hate the hassle of returning things. Same applies here, you never know how something will fit and there are no returns to the thrift store.
These clothes have been washed and possibly shrunk or stretched out. So don’t waste your money and be sure you try on any clothes you buy. This can also help you find imperfections in the clothes that you couldn’t see when it was on the hanger.
One time I tried on a dress from a Chinese company and the bottom hem was VERY uneven. I would never have noticed if I hadn’t tried it on.
4. Do NOT Skim
When you are looking through the shelves and the racks of clothes try not to just walk up and down the isles skimming. The best way to find the great stuff is to really look through the clothes one at a time.
I like to bunch all the clothes to one end of the rack and then pull the items one at a time to the other end. This lets you get a really good look at the front and back of each item. Plus this way any items that you couldn’t see from the side you can now see because nothing is blocking them.
5. Inspect for Holes and Stains
Next thrifting tips is you should always check for holes and stains in every item of clothing. A couple of times I have been hasty and not checked and it always come back to bite. I hate wasting money.
Hot spots for holes include:
- Armpits
- Crotch
- Knees + Elbows
- Waist of dresses, jumpers and shirts
Just like holes you never know when someone donated an article of clothing with stains on them. Now we are talking about stains that are there for good and there is no hope of getting out without serious skills. Hot spots for stains are the front of shirts and ties, the back of skirts (especially long ones) and really anywhere else on clothing. Stains can end up anywhere and they are a big motivator for people to give away clothes so you have to watch out for them.
6. Have a Plan in Mind
By this I mean that it can be helpful to go in looking for certain items. Maybe you need new work clothes, or clothes for vacation or wall art to redecorate your office. Maybe it is all of those things lol. But going in without any plan at all is going to lead to a lot of wandering around the store and buying things you don’t actually need.
However this is not a situation where you can go in looking for too specific of an item either. Saying you want a cheetah mid length pleated skirt and knee high light brown boots and expecting to walk out with those exact items is a bit unrealistic.
I like going in with several different inspirational outfits or a broad idea of what I am looking for. For example: a cream outfit to wear on the Amalfi Coast. This allows more room for creative findings.
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7. Find Out Sale Days
The prices at most thrift stores may seem unbeatable but most stores have half off days where you can slash those prices down even further. These days often fall on holiday weekends like Labor Day or Memorial Day. Other stores pick one day a month and have the sale to clear out inventory.
My nearest store does half off clothes every Wednesday. The best way to find out when your store has deals is to just ask! Ask your store clerk and then base your shopping sprees around those days and you can save even more than you already do by shopping second hand!
8. Look at More than Clothes
Check out how to make this DIY glitter candle!
You can find great deals on kitchen goods, furniture, and decorations on top of clothes. Furniture in particular is a great place to save money because it is so much cheaper than buying it new. Many of the furniture pieces would make great DIY projects.
I also have an in depth post about Buying Furniture on Facebook Marketplace that can help you save and has several tips for inspecting and picking out second hand furniture. Decorations are another gold mine. People only use their holiday decorations once a year so they tend to be in particularly great shape.
9. Dress to Shop
This really applies to any shopping excursion but especially here, make sure you are dressed in comfortable clothes that you feel good in. You’re going to be walking around the whole time you’re there so make sure you wear comfortable shoes and you won’t be miserable.
Also be sure you are wearing clothes you feel good in. If you look good, you feel good, you’ll be happier and you’ll have more patience and confidence. If you are shopping for clothes I also recommend wearing clothes that are easy too change in and out of. And wear a good basic set of nude bra and panties that won’t distract from the clothes you’re trying on.
10. Be Picky
With the amazing prices it can be easy to say “eh I like it, it is only a few bucks I’ll just buy it”. Especially when you are on the fence about an item. But then since you don’t love it you NEVER wear it again and the money was wasted.
Soo for real savings only buy what you really love! This will help avoid clutter and waste in the home too. It is good practice to be picky in all your shopping to avoid this issue.
11. Find Gift Cards on Raise
Raise is an app where you can buy discounted gift cards. It is a great way to save money doing shopping you would already be doing. Some big chain thrift stores offer thrift stores so this can be a great option to save a little extra when thrift shopping.
I know for sure there are sometimes goodwill gift cards on the app. It is based on availability though.
Sign up for Raise today using this link and get $5 off your first purchase!
12. Test the Electronics
Please don’t buy any electronics without testing them to be sure they work. This is along the same lines of not trying on clothes. Almost every store will have designated outlets for you to plug things in and test them out.
Don’t waste your money and just take the extra minute or two it takes to do this. I even saw one suggestion somewhere that said to carry extra batteries in your purse to test battery run items. I thought that was such a simple and smart solution.
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13. Don’t be Afraid to Haggle
This thrifting tips may come as a surprise because we don’t tend to haggle on anything really in stores now a days. Many stores will give set prices to items regardless of condition. If you see a crack or a nick or any other imperfection and you still want to buy the item just bring it up to the cashier at the front and they may offer you a discount.
Some stores won’t but it can’t hurt to ask. Another situation I’ve had was two nearly identical pairs of shorts where one was priced at $2.00 and the other was $5.00. Of course the pair that fit me better was the expensive pair. So, I brought both up to the front and asked if they would price match to the lower price and they did!
14. Consider DIY’s and Flips
Looking for items to use in DIY’s and flips is another great way to save money. You can recycle items and sometimes looking at things in a new light can be great for creating unique decor.
Don’t be afraid to take on some fun projects using items you have found at the thrift store. You can also often find craft supplies like yarn and fabric at the thrift store. Just be sure that what you are are paying is actually a discount from retail.
15. Don’t Buy EVERYTHING…
Some things should be off limits to donate in my opinion. Underwear, swimsuits and socks for example. That just isn’t good hygiene and I don’t know the health situation of the person that donated them. If you wouldn’t be willing to borrow it from a friend let alone a stranger then just stay away.
I am even careful buying shoes and limit it to like new pairs in case of fungus. Plus shoes conform to their owners feet and that can make old shoes uncomfortable to new wearers. I’ve never bought a used hat either because I worry about lice, although lice cannot live without a host for more than a week or so. Clorox wipes can also be used to clean hats.
16. Wash Up
Thrifting tips 16 is to make sure you wash everything first thing when you get it home. Before you wear it or use it in any way. Like I have already touched on, thrift stores are not the cleanest of all places and there is no way of knowing where items have been before they got into your hands. Not to mention all the many many people that come through thrifts stores every day and touch everything. So long story short wash it all. Get rid of germs however you can before you decide to use it.
17. Have Fun!
Just have fun with it! Try on things you wouldn’t normally, get outside your comfort zone and just have enjoy yourself. It is ok to leave empty handed and it is ok to not like everything. But chances are if you give thrifting a chance then you will find something you like. Get some friends together and go together. Go with your mom and sister and help pick out outfits for each other.
One time I even dragged my (then boyfriend) along and we picked out the most ridiculous clothes we could for each other and did a silly fashion show! Having fun allows you to relax and enjoy what you are doing.
Thrifting Tips to Live By
Following these thrifting tips will help you have a better experience shopping second hand. Thrift shopping doesn’t have to be scary and it is far from gross. It is an art and you have to weed through the junk to find the diamonds,
Thrift shopping is not only good for the wallet but it is also good for the environment. It prevents a lot of clothes from ending up in our already overflowing dumps. If you have any other thrifting tips of your own be sure to share them in the comments.
If you are new around here we use all the money we save in day to day life wether its thrifting tips or discount codes to travel the world! We are going to Italy and Puerto Rico in the up coming months and I am so excited!! If you want to be inspired for your own travels I recommend New York City for local travel or Bali for a more exotic location!!
Great info!
Thank you! Hopefully you can make good use of them.