I absolutely love thrifting. Scouring racks and shelves at the thrift store is one of my favorite pass-times. And, it saves us a bunch of money! There are often brand new and brand name items for sale at thrift stores for a fraction of the retail price. I have found some of my favorite clothes and home decor items at the thrift store. And when I got married, we didn’t buy anything new for our apartment (we could barely afford the apartment, much less new furniture and decor!). So we mostly visited thrift stores and found great things to furnish our home without spending a lot of cash.
Thrifting is such a good option when you need something but you don’t want to (or can’t afford to) pay full price. And I’m all about saving money! So, here are my 6 tips for thrift shopping.
1. Shop during dollar days and sales.
Check with your local thrift stores for the sales that they do during the week. Goodwill stores usually do a tag sale where a certain color will be 50% off or only a dollar. If the budget is really tight and I’m at Goodwill, I will only look at the color tag that’s on sale that week. You can also get clothes and shoes for half price at Salvation Army stores on Wednesdays.
2. Don’t shop on weekends.
Saturday and Sunday are probably the busiest times for thrift store shopping (or any shopping, right?). So try to go during the week. In my experience, there are always less people shopping on a weekday. And, you have to go during the week for the dollar day/tag sales that happen.
It also helps to go a few hours after they open. That’s when Goodwill will start rolling out the carts of new items.
3. Save your receipt!
I always save my receipts from thrift stores in case I need to exchange the item I bought. Even if you tried it on in the store, you may get home and notice that there is a flaw or defect that you can’t live with and need to take it back. Some thrift stores will exchange an item within seven days of purchase if you haven’t removed the tag and you have the receipt.
4. Avoid consignment/resale stores.
If you really want to save money thrifting, you’ll have to steer clear of consignment and resale stores. These stores can have great items, but often at a much higher price point. Goodwill does tend to price certain brands higher than others, but not as much as when the store has to make a profit on consigned clothing, so Goodwill, Salvation Army, or a local thrift store is usually going to have the best prices.
5. Know your store.
The best way to save money thrifting is to go often and learn your store. Find out when the dollar days are. Learn what goes on sale when. Take note if there is a good selection of furniture or shoes or purses at a particular store. Knowing these things will really help you as you search for things for your home or closet.
6. Bring a friend.
Thrifting is a great activity to do with a friend or fellow mama. Not only is it fun, but it’s so helpful to have another set of eyes looking for deals or to approve that dress you like. So, plan a playdate at the thrift store the next time you’re in need of something for your home.
Thrifting is SO fun and such a great way to save money. I hope these tips will help you not break your budget and have a cute home and closet at the same time.
How do you shop at the thrift store? Let me know below!
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