I want to help you avoid these thrifting mistakes by giving you the best thrifting tips to get started on thrifting! I’ve been thrifting for about 10 years now and over the years I have learned some tips and trips that help me find amazing finds over the years. These thrifting tips have helped me score amazing finds, satisfying hauls, save money, and help to reduce my impact on the Earth. From college dorm accessories to baby clothes, I’ve thrifted it all!
This post is about the best thrifting tips to get you started and score big!
Go when you have time
The biggest mistake you can make in a thrift store is going into your favorite thrift stores with a hurried mentality. By nature, consignment shops are not laid out in the most orderly or beautifully designed way. Unlike your Target experience, isles are not meticulously designed to encourage you to roam from one section to the next, picking up items you probably didn’t need.
It is imperative to leave yourself enough time to search through isles to find the particular items you are looking for and to make sure they are of good quality. Leave yourself an ample amount of time to roam and take your time looking for the best deals.
Keep an ongoing list on items you need
This is a new tip that I’ve recently added to this list of thrifting tips. When I say keep ongoing items you need, I’m not just talking about items you want! See, there is a difference. Choosing secondhand shops is not only about getting items for cheaper or getting a good deal, it is also about reducing are carbon footprint and helping to decrease our impact on the planet.
Thrift shopping is the ultimate way to reduce and recycle! This is especially true when you can find items you need and do not have to purchase new items. This reduces the amount of virgin materials used to make that item.
Create a running list of items you need so that each time you’re in the thrift store, you can look at your list and search for those items. This is one of my favorite thrifting tips for finding home goods. It’s important to have that list because it may take you several times to find the item, but knowing exactly what you’re looking for helps you have a better chance of finding it next time.
Bring your own reusable bag
This is an easy tip! Of course you should bring your own reusable bag with you while thrifting! Remember, it’s not just about the great deals, it is also about the positive impact on our planet. Continue reducing your environmental impact on the planet by bringing your own reusable bag so you can refuse plastic grocery bags for your items.
Use the fitting room
Remember when I talked about making sure you have enough time when you’re shopping second hand, consider this a great reason! Using a fitting room is a thrifting tips essential because it’s so important to try on your fashion pieces before you purchase.
Thrifted fashion comes from all over and unlike a local store, you may not know much about the brand or the type of material of the clothing to have a good idea of how the clothing will fit on you. Trying on the clothes in dressing rooms before you buy ensures you have better chances of the pieces you purchase working well for you.
The only clothes I’ve had good success on without having to try on are children’s clothes for my kids (I always size up, just in case), and oversized graphic t-shirts. These are pretty standard items that I can almost guarantee I can make work!
Bring a friend
Bring along someone to shop with! It’s nice to have someone who can help you find items on your wish list or you can bounce ideas off while shopping. Having a best friend come along with you on your thrifting experience is almost like having another set of eyes! They can help you look out for new products and find specific items you’re looking for.
If you have a friend who has never been thrifting or is skeptical, take them along with you! Show them the thrift community through your eyes and share with them these thrifting tips to help them grab the best finds!
Use Pinterest and Social Media
We are fortunate to live in a world of social media and Pinterest as a constant source of inspiration. If used correctly, these platforms can help keep us connected, knowledgeable to what is happening outside of your personal community, and inspired to try new things! Before hitting up your local thrift stores, check out Pinterest and social media to find items that match your own personal style. These are thrifted items you can add to your ongoing list. You can also save items for later or screenshot the items as a great way to help you find items you truly want and will use and wear.
Cross Reference with Ebay and Mercari
These online marketplaces are amazing places to find unique items. They are also great for cross-referencing items you find in consignment stores or vintage stores. You never know the value of a vintage item that you may find and this is perfect to understand the value of an item you may find. While I’m not encouraging you to only shop for valuable pieces, I’ve found that at time I will find the most awesome pieces and they’re actually incredibly rare or valuable. What may seem like standard thrift finds for you could be seen as a higher quality item that you maybe anticipating.
Look for brand names and tags
I love finding items with brand names and tags! When I see a tag on an item I immediately feel like I’ve gotten a score. Believe it or not, this is incredibly common. People donate their clothing for various reasons and often time I will find never-before-worn clothing with tags on. In addition, I like to look for brand-name clothing pieces from the fashion industry because I find that the quality is often higher. This is not true for every brand! But more often than not, the better the brand, the higher the quality of items. Again, cross reference online or on the website of the brand to learn more about the materials if you can!
Overlook Minor Imperfections
Use your discretion to know when to overlook small imperfections and when those imperfections impact the quality of items. For me, I am not a huge DIY or crafty person – there is a limit to my ability to completely transform thrifting items into new merchandise. However, there are minor imperfections that even I can overlook because I know that the items I am purchasing are still great items! The imperfections I can overlook include stains that I can get out and minor holes. This will look different for everyone so you’ll want to choose the best items for you!
Are you ready to join the thrifting community and try second-hand shopping? Whether you’re going online thrifting, the local goodwill, Salvation Army, or even a yard sale, I hope these tips were helpful for you!
These are my best thrifting tips to get you started on your thrifting journey and help you score big!
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