Best Tips For Thrift Store Shopping

Want to know my best tips for thrift store shopping?

Thrift shopping has been one of my favorite pastimes since I was a kid and from the looks of it, I’m not the only that enjoys it! It seems that thrift shopping has gained tremendous popularity over the last few years AND is a necessity if you’re on the frugal train because it’s one of the best ways to save money whether you’re shopping for clothes, furniture, home decor or housewares.

I’ve gotten so accustomed to thrift shopping that I find it difficult, these days, to pay retail…especially for clothing. I also find some of the most beautiful, unique home decor pieces for a fraction of what they would cost new. If the pieces don’t fit my color scheme or decor style, I either paint or repurpose. Sometimes, you just gotta think outside the box!

I know that thrift shopping may not be for everyone, but there’s certainly no shame in it. I’ve always said that you can dress like a million buck for just a few dollars if you know where, when and how to shop.

This is why I decided to write this post

I’ve had many people ask me how I find such good deals and I’ve always say, “just lucky, I guess”. But the more I thought about it, there are actually quite a few tips I can share that reveal my strategy.

So, if you’d like to know how I do it, I’m more than happy to share my best tips for thrift store shopping that I’ve used for many years to score some of my best finds!

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you buy a suggested product, I will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.  For more information, see my disclosure page.

24 of my best tips for thrift store shopping

Have a budget

I know I sound like a broken record, but like with just about everything we spend money on…You NEED a budget for this, as well.

We can get so caught up with the idea that thrifting is saving money, but you really have to be careful about how much you can spend.

People tend to forget about budgeting when thrifting because the prices are, for the most part, cheap. And that right there is exactly why you should have a budget.

When you see such low prices, you tend to want to buy things that you may not really need or even want. This is where you can get into trouble. I have even been guilty of this in the past and have gotten home with my haul and asked myself “What was I thinking?” or “Why in the heck did I buy that??!”

The safest way to keep from going over budget it go with cash AND a list. This will keep you from overspending and having buyers remorse, later.

keep a list of what you need

Speaking of lists, I keep a running list of the things I may be looking for, usually in my phone. That way, I always have it with me. 

Also, keep your family’s sizes on the list in case you come across something that’s a good deal or too good to pass up. We might think we can remember what it is we need or would like to look for, but chances are, without my list…I won’t remember it until I get home. Then, it’s too late.

shop midweek

In the thrifting world, there are certain days of the week that are prime for shopping. Generally, Tuesdays & Wednesday’s are the best.

By midweek, the stores have been restocked. Most donations come in on the weekends when people have the time to clear out closets, etc. It’s also when garage sales are over and most people head to the thrifts stores to donate the leftover merchandise.

Skip the weekends for shopping if at all possible. The stores tend to be crowded and the merchandise has usually been picked over.

go often

Now, I don’t mean go often and spend money you may not have or go just to be going.  What I mean is, if you’re looking for something in particular and you don’t find it right away, go back more than once or twice. Chances are you’ll eventually find what you’re looking for. This does require some patiences, though. 

Thrifting is like treasure hunting. The stores are constantly putting out new merchandise and the shelves and racks are always changing. So, if you’re wanting to increase your chances of finding what you’re looking for, this is definitely one of the best tips for thrift store shopping that you can implement.

dress comfortable

When I go thrifting, I always dress for it.  What I mean by that is I wear comfortable, easy on-easy off clothing. This comes in handy when you need to try something on. I strongly urge, if you can, to try on everything before you buy it. Just because it’s inexpensive doesn’t mean that you want to waste your money on something that doesn’t fit. 

If you’re worried about trying something on that someone else may have already worn, well guess what? When you go and try on clothes in department stores, you also have no idea whose already put that garment on.

Many thrift stores don’t have dressing rooms, either. If this is the case, dressing in layers will help you in the trying on process. If you can easily slip something on over your clothes, that will make it easier to decide if you want to purchase something.

Bottom line is in order to not waste your money, you NEED to try on before you buy. Many stores will not allow you to return anything once you buy. On the other hand, some will allow you to return for a store credit, which lead me to my next tip.

know the stores return policy

Always, always, always ask the clerk what the return policy is if you’re not allowed or don’t have time to try on in the store. Goodwill has a 7 day return policy for store credit only. You have to have the receipt and tags must still be on the item.  I’ve never found this to be a problem for me, because I can almost always find something for my store credit.

bring supplies with you

I have a little bag in my purse with some essentials for thrifting. Being a little prepared can help your shopping experience be fun & enjoyable.

• Small tape measure for measuring furniture, etc.
• Hand sanitizer, because not everything in a thrift store is clean.
• Face mask if they require one.
• Old towels or blanket, in case you’re going to haul a piece of furniture.
• Batteries for testing to see if items work.
• A magnet for testing sterling silver. Magnets generally won’t stick sterling, but will stick to silverplate
• Water bottle & snack to keep you out of the drive throughs.

make friends/be friendly with the employees

The people who work at thrift stores are always great sources of information, and they can help save you time in your shopping if you’re looking for something specific.

If they don’t know, then they may be able to tell you what day of the week is best for getting those things you’re looking for.

find out what’s on sale for the day/week

My local thrift store has 20% off, 40% off & 60% off certain tag colors every week. As you walk in the front door, there’s a dry erase marker board listing the sale.

Goodwill has one certain color that changes each week, where they offer 50% off that color. I always make it a practice to ask an employee what the sale color is for the week if I don’t see it posted.

Other (Goodwill) sale days that offer a 25-30% off everything in the store includes these groups:

• Mondays – senior citizen day (55+)
• Tuesdays – Students, teachers, military (active and vets), first responders & medical professionals.

learn to spot quality

You can easily find name brand, high end items for super cheap if you know what to look for. Knowing your brands and materials will be a huge help in deciding if that item is a deal or is worth the money.

Natural materials such as real leather, linen or wool blends tend to be more expensive than synthetics, but way more affordable at most thrift shops.

Sometimes, it’s easy to spot or feel the difference and this becomes easier as you get to be more seasoned with the thrifting world.

Of course, I’ve never been a snob when it comes to what I wear. If I like it, it fits well and the price is right, I will purchase it whether it’s a natural or synthetic item and it doesn’t have to be name brand.

NWT-New With Tag shirt from Steinmart for $5.00 

shop off season for apparel

Every store is different. Some stores don’t put out off-season apparel possibly due to lack of space. But, if your store does have all season apparel out on the floor, you can score some fantastic deals. Just like retail department stores, thrift stores will mark down out of season clothing to make room for whatever season we may be in. Think spring/summer for sweaters, coats & boots…shorts, sundresses & tank tops for winter, etc.

take time to go through the clothes rack

When I go shopping for clothes, I usually try to go when I have a little time to spend. I have found some of my best deals by going through the racks, piece by piece.

Some stores make this easier than others. 

Goodwill usually has their clothing separated by size. I love this method because it speeds up the looking process. 

My local thrift store, however, has everything sorted by color.  I can’t figure this one out! This makes you have to look through every piece of clothing and hope you get lucky with sizing(which I have.) It’s just more time consuming.

dress your kids for (so much) less

Both of my daughters shop thrift and consignment for their kids’ clothing. Children grow so fast and it almost seems ludicrous to pay full retail for something that they outgrow so quickly.

All of my grands look adorable, wear name brand clothing and no one’s the wiser! When they finally outgrow their duds, my girls either pass them down, donate or resell. That makes dressing them almost for free if they sell them back on consignment!

Look for items to repurpose/diy

Repurposing is simply reusing an item for a different purpose than what it was actually meant for.

You’re only limited by your imagination, friend! Over the years, I have found old picture frames that I have either repainted (and sometimes I leave them as is) and put a printable in them or a downloaded art! Voila! A new piece of home decor!

Beautiful ornate frame $4.85 was 20% off that day. Total was $3.88

One of my favorite pieces is an old tray that had pansies on it. It only cost me $4.00 at Goodwill. It was a good size, so I stripped the pansies off, painted it and then used a French stencil on it. It’s one of my favorite pieces that I display on top of my china cabinet in my dining room.

Before/After

The possibilities are endless when it comes to repurposing or DIYing because you can do it with just about anything!  Think outside the box and see what you can come up with!

Repurposing is also great for the environment. When you can find new uses for things that would most likely end up in a landfill, that’s a win win!

Google and Pinterest are great sources for ideas, if you need some help figuring out what can be done with certain items, as well.

don’t be afraid to ask for discounts

If you find an item that is damaged or broke, it never hurts to point it out to the clerk and ask if you can get a better price. You have to decide if you would be able to repair it and if it’s worth it.

I have done this several times with much success, especially with clothes. Sometimes, all it takes is a needle and thread or treating something with dawn dish liquid (my favorite stain remover).

I’ve even gotten things for free. You can be sure that if you don’t ask, you won’t receive, but if you do ask, you most probably will!

inspect before you buy

When thrift store shopping, it pays to inspect items well. Always check for wear, stains and holes in clothes and how to launder your picks.

If you find a clothing item that has a small hole under the arm or if it has a stain on it, you have to decide if it’s worth the money for a little repair. If you love it and it fits well, it just may be!

When you’re considering housewares or home decor, make sure to check for chips or crack and always make sure appliances work.

Our local thrift store doesn’t put them out to sell if they don’t work and they always put the the date that it was checked on the tag.

If you’re leary of that, you can always ask to try it yourself before you buy.

Set of 4 red transfer ware plates made by I.Godinger & Co. All 4 were only $5.85. I had been looking for red transfer ware for months! Very pricey, even on Etsy. My patience paid off!

avoid impulse purchases

Just because thrift stores are inexpensive doesn’t mean that you can’t or won’t blow your budget. If you don’t have some sort of plan or budget, it’s way too easy to go overboard. I know this because I’ve done it! 

If you’ve fallen into this trap too, my advice is to only use cash and leave the debit/credit cards at home. Also, if you go with a purpose and know what you’re looking for instead of just going to see what you can find, this tip will help you to avoid the overspending trap. Remember…thrift shopping is supposed to help you save money…not overspend.

sign up for rewards!

Many thrift stores have rewards programs, so that every time you make a purchase, you receive points. Once you’ve reached the point threshold, they send you a coupon either by text or email for a certain amount off of your next purchase. My local thrift store does this and it’s usually $5 off your next $20 purchase.

You do have to have the coupon code with you to save, though! It’s a great way to save a little more money as long as it’s something you needed, anyway.

if you don’t love it, don’t buy it!

Even though this is down the list, his should be number one for my best tips for thrift store shopping! I’ve learned through many years of thrifting that if I don’t absolutely love an item, if it doesn’t fit great or if I don’t have a purpose or use for it, DON’T BUY IT!!! You’re not saving money if you buy it, take it home and don’t use or need it!

If you love it, don’t hesitate!

This is also at the top of my list for best tips for thrift store shopping! (My tips are really in no particular order) If you see something you like but you decide to wait & come back tomorrow, chances are it’ll be gone. This has happened to me more times than I can count, but I usually told myself it just wasn’t meant to be mine. If I had to think about, I probably really didn’t love it that much. But…every now and then, when you see something, you just know.

You can also try asking the clerk if they could hold something for you for just a little while. They may or may not do it, but there’s no harm in trying.

learn what stores have the best deals

Since all thrift stores are a little different, you will find that some have better deals than others on certain items. For some, it may be clothing, for others it may be housewares or furniture. 

Location also makes a big difference on the items you can find. I live in a small town where there’s one Goodwill, one thrift store (with 2 locations) and a Hospice boutique. This will probably be the case in most small towns. I LOVE this because there’s usually a large variety on what I can find when everyone in a small town donates to just a few stores.

In larger cities, however, you’re going to find that it might require you to travel to multiple stores. 

In older neighborhoods (with older people) you might find really cool, vintage items. If you’re looking for high end clothing, try visiting thrift shops in more affluent neighborhoods. 

The more frequent you go, you will learn which ones are the best and which ones to not waste time at.

Use a thrift store directory!

Can you believe it! Thethriftshopper.com makes it so easy to find thrift stores, no matter where you are! Just put in the town or zip code and BOOM! Up comes all the thrift shops in that area! 

It gives you directions, hours of operation, the phone number, which charity it’s affiliated with, payment methods that are accepted and even has reviews. 

This is great when you’re traveling, too! I’ve found some of my best scores when we were on vacation or out of town.

take something with you to donate

I’ve also made another rule for myself when buying clothing. Since purging my closet at the beginning of the year, I’ve tried to implement the one in, one out rule. This has kept my closet so much more organized and easier to manage.

I keep a donate bag in my closet for when I put something on and don’t love it. When I take it off, it goes straight into the bag. When a have the bag filled, off it goes to be donated. Same goes for other items around the house. If I’m not using something or I have a hard time finding a spot (home) for it, it gets donated. 

Too much clutter and an overpacked closet can be depressing, so why not help yourself and your community by giving something back.

know what not to buy

I had to include this one in my best tips for thrift store shopping because let’s face it…there are just some things that aren’t worth it and here are a few, in no particular order:

• Underwear
• Bathing suits
• Stuffed animals 
• Some toys 
• Car seats
• Pet beds/furniture 
• Used mattresses
• Upholstered furniture

Thrift stores are fantastic places to get a whole lot of bang for your buck, but remember…just because something is cheap, it doesn’t always mean it’s a great deal! Implement these tips and you’ll be a thrifting pro in no time! 

What are your best tips for thrift store shopping? Let me know in the comments!

Be sure to subscribe to Love To Frugal so you never miss a post and make sure to follow me on Pinterest, Instagram & Facebook for even more money saving, frugal living tips!

OTHER POSTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:

Ways To Save Money On Gas

How To Decorate Your Home On A Tight Budget

Habits of Highly Frugal People That Save Lots