Are You Ready To Go Thrifting?

 

It’s easy to find great deals but you’ll need to prepare before heading out- especially if it’s your first time. It can be like a competitive sport when you are dealing with experienced thrifters.

Shopping at a thrift store isn’t as easy as going to a department store. It requires a lot of rummaging, patience, time and determination. You will also need a lot of energy, so I don’t recommend going hangry or under-caffeinated.

Stores can get crowded and most of the time things are not organized. Navigating through the racks can be overwhelming so here’s what you need to know before you make your trip.

When it comes to thrifting, there is a method to my madness. Let me teach you my ways. This is my first-hand experience of second-hand shopping. 

Location, Location, Location

Generally, thrift stores in nicer parts of town have a better selection. I used to frequenty go to the thrift stores in Panama City Beach, FL and would find high-quality items that were barely worn, some with even tags. The stores were well organized and had a ton of designer stuff.

Start by exploring different areas and check out a few shops. Once you find the ones you love you won’t be able to pass by without taking a peek inside. Keep in mind, some of the big names stores will have better prices and sales but the smaller ones are less picked over so they may have better finds. If you’re out of town or want to discover more stores in your area check out the thrift store directory.

Know The Best Time to Shop

If you want to beat everyone else to the right stuff, ask your local store when they typically restock. Bigger chain stores are restocking every day so if you go early enough everything is still somewhat organized.

You will get a chance to see all the fresh items that were put out the night before. Most people are donating to smaller shops on the weekend so by Tuesday all their new goodies are out.

Thrift stores have different types of specials and deals on various days of the week. Once you find a store, you like to see when they have their sales. Good Will and Salvation Army offer discounts of 50% on certain colored tags on certain days.

I read a tip once from a Good Will employee that on Sunday between 10-12 is the best time to shop there because they announce the tag color that will be discounted for the week. They then start removing most of that color from the racks! This totally explains why I find it so hard to find sale items. You got to get there before they hide all the right sale stuff.

The holiday season is a time for giving and charitable second-hand stores see an influx of donations. Another plus is at this time most people are at the retail stores buying gifts so the thrift stores a bit less crowded.

With the new year just beginning, January is also an excellent time to shop because people are decluttering their homes for a fresh start.