Get on down to the Thrift Store to save money

I love thrift store shopping, but my husband doesn’t. He hates the idea of used stuff sometimes. Like it’s unclean or something. But I LOVE saving money. Why not get a shirt that is like new for half the amount you would pay in the store? It’s a great big treasure hunt and I could literally spend hours searching to find a good deal.

Shopping at thrifts stores is a great way to save money. You can find some really great stuff, whether you’re looking for clothes, furniture, or items to decorate your home. I love looking this time of year for Halloween costumes, because who wants to spend $20 on a new costume when you can spend $5 on a like new one. Here are a couple of pictures I took this week at a local thrift store – cute costumes, no?

Here are my best tips that will help you find greater success when shopping at thrift stores.

Get to Know Your Thrift Stores

If you’re new to shopping and thrift stores and don’t know what’s in the area, google  find out what thrift stores are in your area.

When looking for a thrift store, look for ones that are located in the “nicer” part of town. Not only will the store likely be nicer, but the items you’ll find there will more likely be quality items such as high-end brands and items that are less worn.

Once you’ve chosen your stores, give them a call and find out if they have standard sales every week (such as 50% off on Wednesdays) and when they put their new items out.

View Items with a Creative Mind

When it comes to finding items at a thrift store, it’s not only about what there is; it’s about what you can do with it. If you can find a $3 lamp and use a $3 can of spray paint to make it a “brand-new” item that fits perfectly with your bedroom décor, then you’ve just saved a ton over buying new lamps.

Many things can be spray painted, such as furniture, frames, accessories, art pieces and more. As you’re searching for items, look for things that you like the shape of, even if you don’t like the color. For clothes, consider ways that you could tailor the item to make it fit, whether you turn flared jeans into Bermuda shorts or bring in the waist of a skirt that’s too loose.

I love to stock up on costumes and dress up clothes when they have Halloween costumes on sale. You can find some really nice items for under $2!

Take Your Time and Be Patient

One thing that you have to realize with thrift store shopping is there are times when you’re going to leave with nothing. The main thing is to know what you’re looking for, have an open mind, and be patient as you’re looking.

When you find an item you like, don’t rush off to buy it. Look at the item inside and out. For clothes, look for rips, stains, worn spots, loose seams, missing buttons and so on. If possible, try the item on. Wear tight-fitting clothing, such as leggings and fitted shirt, so if needed you can easily try items on when dressing rooms aren’t available.

As you’re going through items, take your time. You might find gems behind something or under something that you would miss if you didn’t take your time.

My recent awesome thrift store find was one of those fancy moving Santa’s workshop lighted displays for around $15! Those are always around $60-$100 new.

What was your favorite thrift store find? Nothing is better than boasting about a recent thrift store purchase! I’d love to hear about your thrift store successes in the comments.