If you’re looking to slash your family’s clothing budget, consider your local thrift store! These warehouses for discarded treasures contain every brand of clothing under the sun, including name brand/designer labels, at a fraction of their retail price.
{Case in point – I recently found a pair of Ralph Lauren “Black Label” jeans in excellent condition at Goodwill for only $7. Their actual retail price? (Are you sitting down?) A whopping $398! Come to Mama…! 😉 }
Granted, thrift stores often have a pre-conceived “Eeewww!” notion attached to them (and depending on the location, this notion can be warranted). However, thrift stores have come a long way in recent years, and many strive to create a department store-ish atmosphere for their customers.
In addition to their already discounted prices, many thrift stores offer incentives such as $0.99 Days, Senior Discount Days, 50% off certain colored tags, and punch cards.
Here are four tips for getting the most out of your second-hand treasure hunts:
1. Inspect each item thoroughly. Check for things like ripped seams, holes in the armpits, stains – even small ones, missing buttons, etc. While many of these “blemishes” can be fixed, some clearly cannot. Also, be sure to test any and all zippers!
2. Try the items on! I cannot stress this enough. Just because that super cute dress is technically your size, it doesn’t mean it will fit like it would directly off the rack. Used clothing is just that – used! Which means it’s been washed, stretched and possibly shrunk. I made the mistake once of taking home the most darling Chinese silk dress for $4 because the tag said it was my size. (I’m sure you know where this is going, right?) Yep. Turns out, I spent $4 on an item I ended up re-donating to the thrift store. (Sigh) Lesson learned. Try everything on, first!
3. Check the Washing Instructions. Always double check each item’s washing/care instructions, especially if you’re not keen on going to the dry cleaners. 😉
4. Ask about donation incentives. Many thrift stores provide discount coupons in exchange for donations. These discounts often fall within the 20% range but can vary widely. Also, be sure to ask if these coupons are valid during special discount days before you load up your basket! 😉
Now it’s your turn! Tell us what your greatest thrift store “score” was and how much you saved!
Love thrift store shopping. Have gotten many super buys, too many to name but I love the challenge of finding the next score. On another note – we really need a Deseret Industries in the Tri-Cities, WA. If you are near one and haven’t tried it, you’re missing out big time.
I love to thrift shop. One of my best finds was a yellow kitchenaid stand mixer with the bowl and regular beater and whip beater for a great price of $7.00. It works perfectly. It even matches my kitchen. Win win!
My Mom taught me to haunt thrift stores. I remember her pride in finding a Givenchy pantsuit in like-new condition for $3.00 which fit her as if it had been custom-cut for her.
But a word of advice: Be VERY careful about buying upholstered furniture, pillows, or anything with stuffing including toys. Unfortunately, they can be a haven for bedbugs.
I love love love to thrift shop!!!! The shop I go to always has a bag of clothes for $10 and it’s a huge bag!!! I find such wonderful treasures and it goes to a great cause. The one I go to helps recovering drug addicts and another one I go too helps the animal shelter. Not only getting great deals on great clothes but also helping a worthy cause is a def win-win for me 🙂
I just recently bought an awesome blazer for $5. I had been searching at the mall all day and the cheapest blazer I found there was $60!
which stores are the best ones to go to here in the Tri cities? Mainly looking for boy clothes.
I’ve been a thrifter all my life…but here are few recent deaIs: baby Bumbo seat for $2.99, kids Sorel snow boots for 2.99, brand new kids Stride Rite & Lands End shoes for 1.99 each…and…wait for it…a killer Anthropology skirt for 2.00. And, those are just a few of the reasons I love thrifting! 🙂
I only started going to Goodwill about 2 months ago but have had great luck there. I bought a Nine West dress (those average around $60) for $1. It still had the tags on it but the price was ripped off. Then I’ve found many Nike workout shirts for $.99-3.59. I also bought a pair of Nike Dry Fit Golf pants for $.99 (reg. $75). I would recommend going to Goodwill on Mondays since that’s the days they change their 99cent color of the week. And make time to dig around.
I love thrift stores especially for my daughters. I cant find a reason to spend full price for gymboree outfits when they will only wear them for 3 months. I especially love the childrens attic in the parking lot of the DOL they have awesome deals especially when everything is 50% off I usually go and stock up for the season for less then 20 bucks!!!