Thrifting Tips for Successful Thrift Shopping

These thrifting tips will help the beginning thrifter up their game and get their next big find! Maybe you like the idea of experiencing the joys of thrift shopping, but you can’t quite make it there. These thrifting tips will take your thrifting game to the next level.

It’s not about finding the perfect piece, we search far and wide for the piece that’s been beat up and pushed around. Those are the pieces that are the most fun to restore.  It’s amazing to see that transformation and see that glimmer of hope come back, making all the hard work worth it.

So how we do it? How do we find the diamonds in the rough? Well, here are our tips to finding those special items every time.

Thrifting Tips

1. Pay it Forward

   We try to do this no matter where we go, but we find this is especially important when shopping at thrift stores. The thing is most people who work at a thrift store get paid on the lower end or might even strictly volunteer.  Often these thrift stores are run to help charities, so it’s just not good karma to ruin the day of someone trying to help make the world a better place.  If there is a particular thrift store you frequent or enjoy, being nice, making connections and building those relationships can go a long way in making your thrifting experience more enjoyable.  If the workers know your taste, they might hold things for you or show you things that you might like.

2. Do the Circuit

   And do it often. Thrift stores tend to huddle together. Many times, we just make a day of going from store to store to see what there is to see.  Each store is special and they each tend to cater to a different niche.  Most of my joys of thrift store shopping come from Tulsa Habitat for Humanity Restores, which tends to have anything we need for repurposing furniture.  They have tools, paint, brushes, drawer knobs, and more such as, appliances, sinks, wood, and flooring.  You name it at one point or another they probably had it.  Places like Goodwill and Salvation Army seem to have a pretty good mix of everything.  But I do have a soft spot for the locally owned thrift stores. It’s fascinating to see what smaller, localized thrift stores carry and the things our community has to offer.

3. Track the Specials

   This probably one of the top thrifting tips once you learn the circuit. Different stores have different schedules for the discounts and special deals.  Many thrift stores have discounts up to 75 percent off almost all the time for different items.  Knowing when and where to find the deals is imperative to experiencing the great joy of thrift store shopping.  Although, it’s not the main reason for the thrift store to exist, no one can deny the great job that comes from paying just a few dollars for that perfect pair of shoes or those new curtains.  Also, really great deals come when the seasons change.  You can find really great stuff, when people are just starting to go through their storage and get rid of stuff they don’t want or need.

4. Have a Wishlist

   Sometimes you don’t find what you need right away, but keep a list all the things you need or will need.  Lists for Christmas or birthday’s coming up, will help you be prepared.  Also, if you have a general wish list of things you want or need, then you can be on the look out for those great deals.  Some things are easier to find like clothes, certain movies, but others take a bit longer, so it’s important to think ahead and keep trying.

   For instance, a couple of years ago, I was really interested in learning how to sew.  But I was dead broke and I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to have time to really get anything done anyway.  I kept thinking and looking, thinking some more and then I just happened upon it.  A sewing machine, just $10. I took it home and it worked like a charm.

   Occasionally, I will have a person in mind, but I never quite know what to get them, so I’ll just kind of meander and think about it.  Then all of sudden something jumps out at me and it’s something they just have to have.  Thrift stores are great for finding things you don’t know you need.

5. Get Your Hands Dirty

   We love to get creative and turn those unsuspecting pieces into works of art.  It takes work, but those are the real treasures.  It depends on what you’re looking for, but sometimes you just have to get creative.  Nothing in the world is more fun to me than finding something that no one wants, maybe something that’s too broken to be used for it’s original purpose then finding a new use for it.

   For instance, I needed a way to organize my kitchen more.  We have a lot more kitchen wares than we do space.  I found this old shutter door and I found some hooks, so I could hang the pots and pans off the slats.  It was perfect.  I’m happy, the shutter’s happy, and my kitchen is organized!

6. Don’t Get Carried Away

   It’s easy to see all the great deals and get carried away, but at the end of the day, that won’t be fun for you and it’s not good for anyone else either. Thrifting requires that we be practical in your purchases.  Think ahead about what you really need and can use.  The “here today, gone tomorrow” nature of the stock can lead to hasty purchases. I know I should use my own advice because instead of shopping for what I need now, I shop for what I’ll need later.  Sometimes later never comes, I get busy and don’t finish the project.

7. Give Back

   Most thrift stores are not there simply for the sake of being there or to be a cheap alternative.  Most stores are there to help raise money for a charity.  They need new things coming in all the time to keep their business going. If you enjoy going to a thrift store, make sure you give back things that will help others experience the joys of thrift store shopping, also.

   So all in all I hope these tips help you enjoy more of the joys of thrift store shopping. Please leave a comment about all the bonuses you find in your treasure hunting adventures.

   Don’t forget to pin this for later!

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