What To Look For At Thrift Stores
Thrift store shopping – I can’t get enough sometimes! When I had recently moved, a group of women invited me to go thrift shopping with them to a bigger city nearby. We had hit up more thrift stores than I could’ve ever imagined, but the FUN we had, looking for steals and deals, and the actual steals and deals we found – priceless.
I remember coming home from that trip, laying everything out on the table, eagerly telling my husband about my finds. He was shocked at the total of $20(ish) dollars. Me too! Many of the items that I had bought, I still wear today – they have been worth every penny. I can’t always say that about clothes that I buy from a regular department store. Have a really gotten my money’s worth out of those?
I am often asked “why buy used when you can buy new?” People also wonder why would someone spend so much time at a thrift store, when they can jump across the street and buy it in a split second? All valid questions and concerns!
I want to share with YOU, what I look for at thrift stores and why I think they are worth stepping foot into!
1. Exercise equipment – why buy new when all you are really looking for is something to exercise on? Exercising is exercising – whether it is brand new or not. It may not have all the bells and whistles as a brand new one, but if it does what you want it to, save some moolah and buy used! Granted this was at a LARGE garage sale (at a civic center), but I found an elliptical machine for $50.00 and free delivery! Keep your eyes peeled – you never know what you will find!
2. Books – every feel guilty for spending $15-$20 on a new book that you don’t like in the first place? Buy a book for a $1.00 or less at a thrift store and if you don’t like it? Just donate it right back to them!
3. Toys – toys are something that kids grow out of or get sick of so quickly! Again, why buy new? Give them a good washin’ when you bring them home and they will be like new! Kids like new to THEM – not necessarily BRAND NEW.
4. Pants – a timeless item for the most part. Pants don’t change styles as much as shirts do. I have been able to find some pretty generic pants/shorts that have lasted much longer than I expected and for a fraction of the price.
5. Exercise clothes – I am going to sweat every single time I wear them, so I don’t care whether they are new or used. Clothes wear out no matter what you buy – why overspend on something new, when you may be able to find a quality, name-brand item at half the cost at a thrift store? Majority of our name-brand clothing items are from clearance racks!
6. Furniture – often you can find “as good as new” furniture at thrift stores – it just may take a little extra time. Consider reupholstering or restaining a piece of furniture to make it like new!
7. Dishware and kitchen utensils – I have found more practical dishware at thrift stores than I ever thought I would. Some items are unbreakable as in they will last forever, no matter who uses them. For example, I found a jar funnel for canning – a solid metal one for $1.49. It’s going to last me forever! Glass dishware – another timeless item and unless it cracks, it will last you a lifetime!
8. Holiday attire – lets be frank. The ugly Christmas sweater is a HOT item in November early December! I remember needing one, but was told that there was not one to be found in our town (many had already looked). Shop early! Even for Halloween, I have seen some adorable and affordable costumes for kids – they wear it once and are done. Don’t spend a fortune!
9. Home décor – I have found some wonderful items that I have been able to repurpose, reuse (picture frames), and make anew. You may be thinking that you do not have a creative enough eye to pull something like this off. Can I just encourage you to give it a try?
10. Jewelry – some jewelry, such a beaded necklaces, can often be repurposed to make an old outfit have life again. A few dollars can go a LONG ways to enhance an outfit!
What are your favorite items to look for at a thrift store? What is your BEST find of all-time?
My son came home from school the other day and told me he needed a purple dress shirt for his Jazz competition that Saturday and I headed over to our local thrift store and walked over to the guys section and found the perfect shirt for him for $4. I was so happy and then after I came home and threw it in the washer and dryer it came out perfectly and needed no ironing! I was thrilled. I haven't been a big fan of thrift stores but I may be coming around after that.
That is AWESOME Leah! I have come down to that point a few times and have usually been able to find what I need, without spending a fortune. That is what I love about thrift stores! I recently went to one and didn't find much, but find one thing and I suppose one thing is worth it, right? Better than having to pay full price! Thanks for sharing Leah!
Look for out of season clothing also. I was going on a cruise and needed to add buy some summer clothes and white pants. The cruise clothes in the department stores are pricey so I went "thrift shopping" Found white and red crops with the appropriate sleeveless tops and a swimsuit cover.
What a great idea! You are so right that out of season clothing is a hit – you can usually find SOMETHING for the opposite season! What a bonus too, when you know you pay a fraction of the price! Some of those items too, you only wear a few times, so need to spend a fortune! Thank you for that idea!
Years ago I was craving a pewter lamp I saw at Ethan Allen. I saw a metal one in the thrift store. Dad said it was wrought iron, but that he could paint it to look like pewter. We took it back to his house and he said he would take it to his shop and strip the bright yellow paint off it. Yall, that thing is solid pewter, and I've had it appraised for $650! I paid $12.50 plus the price of the lampshade. Best deal I ever got.
Mary, that is AMAZING! My goodness and to have it appraised at that price? How FUN! Just goes to show the beauty of repurposing and using what we have, to make it work. Thanks for sharing this!
I LOVE to go thrift store shopping…I love garage sales in the Spring and Summer…but winter months in MN means I get to hit THRIFT STORES! I have picked up great craft items, and my hubby finds cds and record albums. You just never know what you might find! Great…thanks Kristin…now I REALLY want to hit a couple thrift stores this weekend! 🙂
I never thought of it that way – that in the winter months, thrift stores are the place to be, since that is our only option here :). Good point! I tend to find old school board games (which we love) at a fraction of the price, like your craft items. I enjoy the search for a good deal :). Let me know what you find this weekend if you head out!
These are fabulous tips. I love thrift shopping for my girls' clothes. They grow so quickly, it doesn't seem practical to pay full price for anything they wear.
Thanks for sharing yet another wonderful post.
xoxo
Kids' clothes I think are the best because kids grow out of clothes SO quickly and like you said, why pay full price?
I think most of my clothes that I like and wear the most, came from a thrift store. It is a time consuming process, because you do have to dig through piles of stuff. But it is worth it in the end. I recently found a West Elm chair in excellent shape for my home office for $10. I needed a chair and was willing to wait for a right piece at a good price.
Mila – you are so right! It definitely can be a consuming process, but it is thrilling when you find the perfect shirt for just a few bucks! That is a GREAT deal on a chair – worth every minute in there, right? Thanks for sharing this Mila!
Thanks Morgan!