Top 10 Thrift Store Shopping Tips That Provide Awesome Ways to Save Money
We know that for some people, especially thrift store newbies, shopping at a thrift store can be a bit overwhelming or scary. Or maybe you feel like you never find anything or don’t know how to look for things. Let us help you feel more at ease by providing our list of top 10 thrift store shopping tips that we think will help to ensure your next thrift store experience is a positive one! After all, shopping at thrift stores offers awesome ways to save money and you have fun at the same time!
1. Have a plan
Before you set out on your thrift store shopping adventure make sure you have a plan in place. “Really, a plan to go shopping?” you ask. Yes! You will thank us later.
- Plan what thrift stores you will be going to
- Know where they are and if not map them out
- Don’t overwhelm yourself, choose a maximum of 3 different stores
2. Have an idea of what you are looking for
Take a look around your house before your thrift store shopping mission begins. You never quite know what you will find during your shopping trip so take a mental note or even better, write down what your house or closet could use. If you have specific items you are hoping to find definitely write those items down on a piece of paper so that you are consciously on the lookout.
3. Have a planned budget
We all know how easy it is to spend money but the whole point of shopping at thrift stores is to find ways to save money, right? Exactly! So, walk into that thrift store with a budget in mind so that you can walk away happy with how much you saved.
Tip: Bring the set amount of cash that you want to spend. If you don’t have very good self-control, leave your credit cards at home!
4. Take your time
Give yourself enough time to browse through every area of the store and to really dig around. You’ll find the best deals once you start digging and going through stuff. Plus, that’s the fun part. If you’re in a rush you may impulse buy or not find the super cool things you were hoping to find!
5. Be open
Sometimes while thrift store shopping you will have to think outside the box. Plus, sometimes those really odd items end up being trendy, chic or worth a lot of money. What’s better than buying something and then looking it up online to find out what it’s actually worth and seeing how much money you have saved…? Um, not a lot of other things!
6. Ask when inventory comes in
A lot of stores have certain days that they roll out now products so it’s a good idea to ask so you know which days to come in on to be the first to set your eyes on the new items. However, like us, at the Arc Store we have donations coming in every single day so new items are hitting the floor daily.
7. See the potential
So, that frame is a little nicked up or the dresser could use a makeover—and that’s OK. Learn to see past those things and see the potential in the items. Know how far you are willing to go though and how much money and time the changes will take to fix. Thrift stores are the best places to find items for your DIY projects!
8. Ask about sales
This totally depends on the store but most will have random sales, like buy one item get the other half off. Sometimes it’s not super clear so don’t be a afraid to ask if they are having any sales that day. Heck, it could end up saving you some extra money!
9. Follow websites/social media pages
If you end up finding a thrift store that you like search for them on the internet or ask in the store if they have a blog, Facebook, Twitter etc. If they do, they will often post their promotions, new items or coupons on their sites.
Take us, the Arc Store, for example. We often post different outfits on our Facebook page and new blog posts and e-books on Twitter, Pinterest, etc. One of the great ways to save money is the money saving coupon on our website.
10. Check back often
So you found your favorite thrift store or maybe even a few of them? Check back often! This is the best way to see all of the cool new stuff that gets put out on the floor before anyone else does.
