Second-hand shopping can get a bad rap. Some people consider thrifting as glorified hand-me-downs. Don’t believe these lies!
Thrifting is a great way to save money AND up your style! Not only is this form of shopping significantly cheaper, but it’s also unique.
You might find things that no one else has. Plus, nothing feels better than finding a great deal on something that you’ll love for a long time.
Thrifting is a really great tool when you know how to do it. Successful second-hand shopping is easy with a few key tricks.
Tips to Save You Money
The biggest benefit of second-hand shopping is saving money. Another step that you can take is signing up for reward programs at your local thrift store.
This will keep you up-to-date on all the deal days and random mark-downs. Many chain thrift stores have regular days that they mark down certain items. Shopping on those days can take you much further in your savings.
Tips to Help Your Shopping Experience
Finding deals and steals is not the only thing to remember when it comes to successful second-hand shopping. There are a few tips you need to know while in the store to help you be more prepared, efficient, and successful.
Dress appropriately.
Many thrift stores don’t have a dressing room. To make sure your clothes fit before you leave the store, wear an outfit that you can layer clothes onto. Wearing leggings, a tank top or tee shirt, and shoes that can slide on and off easily is best.
Then you can slip on the shirt you found over your clothes to see if it fits before you buy it. It might be slightly embarrassing, but highly worth it!
Know what you’re hunting for.
Whether you’re there for a specific item or just there to peruse, it’s good to know what you want. Know your likes and dislikes before you walk in that door. This way you have an idea of what will be worth it to you after you leave.
Tips to Find the Best Items
Choosing to thrift instead of buying from name-brand stores will always save you money. However, receiving the same level of quality for an item might be a different story.
Saving a few bucks at thrift shops won’t help you if you have to spend more later repairing the damage. Here are some tips to shop smart and actually get your money’s worth.
Do your research.
Knowing when each store restocks its items is the best way to find all the steals. Plus, you get first pick on the goods!
Know brand names.
Many people discover things at thrift stores that are worth far more than they seem. If you’re looking to make some money, reselling those big name brands will get you there.
Whether you’re in the business of reselling clothes or not, knowing big name brands is a good thing. Bigger brand names may be known for their sustainability, lifespan, or a variety of other factors.
Recognize quality.
On the tail end of the last point is attention to quality products. Know what materials last longer than others as well as how to spot the cheap stuff.
Lastly, don’t overdo it.
It can be tempting to throw a bunch of items in your cart because they’re moderately good-quality or insanely cheap. This can become a stumbling block in your thrifting experience because you’re valuing the price over the item itself.
Next time you’re at the thrift store, consider whether or not you would buy that item if it was full-priced. This will help you discern whether or not you would truly benefit from it in the first place.
Successful second-hand thrifting isn’t a difficult goal to reach when you have a few tricks up your sleeve. You’ll be shopping far more efficiently in no time with the knowledge you now have.
