Many of my friends tell me that they want to start thrifting, but they don’t know where to start. I’ve been thrifting for pretty much my entire adolescence and adulthood, so I’ve picked up a lot of thrifting hacks throughout the years. Luckily for you, you can skip the learning curve and just read my top ten tips for new thrifters!
- Go on a weekday
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First things first, it’s best to go to the thrift store on weekdays. If you go on weekends, it’s likely to be crowded and more difficult to navigate. I can’t even tell you how many times I have been boxed into an aisle by carts because I decided to shop on a Saturday!
- Bring a friend
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Going with a friend is always a good idea! They can help keep an eye out for items that you might like and vice versa. Likewise, you’ll always have someone who can share their opinions with you. Not to mention, it will definitely be a more enjoyable time with friends! I love having someone with me who I can show all of the weird and crazy things I find while thrifting.
- Don’t go with someone who has a similar style/size as you
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If you bring a friend thrifting, be sure that you don’t have similar styles or sizes. One of the most tragic moments of my life occurred when a friend bought the perfect mod dress that I wanted at a thrift store. At thrift stores there is usually only one of each item so if you both like it and want to buy it, there could be trouble. If you and your best shopping buddy have similar tastes, at least have an honor system. Whoever sees it first gets first dibs!
- Look at all clothing sizes
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One of my sneakiest tips is to always look at all sizes when thrifting. Often, thrift stores become disorganized and items end up in the wrong places. Similarly, vintage clothing has an entirely different sizing system. For instance, today’s size 00 would be a 1950s 12! Even in the 1980s today’s 00 would be an 8! Likewise, clothing from other countries sometimes have different sizing systems. For this reason I look at all the clothing in my size thoroughly and then scan the other sizes for patterns or fabrics that stick out to me and check the size just in case. I once got two pairs of Doc Martens for $8 each at a thrift store that were organized as a US 6 but were actually a UK 6—which is a US 8!
- Don’t be afraid to dig
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Sometimes thrift stores can be a little gross. But don’t be afraid to dig! There are many hidden treasures at the back of the shelves.
- Don’t kid yourself
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If you’re not sure about an item, don’t buy it just because it’s cheap. If you end up not liking it, it will actually be more of a waste of money in the long run. For example, try not to convince yourself that that really cute dress fits when you know it’s a bit short and you’ll never actually wear it. Sometimes you need to wait it out to find the perfect thing when thrifting.
- Go on days after sales
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The day after there are big sales at thrift stores means tons of new merchandise! Of course, you want to hit up that sale day for lower prices, too. But nothing beats getting the first pickings!
- Try it on
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Even if you’re not sure about something, try it on! You really never know! Clothing at thrift stores often looks drastically different on than on the hanger. Another reason to try clothes on is to inspect them for any flaws. It’s a real bummer to buy a new shirt only to notice a hole or a stain that you didn’t notice in the store.
- Go on discount days
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Figure out your discount day and go to the thrift store! Most thrift stores have student days, veteran days and senior days. If any of these categories apply to you (or if you have a grandparent to drag along) you’ll get better deals.
- Keep an open mind and don’t get discouraged
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You won’t find something every single time. Even though it really sucks, you can never count on finding one specific item at a thrift store. To be successful at thrifting, you need to be patient and keep an open mind. Sometimes you find something you never knew you needed!
Happy thrifting!