I love the thrill of hunting for gems in thrift stores like Goodwill. Thrift stores are not curated like some consignment shops are, so finding unique clothing that fits your style and your body can be difficult but so fun. The majority of the clothing I have purchased in the last two years are from thrift stores, but that doesn’t mean every trip is a goldmine or that I buy everything I find. Impulse buying can be so easy to do at a thrift store where you get excited when you find anything you remotely like, is your size, and is a good price. However, there are some general tips I keep in mind for thrift trips so I can avoid impulse purchases, maximize my money, and find pieces I truly love and will wear.
- Know what YOU are looking for
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Many tips from avid thrifters will mention how to scan for valuable brands and durable fabric. These are great tips, but it all depends on what you’re looking for! Some people like to try to find trendy items at thrift stores—being able to try a current trend at a decent price and without directly contributing to fast fashion feels amazing! However, sometimes that could mean that trendy items you find aren’t made of durable fabrics or good brands, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t purchase it if you want it. Other people who thrift could focus on finding quality items in timeless fabrics and patterns that they know will last them a lifetime. Whichever person you are, just know what you are looking for! Don’t listen to other people on what to find. Go into the thrift store with an idea of what you want to find and stick to it; for example, I want to introduce more color into my wardrobe, so when I went thrifting recently I made a rule for myself to buy nothing in black. You will be able to narrow your scope to scan only for pieces you know you really want, and you can avoid impulse buying things that aren’t on your to-find list.
- Do you really want those items?
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Make sure you don’t buy everything based on your gut choice to add them to your cart. Most of the times when I thrift, I add everything to my cart that I am even remotely interested in; however, I have never stopped there and purchased everything without giving it all a second look. Think of it this way: don’t look at your cart and think, can you remember everything that’s in there? If you only remember a few specific items, those are probably the items you’re the most drawn to and you can put back all the rest. Stick to buying items that are memorable and that fit into your lifestyle, wardrobe, personal style, and budget.
- Just because it’s inexpensive, doesn’t mean you should get it
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Just because things tend to be inexpensive in thrift stores, we tend to be ignorant of the fact or whether we will actually wear that piece of clothing or not. Imagine it was being sold for a regular price from a standard clothing store, would you still consider buying it? Obviously part of the appeal of going to the thrift store is buying things at lower prices that you probably wouldn’t buy otherwise, but you want to be able to separate the inexpensive price from whether you truly like and will wear the item you’ve picked out. Set a budget and think about if you would truly wear the item you’ve picked up.
- check the whole garment
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Always check for stains, rips, and excessive pilling! Often there are stains that you can’t take out, excessive pilling that you wouldn’t want, or rips that aren’t easy to stitch up. You’ll probably want to put back those stained and pilling items. Regarding rips, take note of your personal abilities before making that purchase and committing to fixing it.
- Look at the non-clothing items, but only if you want them
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I have found some absolute gems of books, CDs, and glassware while perusing my regular Goodwill. However, I only go into those aisles if I know I want to find a specific item like a new thriller book to read or a pair of wine glasses. You can find wonderful things in these non-clothing aisles, but be aware of buying just because you found something. Be aware of what you want and what you need before you go in, which applies to clothing and non-clothing items alike.