Thrifting Tips for Beginners

We’ve all heard the adage, “One person’s trash is another’s treasure.” As a thrifting enthusiast of clothing and decor, I wholeheartedly agree. I recently refashioned someone’s discarded blouse into a chic dress and thrifted a creative first birthday present. Beyond the thrill of the hunt and money savings, I’ve discovered the positive environmental and social impacts of upcycling and reusing items. Thrifting allows me to support charity organizations and community programs like food banks, early education programs, and assistance for unhoused people.

Curating my closet and home with secondhand items isn’t a perfect solution to fast fashion or producing cheap home goods that fuel excessive consumerism. Nor does it stop the exploitation of workers in countries where these goods originate. However, thrifting is a start.

I do not have some thrifting superpower. No “successful” thrifter does. I have patience, an open mind, and a lifelong love of fashion and aesthetics. I also enjoy saving money, looking fabulous, supporting local charities, and positively impacting the environment.

Learn more about thrifting with these helpful hints, ensuring an enjoyable and productive experience.

Here Are My Top 15 Thrifting Tips for Those Starting Out:

1. Thrift often and in various settings. When you travel to another neighborhood, city, or county, build in a trip to a resale store. The more you thrift, the better (and luckier) you get.
2. Hit the thrift shops on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Donations over the weekend take a few days to hit the floor. Avoid weekends.
3. Ask about discounts. Goodwill uses a rotating color tag system to add extra discounts. The coat you love may have a green tag when you shop; you’re in luck. It is an extra 50% off. Ask about other discounts; think “over 55” or holiday specials. An important detail is to know  the return policy.
4. Focus on your desired sections first. Set a timer to avoid getting lost in hours of browsing.
5. Use your smartphone to look up brands, labels, and size specifics, especially if you feel they are rare or expensive. Check eBay to confirm. Do a Google image search to identify items and their value.
6. Keep an eye on your cart. Cover your finds with a less appealing garment. It is a sad but true fact of thrifting; sometimes your treasures mysteriously end up in a fellow shopper’s cart. 
7. For clothing, look through all sizes and sections. Some items may be in the wrong area. 
8. Check bottom and top shelves for hidden gems. Under a stack of chipped cups, you may find the serving tray of your dreams.
9. Keep your eyes on the end caps. They often have attractive items that other shoppers have discarded on their way to check out.
10. When a team member brings out a rolling rack or cart of new merchandise, check out the new items immediately for first dibs.
11. Shop off-season for better deals.
12. Scan, touch, and examine. Look for stains, rips, broken  zippers, and missing buttons. If you are not going to fix it, don’t buy it. Check for damage and functionality on home goods and miscellaneous items.
13. Be open-minded but disciplined. Look for alternate uses for the items you like— but avoid buying them just because they’re pretty or inexpensive.
14. Before heading to the cashier, reassess the chosen items. Be honest: will you wear or use them? If you are unsure, put them back.
15. Wash and disinfect all items before use.

Curating my closet and home with thrifted items has enriched my life. Compliments on outfits or decor allow me to share the joy of giving secondhand pieces new life, saving money, and supporting important causes.

Let the hunting begin, frugal stylists! 

For more thrifting tips and inspiration, follow me on Instagram at @SecondhandStylePhD and on Facebook at SecondhandStyle, PhD.