Guest Post – Thrift Store Shopping

Don’t judge a store by the outside. When I was living in Idaho, I drove by a thrift store near my house, and decided to check it out, even though it was a hole-in-the-wall sort of place. I ended up becoming well-acquainted with the women who ran it. It looked a bit musty, but it wasn’t dirty, and they had great merchandise. All the proceeds went to support local animal shelters, which was a plus.

Out with the old, in with the new. A few times a year, clean out your closets. Anything you haven’t worn (or won’t wear), throw in a bag to be donated. I find it can be hard, but you really need to be honest with yourself about what you will actually wear. It helps me to know that my clothes will be used by someone else instead of being thrown out. Look for thrift stores that donate at least some of their proceeds to charity. You will also be able to get a tax deduction.

Visit often. Merchandise is constantly changing at thrift stores. Don’t give up if you go once and don’t find anything you like. Visit in a couple weeks, and it’ll be like visiting a whole new store.

Don’t buy something just because it’s a great deal. I am guilty of this one. I have stood there, with a great deal in front of me, racking my brain trying to find someone who could benefit from it. (“Do I have someone to give this to?”) If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. Even if it is cheap.

Here are some of my favorite buys at thrift stores:

Clothes. My daughter has been almost completely clothed in hand-me-downs and thrift store purchases. (And trust me, she is a very well-dressed toddler.) Look for popular brands such as Gymboree, The Children’s Place, and Old Navy. Check for holes, loose threads, and missing buttons. Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount. Many thrift stores have been marking up their prices just because something is name-brand, even though there’s a stain on it. If you can fix a loose button or think you can get a stain out, great! If not, leave it. Also, don’t forget to look for clothing for yourself. You’d be surprised what you can find. I’ve bought clothes from Gap, American Eagle, Ann Taylor, and other quality brands, for less than $5 at thrift stores.

Books. I love to read, so I always browse the books. I also have great luck finding children’s books and cookbooks. Expect to pay between .50 and $3 per book.

Housewares. I bought a brand-new dish strainer today for .50 cents. (It still had the plastic wrap on it!) Thrift stores are full of dishes, cups, silverware, kitchen utensils, pots, pans, etc. I’ve spotted Pampered Chef products several times.

Board Games. My husband and I love board games, but they are a bit pricey, even when they go on sale. If you find one you like at a thrift store, open it up and see if the directions and parts list is inside. Then you can count the parts and find out if it’s missing anything. If it is, you have an alternative. Hasbro sells replacement parts to games on their website, even for non-Hasbro games. For a few bucks, your game can be good as new.

Toys. You can really hit the jackpot when searching for toys. If you buy any, make sure to clean them with a kid-safe solution (such as vinegar and water) before playing with them. The great thing about buying toys at thrift stores is that if your child stops playing with it after a couple weeks, you don’t feel guilty, because you didn’t spend a lot of money on it.

Home Decor. The other day, I was sitting in my living room when I realized the entire room was decorated with super clearance deals / thrift store finds / yard sale finds. I’ll have to post a photo because my living room actually looks great, and no one would ever guess that I spent so little to decorate it. You can find picture frames, framed art, lamps, baskets, bookends, and all sorts of cool things.

Do you shop at thrift stores? What are your favorite items to shop for?

Thanks again Nifty Thrifty Homemaker!