It’s safe to say that thrift shopping is having a moment. In fact, more and more people are giving pre-loved clothing a second chance at life and for good reason. Great quality pieces can be found for too-good-to-be-true prices. However, thrift shopping can go extremely well or quickly take a turn for the worst. Believe me, even I have fallen prey to the “but it’s so unique” trap and convinced myself to buy pieces that ultimately collected dust in my closet. Thankfully, I’ve wizened up over the years and now, my love for thrift shopping runs deep.
If you are new to the art of thrift shopping, let me forewarn you: hunting for pre-loved treasures can be tiring and overwhelming. The rewards however, outweigh the challenges. If you do it correctly, you will come out on the other side with unique threads for amazingly low prices.
To help you make the most out of your next thrift-shopping excursion, here are 8 tips on how you can thrift shop like a boss!
1. Be prepared.
“Thrift shopping without a clear goal is like grocery shopping on an empty stomach. It’s doable, but it’s not ideal.”
Thrift shopping without a clear goal is like grocery shopping on an empty stomach. It’s doable, but it’s not ideal. Make a list of what you are looking for based on what you already own. This will help keep you focused and on budget. In addition, bring pictures of your coveted gems for reference, whenever possible. This will make it easier for store clerks to help you locate what you are looking for or let you know if they have something similar or not.
2. The pieces down under
Thrift stores don’t usually have fitting rooms or if so, then you’re a very lucky person. Due to this, it is very challenging to know if the clothes you are picking off the rack are a great fit so make sure you wear something fitted under even if it means changing in the middle of the store.
3. Bring cash
Never forget to bring money that can be counted. Some stores don’t offer paying through cards, may it be debit or credit. Also, don’t fall for the trap “but it’s so inexpensive”, make sure to stay on the budget.
4. Master the art of the scan
Thrift shopping is all about patience, you don’t enter a thrift store and quickly as a blink of an eye you will find something that you already love or something that you are already looking for. So, make sure that you are patient enough to scan through all of the racks available at the store.
5. Dress comfortably
Thrift shopping can be very tiresome, so make sure you are wearing clothes that you won’t regret wearing on the day you thrift shop. You will also be able to avoid unnecessary fatigue by wearing comfortable clothes and shoes. I recommend wearing a fitted tank top, wide neck t-shirt, leggings and a crossbody bag so your hands can be free to dig.
6. True love only
Only, and I mean ONLY purchase those that you truly love and you know that you will wear when you buy them. Trust me, been there done that, and I truly regret that I did not have second thoughts on buying stuff on thrift stores because some of them are under the deepest pile of my clothes probably turned to dust.
7. Use reusable bags and hydrate
As mentioned, thrift shopping is tiring so make sure you bring your own water to hydrate yourself especially with this climate you can turn unconscious anytime due to heat. And don’t forget to save the environment by bringing your own reusable bags, thrift with manner and class.
8. Inspect the goods
Before purchasing, make sure you inspect and look for defects. Not all clothes are practical to buy, some may have its flaws so don’t be impulsive and buy immediately, be mindful of what you will be buying.
SINCERELY, FASHION 