Have You Jumped On This Trend Yet?
Well, this may not be a trend as people begin to come out of the woodwork, sharing their love for thrifting. I know that thrifting might not be for everyone, but I have to say, I’m here for it! As a lifelong thrifter, my husband is the first to admit that I’m a bit on the stingy side. But the truth is, I just can’t pass up a good deal! And as someone who has some slight hoarder tendencies (I would call myself a collector of treasures), I can extend my dollar and my collections when I shop second-hand!
I get it. Shuffling through piles of one man's junk to find your treasure isn’t for everyone. But now there are many ways to shop second-hand. And with second-hand stores that fund local schools and churches, you know your dollar is also going to a good cause. Here are a few tips if you're a thrift store newbie. They may seem basic or obvious, but there really is no scientific method to thrifting.
Go often – See, it seems obvious. Thrift stores are constantly adding new items throughout the day, every day. You could go in the morning and see completely different things if you went again in the evening. Most retail stores spend after-hours cleaning up their store and restocking, but that’s not how thrift stores work. They restock throughout the day. So the more often you go, the better chance you will have of finding what you’re looking for.
Take a second lap – I’ve heard many avid thrifters who say they always walk through a thrift store twice. The first time through is a pretty quick trip to see if there is anything really obvious and to grab it before it’s gone. But on your second time around, go to the area of the things you're looking for and really take your time to dig around. Say you’re looking for a new sheet set for a kid's room. Take the time to really get in there. My favorite thrift store separates sheets by size, but in this case, I would take the time to look through all the sizes to make sure some didn’t get placed in the wrong size. Lots of times, people just shove things where they don’t belong if they decide they don’t want them. I’ve even seen women’s size small shirts in the girls' small section because someone didn’t realize it was an adult item. Take the time to go slow; you will likely find a gem someone overlooked.
Be kind to your fellow shoppers – I think it goes without saying not to fight over items. But I would even take that a step further, if you see someone who has some great items in their cart, tell them! If they have the same style or seem to be collecting the same items you do, compliment them on their good finds. Sometimes people put items in their cart while they are still deciding if they want them. I’ve been in a few situations where, after offering a kind word, that person has decided they don’t want the item, and they offer it to me instead of putting it back on the shelf, and I’ve done the same for others. Plus, it’s pretty fun when others get excited about what we’ve found; it’s like we’re all on a scavenger hunt together.
BYOB – Bring your own Bag or Box. This is something I’ve been starting to do lately. Especially if you buy heavy or breakable items, or if you’re shopping specifically at Goodwill. Some thrift stores use donated plastic bags to bag your items. Sometimes the bags have holes in them, and quite honestly, sometimes the bags just aren’t strong enough. I’ve definitely seen a bag or two get overpacked and cringed out of fear that it might rip with my breakables inside. Goodwill (at least in my area) no longer offers bags. If you want a bag, you need to purchase one of their reusable bags for $1.49. I’ve walked out of there a time or two with an armful of items because I’m just not spending that much money on bags. I’m actually ordering myself some new bags specifically for my thrift trips. I found these ones on Amazon, and I really like that they have 4 smaller pockets. I think they will be perfect for stopping things from shuffling around too much.
Pack your items yourself – I heard this tip the other day and thought it was a great idea. Someone was sharing how she just hates holding up the line at checkout, especially when she has a lot of breakable items that need to be wrapped. So she keeps a few bags, boxes, and newspapers in the back of her vehicle. When she checks out, she puts everything right back in her cart and walks out to her car. There she can take her time packing up her items to ensure they are safe, but also take her time and know she’s not holding up the line. I LOVE this idea and will be doing this on my next thrift trip! I do keep this tote in the back of my truck. It’s large and works great for ensuring that nothing rolls around in the truck and bags don’t tip over. It really has been invaluable.
I have enough tips that I think I should save some for a part 2. But I want to leave you with a bit of encouragement. I realize thrifting isn’t for everyone; it takes time and patience. But when you’re trying to be frugal or work within a small budget, you really can curate a beautiful, cozy home for your family through thrifting. I would say that 95% or more of my home is thrifted or pre-owned items, and I believe it is a beautiful reflection of our style and family mission.
