Thrifting (clothing) Tips

I am a shopper. Probably a shopping addict, actually. I just love getting new things!

But I learned real fast that that means spending lots and lots of money. Ever watched

Confessions of a Shopaholic? Ok, maybe not that much money. But more than my paycheck! So right out of high school, I began my love for thrifting!I know, I know. There are too many stores and too much junk in the stores to even attempt.

But trust me, once you get the basics, you’ll be hooked for life!

1. Go with an agenda.

Too many people make the mistake of walking into a thrift store

without a list in their head, and walk out with a lot of things they didn’t need. They

might not have spent a lot of money, but they did spend money unnecessarily. That’s

not what we’re here for. Know what you want, and look for it. It might not be there,

but you might find a good substitute!

2. Start big scale, then narrow in.

You want a blue blouse? Ok, look at all the blouses.

Walk up and down and around until you’ve seen all the shirts available. Make a mental

check as you go every time there’s a blouse that might work. Once you’ve made the

rounds, go back and pick up those possibilities. Now you can compare and choose the

best one, and leave knowing with certainty you’ve made the best choice.

3. Take a friend.

Someone you trust to tell you if something doesn’t look right or to keep

you in check before you buy something you don’t need. If you find something you really

like, but they won’t let you buy it then do two things: thank them for doing their job

well and move on to tip number 4.

4. Go again!

Thrifting can be defined by the phrase, “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try,

try again.” If you don’t find what you need, then go to another store. Or, change what

you need and look again! If you found something else you like, leave it and come back

another week. You might find you forget about it and then you’ll be glad you didn’t

spend the extra dollars. If you still want it and it’s still there, then say it was meant to be

and go for it!

5. Always, always, always go through the jeans section.

Be on the lookout for a good pair of jeans. I always look at Lee’s or (especially) Levi’s. At thrift stores, they’re inexpensive and most of the time already broken in so you don’t have to go through that process! Good jeans are few and far between, nearly impossible to find when you actually are in need of some. Whenever you find a good pair, even if you don’t need them, buy them. You’ll thank yourself later when you do!

I hope this is helpful! Please note, these tips are for clothing in mind. If you’re thrifting for other objects, then wait for more tips to come on that soon!