Now is the time: 9 Tips for Thrift-Store Shopping

Happy New Year!! I’m so excited for 2012. With the holidays over I have so many things dancing around in my head I want to get to work on… one of them is thrift-store shopping. Believe it or not, JANUARY is the best time to go thrifting. Why? Because everyone and their brother gave last-minute donations in December to get their tax write-offs. Thrift stores are typically bursting at the seams come the new year. Here are a few tips to get you in the door:

Don’t take the kids: My number one rule is to leave the little ones at home. It’s extremely difficult to keep kids occupied while you’re busy digging. And for thrifting you really have to dig. Which brings me to rule number two.

Be willing to dig: If you aren’t willing to put in the time you’ll miss some really great things. Be willing to go through clothes one at a time and dig through bins of cast-off housewares.

Keep an open mind: Use your imagination. See a cheese dome? It can easily be used as a stylish cloche. See a framed piece of art? The frame is the perfect size for your new family picture. Have enough placemats, but love the fabric? Turn them into a throw pillow with the help of your sewing machine. There are tons of ah-ha uses for every day things. Thinking outside the box will help you see the treasure in another person’s trash.

Look for damage: Don’t be in such a hurry that you don’t look for wear and tear. Thrift stores sell items that are ripped, stained, and missing buttons. Make sure to look for snags in knits, stains on clothing and holes in pockets. My rule is “if it doesn’t look new and fit right, it doesn’t come over, not for one night.”

Know what you need and what you don’t need: Just because something is a good price doesn’t mean you have to buy it. Unless I absolutely, hands-down love it, I don’t buy something unless I know exactly what I’m going to do with it. Otherwise it ends up sitting on a shelf in the garage or storage room waiting to be used or donated the following year.

Ask about the return policy: Most thrift stores have return policies. The ones I frequented in Virginia allowed returns with tags and receipt within seven days. If you want to wait until you’re home to try something on or are buying something for the kids but are afraid it’s not their taste, you most likely have the option of returning it.

Know the area: It stands to reason the more affluent areas have better donated goods. If you live near an upscale part of town, venture to the other side of the tracks and see what their Goodwill has to offer. Many times you can find luxury name brands at a fraction of the cost. If you’re lucky you might even find something with the tags still on.

Go early and often: Chances are the people finding the best deals are going often. Many days I’ve returned from thrifting with nothing or a 50 cent book. What keeps me coming back are the times I find a wool Ann Taylor skirt for $4 or a naturally-distressed farm table for $5 or the book, Outliers, on audio book for $2 or a sunburst mirror – $100 price tag still on the back – for $17.50. I could go on and on. The moral is sometimes there are deals to be found and sometimes there aren’t. Don’t take it personally… if you like the thrill of hitting the jackpot, then keep going back.

(As a sidenote, if you become a regular, you develop a rapport with the staff. It makes them more to call you if an item you’re looking for comes in or haggle on the price of something that’s been sitting there awhile.)

Don’t go empty-handed: If you’re headed there anyway, you might as well take a few things from your closet that hasn’t been used in awhile. Our family rule is if you haven’t worn it for a year it gets donated. There’s no need to hoard perfectly good things when other people can be enjoying and using it.

This is by far not an exhaustive list, but it’s a good start. Let me know if you find any good deals. I love living vicariously through others when it comes to a bargain.