I love thrift store shopping. There’s just something about the excitement of what you might find, what will unexpectedly speak to you, and what you’ll end up with without spending much money! There are so many treasures waiting to be found, things left unappreciated, forgotten, and many brand new items! I love heading to a thrift store, not even knowing what I’m looking for and letting the pieces find me. Thrifting never disappoints.
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What is Thrift Store Shopping?
Thrift store shopping is the act of scouring thrift stores in search of secondhand goods like clothing, books, furniture, home decor, etc. Purchasing secondhand goods at thrift stores is fun and sustainable, plus affordable. Merchandise bought when thrifting is available at a fraction of the price since it is used, but most items are in great used condition, some items even brand new. You never know what you’re going to find, but it sure is fun to look!
Many terms like thrift store shopping, thrifting, second-hand shopping, vintage shopping, etc. are all used interchangeably. You’re simply purchasing used clothing or merchandise. Vintage shopping is more for older, vintage finds, but you still may come across them at any thrift store.
Benefits of Thrifting
Thrift store shopping has so many benefits! Not only does it make you feel good to find a one-of-a-kind piece, but you also give these pieces a second chance at being used and loved. Hello sustainability!
- Thrifting Reduces Waste. You’re saving pieces from heading to the landfill and giving them new life!
- Thrifting Saves You Money. Before heading to the mall to buy a new outfit for a party, dinner, or special occasion, do some thrift store shopping! Not only could you find a unique outfit and get tons of compliments, but you can buy a dress for $10 which may be $100 at the mall. (And it might even still have the tags on it!)
- Thrifting Can Help Support Charities and Non-profits. Shop in a thrift store that is run by one to help support churches, families in need, community programs, foundations, and more. Donating your old clothing to a charity or non-profit is also super helpful!
- Thrifting is Fun! You don’t know what you’ll find that day when you go thrifting. It’s exciting to find an expensive brand at a way cheaper price, a totally new style you wouldn’t think you’d like, or a great accessory to go with something you already have. Spend the day looking around with a friend and marvel at all the cool pieces you find.
- Thrifting Can Be a Blast from the Past. If your style is more retro, 90s, or even just quirky, it’s a lot easier to find vintage and classic pieces while thrifting. Take your grandmother thrifting – she may find a style she used to love and hasn’t seen in ages and it will put a smile on her face.
- Thrifting Can Make You Money. A lot of people are looking for great vintage clothing, a fun band t-shirt they used to have, or a brand of jeans that used to fit them great. If you find some distinct pieces, there’s a market for re-selling valuable items that people are looking for. You just have to put in the legwork.
- Thrifting Can Inspire You. At the thrift store, you may get inspired to try a whole new look you’ve never tried or get inspired to simplify your closet and donate more of your used clothing. You may find yourself inspired to thrift more, buying less from big chain stores and more second-hand finds. Something there may even spark your creativity to make some of your own clothing or alter what you find.
- Thrifting Can Give Your Home a Total Makeover on a Budget. Trying to keep costs down while you save up for something big? Are you a young family just starting out, or did you recently go through a breakup and now have to start over with very little? Thrifting can be a great way to give your home a total makeover or start from scratch. Art, lamps, and furniture can all be purchased second-hand at an affordable price. You may even get lucky and find some funky colors and retro styles for plates and mugs, glasses, and bowls at the thrift store.
Best Places to Go Thrifting
To start, you can just google “Thrift Stores Near Me” and you will be given a list of what thrift stores are in your city and surrounding areas. Besides actual thrift stores, there are also a few other options to find second-hand items at great prices.
- Garage Sales – Hit up some garage sales on the weekend, you may be surprised at what you find. Try Saturday for the most selection, or Sunday when sellers are ready to get let things go at even lower prices!
- Estate Sales – These are usually great for antique jewelry, vintage clothing and housewares, and collectible toys. You can usually find out about these in the newspaper or local Facebook Marketplaces.
- Church Thrift Stores – Local churches sometimes have thrift stores where donations from the town are sold to make money for the church. It’s a great way to support the church and find some new things.
- Flea Markets – There are some huge flea markets in the Spring and Summer where you can spend a whole day just rummaging through an assortment of items. These sometimes cost a few dollars to get in, more to get in as an “early bird” for first dibs on the best finds. Save a flea market for a sunny day!
- Goodwill & Other Non-profits – I have always had a good experience at my local Goodwill. The prices stay consistent, the merchandise is always in good condition, and there’s always a huge variety of clothing, shoes, housewares, bags, holiday decor, and more. They also support skill-building and job opportunities for those in need.
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore – A great spot for gently used furniture, appliances, and building materials for the home. Their foundation helps provide affordable housing for low-income families. They get a lot of donations for things like lighting, tile, paint, and bedroom sets.
- Consignment Shops – These shops are usually more expensive than typical thrift stores and have a collection of higher-end brands.
Tips on Thrifting
Keep thrifting fun, ethical, and worth your while with just a few tips:
Be Mindful of Your Intentions. You don’t have to buy loads of stuff just because it’s a great price. If you’re never going to actually use it or wear it, leave it behind for the next lucky person to find and appreciate.
Check All Seams, Crotches, and Straps on Clothing. Before heading to the checkout counter, make sure to really look over your items. You don’t want to get home only to find there’s a big stain on the back of the must-have dress for tonight, or the previous owner’s thighs were rubbing a bit too much on the cute capris. Make sure everything you’re purchasing is in good shape – or at least it’s something you can easily fix like a flimsy strap that just needs a couple of stitches.
Shop Early – Midweek. While many places like Goodwill keep turning out new items throughout the day (the new stuff is on the rolling racks!), thrift stores get really picked over throughout the weekend. If you go on a Tuesday or Wednesday, it’s generally less busy and they are just now putting out new items that were donated the previous weekend. It’s also a good idea to get there when they open if at all possible!
Thrift with an Open Mind. Whatever you’re looking for – keep an eye open to what attracts you. Certain colors, textures, and styles that you may not have been looking for are worth a trip to the fitting room. Keep in mind what events you have coming up, or what may go with your Halloween costume. You may discover your new favorite knee-high blue suede boots while shopping for a running vest, or an $80 work purse for $6 when looking for new plates.
Try on Different Brands, Sizes, and Styles. The best way to find what fits you is to try it on! Shorts are my least favorite thing to try on – so I went to Goodwill and tried on all different brands, sizes, and styles of shorts. Lo and behold, American Eagle shorts and J. Crew shorts fit me best. I never would have been in a J. Crew store to even find that out! But this way, I try on all sorts of brands and sizes and then have a better idea of where to look in the future if I can’t find my size at the thrift store. I’ve also found some really fun dresses this way – something I would never normally have worn, but felt like a million bucks in!
Keep the Circle Going. Make sure that you are also supplying donations to where you are thrifting. It’s always good to help replenish. Plus, you shouldn’t buy more clothing until you go through your closet and get rid of anything you don’t wear anymore!
Google Image a Brand You’re Unsure of. When I like something but I don’t recognize the brand I just use Google Image to see where it’s from. If it’s a really cheap brand or from SHEIN or something, I may leave it and move on. I do like my purchases to have some sort of worth, or possibly last through me and onto the next person!
If You See Something That Speaks to You, Get It. You won’t be able to find it again, trust me! If it’s a piece of home decor that you’ll smile at every time you pass it, get it. If it’s a dress you feel amazing in, get it. If it’s a picture that reminds you of good times, get it. One-of-a-kind items are just that. Don’t regret not getting something that was really special, just get it!
The whole thing of clothes is insane. You can spend a dollar on a jacket in a thrift store. And you can spend a thousand dollars on a jacket in a shop. And if you saw those two jackets walking down the street, you probably wouldn't know which was which."
Helen Mirren
Thrifting Ideas
I always love to have items throughout my house and wardrobe that I know no one else will have – I like the idea of being the only one with something. So, if I can’t find what I’m looking for, I either make it myself or thrift for it! Here are a few examples:
- Dining Set – When renovating our home and gaining a dining room, I wanted something different. We wanted seating for 10 people, but I did not want to pay for 10 chairs (upwards of $200 each!) and I couldn’t even find any chairs that I loved and could commit to buying 10 of. Or even 2 for the heads of the table and 8 others. So, we thrifted. It was a process to find them all, but our dining room has 10 completely different style chairs, all sanded and stained dark wood. Some have cushions, some don’t, some have arms and some don’t. And I love it. It’s completely us and different. Each chair costs a range from $5 to $15 and perfectly completes our home.
- Concert Outfit – We had tickets to a cool concert- and I’m not that cool anymore! I had nothing to wear to this style concert and I was running out of time to even think of where to go or what to get. So of course, I went thrift store shopping. Within one hour, I ended up with the perfect black Bebe cropped top and cute black heeled booties to pair with a black skirt I had at home. Thrift stores have so much of everything in one place – need shorts for the beach? Ok! Need a last-minute concert outfit? Ok! Need a new look for your office meeting? Got it!
- Book Shelf – We legit manifested a bookshelf. We couldn’t find what we wanted for under $6000, so we waited until we found the right second-hand piece – for $100! And this is a huge bookshelf, about 6ft tall and 6 ft wide. It’s “distressed” with shelving and drawers, solid wood, and a nice color. It works perfectly in our living room and I’m so glad we waited. This piece truly did find us!
- Trunk from Chelsea Flea Market – Living near NYC has its perks! Out for brunch and some shopping, my husband and I checked out the Chelsea Flea Market. Just looking around, we came across a cool trunk for $25. I didn’t imagine my husband carrying a huge trunk over his shoulder while we strolled the streets of NYC that day, but it happened. We love that trunk! We used it as a coffee table and then added wheels to it to store our weights and yoga mats. Such a great find that we definitely weren’t expecting.
Why Thrift?
Ultimately, you should thrift because it will save you money, it’s fun, and you can find some really unique pieces to save from landfills. It’s as simple as that. Check out thrift stores in big cities that you visit and get your souvenirs from there – a special something that you’ll remember. Do a road trip of flea markets, thrift stores, and antique shops and step into another world where things were made better and built to last.
The key to thrifting is to enjoy it. Don’t get greedy and overdo it (I’ve seen my share of resellers attack a fresh rolling rack like vultures, lurking and waiting for each to come out), just enjoy the thrill of the hunt quietly, exploring some new styles and ideas, saving money and keeping treasures with so much life left out of the landfills. Have clothing and home decor that mean something to you – that you enjoyed finding and have because it sparked something in you and you just had to have it. You can find some really cool (and weird!) stuff while thrifting!
***While most things are great when thrifted, I have a few no-nos…. I wouldn’t suggest buying second-hand bras, underwear, bathing suits, or any other undergarments. Even athletic clothing – unless it’s still new with tags. Shoes are iffy, depending on the wear and the condition. Sandals or boots are ok, but usually not sneakers or shoes that are clearly worn out. Just see what you find – it will be pretty obvious to you where you draw the line!
