Thrift Store Shopping: What, Why, and How?

Thrift stores.

This word makes some people cringe...

There's a reason why many choose to make their "default" shopping stores at popular or general stores, such as Target, Wal-Mart, Macy's, Hobby Lobby, and even TJMaxx.

Why?

Many people have pre-concieved ideas or false assumptions about thrift and re-sale shops, which alters their decision to shop there. (If you don't like criticism, skip to the next section.) This includes everything from pride, "high hat" attitude, laziness, impatience, stubbornness, and OCD or germaphobic personalities.

That seemed a little harsh, huh? Well, if you're one of those people who are "against" thrift stores for one reason or the other, I bet I can call you out on it and (maybe) persuade you otherwise.

Let me prove it.

First, let's see if you fall into at least one of these categories:

Many people don't shop at thrift stores because...

• Thrift stores are disorganized and it takes way too long to dig through all the junk to find what you're looking for (category: laziness, impatience, and OCD)
• Thrift stores are full of dirt, germs, illness and disease (category: germaphobic)
• Only poor people shop at thrift stores (category: pride, "high hat" attitude)
• You don't want to wear used clothes (category: germaphobic, pride, "high hat" attitude, stubbornness)
• Thrift stores won't have what you're looking for (category: stubbornness, pride, laziness) 
• You'd rather spend extra to buy everything at one store conveniently (category: laziness, impatience)
• Hunting for a good find or deal isn't your forte (category: pride, stubbornness, laziness, impatience)
• You'd rather buy everything brand new (category: "high hat" attitude, pride, stubbornness, germaphobic)

If you answered "Yes" to at least one of these points, the rest of this article will be helpful for you. Don't take offense that you answered "Yes" to any of these points, but simply realize that you have pre-conceived ideas and false assumptions about thrift stores, and I'm here to persuade you to change your mind. 

Some of these points may be true (such as disorganization), but shouldn't be a reason to not shop at thrift stores. You'll never know what great treasures you might discover! And you will save money in the long run.

Some of these points are false assumptions that you need to move on from (such as dirt and disease infested clothes). By the way, many thrift stores wash items --if needed-- before putting them on the shelf. Either way, you still need to wash all items at home after purchasing, no matter what store you go to, both new and used.

I'm not just telling you to shop at thrift stores to "save money," while this may be the main reason shoppers go here in the first place. There are many other reasons why you should shop at thrift stores.

WHY SHOULD YOU SHOP 

AT THIRFT STORES?

First, let's state the obvious:

• To save money.  The average American woman spends between $1,000 to $2,000 each year on clothing, but only wears about 25% of what’s in her closet. Although thrifting generally takes more time and consideration, you save a ton of money -- as long as you avoid bargain overloading and don’t buy unnecessary items.

Now, here's some other great reasons why you should shop at thrift stores:

• Less energy, fewer chemicals. It takes a lot of energy to transport the cotton from farms to the textile manufacturing factory to retailers, and ultimately, to consumers. Within the manufacturing process, a lot of energy consumption occurs during the washing, de-sizing, bleaching, rinsing, dyeing, printing, and finishing processes. Once the consumer no longer wants clothes, energy is required to dispose of them, too. So when you buy secondhand, you divert clothes from landfills and save energy by getting more mileage from that piece of clothing. 

• Reduce your water footprint. Water is involved in almost every stage of clothing production. It takes water (in addition to energy and pesticides) to grow the cotton: 2.2 pounds of cotton takes up to 5,300 gallons of water. The intensive pesticide usage associated with cotton can find its way into runoff and contaminate ground and surface water. Wet processing of cotton consumes 18 gallons per pound, and 21.6 gallons per pound when printed. It also takes water to produce the electricity used to power all these processes of manufacturing, producing packaging, and transportation. On average, a cotton T-shirt requires 660 gallons of water to produce. A pair of jeans takes over 2,642 gallons of water. 

• More thoughtful consumption. According to the EPA Office of Solid Waste, Americans throw away about 68 pounds of clothing per person every year, making up about 4% of municipal solid waste. For me, more thought goes into buying something at a thrift shop. Will I actually wear this? Will it go out of style? And do I truly need it? Before buying, make sure you check for tears, stains, and other damage. 

• Trends do come back. If you're a trend-hunter, thrift shops should definitely be your first stop. Styles come and go, but they do indeed come back. I mean, who would've thought ugly Christmas sweaters would've become such a huge hit the past couple of years? Some people keep clothes in their attic for years, but eventually many of them do their "spring cleaning" for once and start giving them away. So you might be able to find a new trend item at a local thrift store. 

• Give back to the community by donating your gently used clothing to thrift stores. For instance, national thrift stores like Goodwill provide career support for the disabled, but doesn't donate hardly any of it's income to charity...in fact, the owner of the company is a millionaire. I try to stay away from Goodwill if I can help it. But here’s a national directory of charity-driven thrift stores to get you started, and a list of thrift shopsaround the U.S. Other than thrift shops, you should also try out local consignment stores, flea markets, and vintage shops.

SHOULD YOU BUY THIS AT A THRIFT STORE?

• Shoes
• No. Unless brand new or almost brand new.
• Accessories
• Yes. This includes jewelry, scarves, sunglasses, bags, and "some" hats. Make sure the hats are in good condition and practically brand new.
• Undergarments
• BIG NO. Socks, bras, underwear, long johns, stockings.
• Clothes
• Yes. Check for stains (including sweat stains), rips, holes, and broken hems. If there are blemishes, decide if the price is worth fixing yourself after purchase, try bartering the price, or skip it and move on. 
• Makeup
• BIG NO. Unless it's brand new and unopened, do not buy makeup. You shouldn't even be sharing it with other friends/family members, much less a stranger. 
• Dishes and kitchen utensils
• Yes. Clean them when you get home. Make sure there aren't any chips or cracks. 
• Kitchen appliances
• Yes. But chances are the appliances don't work well. Thrift shops usually make sure appliances work before selling them, but ask if you could plug in the appliance to make sure it works before buying it. 
• Home decor
• Yes. Make sure it isn't cracked, chipped, or broken.
• Toys
• Yes. Clean them when you get home.
• Misc.
• Yes. Thrifts stores almost have it all --except plants, animals, or anything you can consume. This includes everything from wrapping paper to CDs/DVDs to fanny packs to lava lamps to baseball bats to board games. 

HOW TO SHOP AT THRIFT STORES 

AND HOW TO PREPARE:

Preparation

1. Locate all the stores in your area. Sites like Thrifty Planetor The Thrift Shopper help you find some thrift stores located near you.

2. Set a budget before you go (and stick to it!) so that you don't end up spending more than you need. It's easy to find a ton of great things at a thrift store and end up going over your budget. 

3. Bring cash because a lot of thrift stores don't take credit cards.

4. Bring friends who can help you determine if something is a good quality item and worth the amount on the price tag, or if it's an item you should buy "new" somewhere else. Plus, it's always fun to go shopping with friends!

5. Bring magazine clippings or paint swatches that show the styles and colors you're looking for. They will help you keep perspective, and keep from buying items you'll never actually wear.

6. Wear specific clothes, jewelry, shoes, or other accessories that you need to find something to match or go along with it. It's always hard to go shopping for something and wonder if it's the same color or if will look good with the items at the store. 

7. Leave the kids at home because thrifting can be a long process and kiddos get antsy, bored, and fussy. If you have to get a babysitter, make an event out of it and be sure to invite friends...unless the event is to have "me-time" and you prefer shopping alone. Sometimes moms just really need a day to themselves!

8. Wear shorts or leggings, a t-shirt or tanktop, and appropriate shoes so that you can try on clothes even if there isn't a dressing room available. For example, if you want to try on a jacket or wind pants, you don't want to have on a ton of clothes that keep you from trying on the items on-the-spot. You want to be able to slip on some clothes without hassle. If you want to try on heels and flats, wear flip flops that are easily removed/put back on. If you want to try on tennis shoes and boots, make sure you bring socks and wear shoes that are easily removed/put back on.

9. Bring your camera and/or smartphone to take pictures of yourself (if there's not a mirror nearby) or so you can send pictures to family/friends and ask if they like the item you are wearing. 

The Shopping Trip

1. Be patient because shopping can be exhausting and sometimes stressful, especially in a disorganized space like a thrift store.

2. Be willing to look, for a long time, through a lot of stuff. Thrift stores have great finds, but great finds mean diligent hunting and digging through unorganized piles. But don't be discouraged. You'd be surprised at the great things you can find at a thrift store, especially for a really low price!

3. Try it on or at least do a rough measurement. It's better to get something too big that can be tailored than something too small that can only be sewn into something else or given away.

4. Think creatively because everything can be altered, layered, or turned into and entirely different piece of fabulous clothing or item. Keep in mind DIY and homemade gifts when shopping, too. 

5. Keep personal style in mind since it's easy to forget what you'll actually wear and get excited about something that seems cool on the rack, but isn't when you get it home. Thrift stores normally don't do exchanges or returns. They are usually "all sales are final" stores.

6. Look for brand names as these are items that are usually high quality and made to last.

7. Examine the item carefully for stains, rips, holes and other defects. It doesn't rule the item out, necessarily, but you want to know what you might need to repair and if it's worth the price. 

8. Don't forget accessories. Thrift stores are also great for belts, scarves, hats, bags and jewelry.

9. Haggle or at least try. Some stores allow haggling or bartering for a better deal. Ask the cashier or manager, or look for signs that specify that "no battering is allowed." The worst they can say is no. Be open to negotiating the price if this is your forte. 

10. Don't buy bike helmets, boots or shoes that have been worn a lot, backpacks that aren't in excellent condition, any socks or underwear. For safety, physical comfort, and health reasons, these are typically no-nos unless you find them brand new or close enough to brand new. 

Post-shopping

1. Wash everything before you wear it. Usually thrift stores do this with donations before putting them on the rack but you don't know who tried on what just before you bought it.

2. Get it tailored if it doesn't fit just right. Tailoring can be very inexpensive for basic fitting, and you'll still be spending a fraction of what you would on a new item of clothing that may still have to get tailored.

3. Try out your sewing skills by doing your own hemming, shaping, or repairs. 

4. Reconstruct your new clothes into something even newer. Turn a vintage collared shirt into something snazzier, or a pair of jeans into a skirt. If you bought something that just doesn't work, make it into something else.

5. Get some, give some. Keep your wardrobe from overflowing by practicing "one item in, one item out." Donate what no longer fits in your closet to the store you just purchased from!