So You Want to be a Thrifter – Part 1: Making a Plan

{thrifted top and skirt}

Hello!!!!!!!! Happy Tuesday. I have decided to start a short series on my thrifting experiences, and the best way to go about it if you are new to it. Just this past week, I scored a pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans at my local Goodwill for $14.99! Fit perfectly, were in great shape and just a fraction of the price. A lot of my favorite pieces have been thrifted over the years, so I can’t wait to share some of my tips (hopefully they are helpful)!

First a little background into my thrifting experience: I have been a thrifter since high school… unwillingly at the time, but in college I learned how much I could appreciate buying cute clothes for school and my internship without spending a fortune. Goodwill was the first place I went when I graduated college to find work pants, full suits, pencil skirts and blouses. And guess what?! I found it all there and it has all been high quality and worn over and over again. Now I go there to find good deals and just to have fun with my friends and mom, who was the first person to take me to a thrift store!

MAKING A PLAN

Your first time thrifting ever can be extremely overwhelming and is often the reason why people don’t want to go. You might worry that you won’t be able to find the “good stuff” and it will just be a waste of time. Well, if you make a plan, you can easily come out of a thrift store a winner! Here are some easy ways to make a plan and make your trip worthwhile:

Where do you want to shop? I usually shop at Goodwill, Savers, Plato’s Closet, Closet Mentor and antique shops in the area. I’ve had the most luck at Goodwill, so I usually start there. Consider what you are looking for. If you want to find JUST vintage items, an antique store is your best bet. If you are looking for brand name clothing from the local mall such as Old Navy, Banana Republic, J.Crew, etc. Goodwill, Plato’s Closet and Savers all usually carry these brands. If you are looking for high-end retail items, your best bet is a consignment shop.

{thrifted jacket and dress}

Another point to think about is sales. Typically each thrift store has a calendar with a schedule of sales for the month. Last time I had a huge thrifting haul, I went to Savers when everything was half off for Memorial Day. It can be scary to go during a sale your first time, but you are also going to be saving that much more money, making it worth it.

Once you know where you are going to shop, figure out WHERE TO START when you are actually at the store. I always start with blazers because they are so versatile and are typically more expensive than some other items full price, so I always want to find a good deal. I honestly will never feel bad for buying a blazer for $8 or under. Anyway, think about the holes in your closet or what you are really looking for and make that your starting point. The thing is that you aren’t always going to find what you are looking for the first time, or the second time, or the third time… but you will find it eventually! And by having one section of the store to start at, you can go straight to that spot in the store without being overwhelmed. A starting point is always a good thing to have.

{thrifted blazer and skirt}

Know Your Budget and Needs I think one thing that is key about shopping in general is knowing your budget and knowing what you need for your closet. Thrifting is so much fun and it is fun to find fantastic deals, but the last thing you want is spending a ton of money on clothes because they are a great deal at the time and then either not wearing them and have them take up extra room in your closet or realizing you don’t love it and bringing it back to the thrift store as a donation. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but just like sales racks I think it can be hard to control the urge to buy buy buy when things are so greatly reduced, but having a plan and knowing what you plan to spend will help you keep it under control!

Alright…. ready to make a plan and find some good deals?! Go for it!