“Emily, you need an intervention.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, surprised. My friend sighed patiently.
“You need to stop bringing random crap home!”
She had read a blog post in which I gleefully displayed my treasures thrifted from my local Goodwill. When I first moved from a small town to Phoenix, I was overjoyed by the sheer amount of items in the thrift stores. Add that to the fact that I was newly married and had a new apartment to furnish, and I was indeed bringing home a lot of “random crap.”
Now, many years later, few things give me the satisfaction of having someone ask, “Where did you get that (blazer, shoes, purse, chair, etc.)?” And being able to answer, “I got it at a thrift store, and I only paid $4!”
Thrifting is for you if you’re looking to save money, shop ethically, find vintage items, or just enjoy the thrill of the hunt. However, it also has its pitfalls. It can take a lot of time, it can be overwhelming, and there’s a strong temptation to buy things you don’t need or want, just because it’s a good deal.
In addition to random home décor, I’ve bought more than one dress that I planned to alter someday, on top of tons of other clothes that are cute, but not my color, style, or size, but were a good deal. They all eventually returned from whence they came.
To help you maximize the benefits and fun of thrifting, avoid the pitfalls, and minimize the overwhelm, I’m reposting these five tips I’ve learned for successful thrift shopping. And watch the video to come thrifting with me, and see what I bought just last weekend!
1. Do your homework
Before you go, you need to know what you’re looking for. Otherwise, you’ll end up wandering the aisles, feeling dazed and confused. I’ve found Pinterest to be very helpful. I wrote a post about using Pinterest for thrifting clothing, but here’s the basic premise: I create an inspiration board of clothes, then I identify aspects of those pins that I like, such as color, sleeve length, pattern, fabric, etc. When I’m shopping, I’ll keep those images in mind. You could also use this method to shop for furniture and house wares.
When shopping for clothing, it’s helpful to know what works best with your body shape, coloring, and even what fabrics you prefer. That way, if you find a dress that’s a flattering fit, but the color washes you out, you can easily put it back on the rack. If I find a sweater that’s a great color and fit, but is super scratchy, I know it will just sit in the back of my closet and never get worn.
2. Keep an open mind
Although you need to know what you’re looking for, you should still keep an open mind. For example, I used a bright red
sweater from a thrift store to make my sweater pillow. Ask yourself if it fits some aspects of your pins. For example, I’d pinned several royal blue items, and several lace items. When I found a royal blue sweater with black lace, I bought it, even though it was summer and I didn’t plan to wear a sweater anytime soon. As it turns out, I’ve worn it many, many times!
3. Be realistic
If it needs work, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if you have the time, energy, and money to make the changes. If you’re a seamstress, adding a hem or closing a small hole might not be an issue for you. But if you’re running an Etsy shop, working full time, or busy taking care of a family, it might! Be realistic about the amount of time and work involved, and how much it’s really worth it to you.
4. If you don’t love it, leave it!
If it just fits “ok,” don’t buy it! I’ve learned that if I’m not totally in love with a thrifted find, it will go unworn and unused. Don’t invest any money or time into something that you really aren’t crazy about. It will end up sitting in your garage or the back of your closet, until a year later, you pull it out during spring cleaning and take it back to Goodwill.
5. Practice makes perfect
I have discovered that it takes time to learn how to thrift well. You’ll bring home some duds sometimes, but you’ll learn from the experience what NOT to get next time!
If you’re new to thrifting, I also recommend starting with smaller stores, as opposed to the big chain thrift stores. You can find smaller, often cleaner, more organized thrift stores and consignment shops that tend to carry more name brand clothes, by asking around or by doing some Google research in your area.
And also, don’t hesitate to ask a thrifty friend to go with you! It’s more fun with friends!
What pitfalls do you encounter when thrifting? What’s your thrifting strategy? Share it with us in the comments!
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