I’m just a novice thrifter but from what I’ve heard, Mondays & Tuesdays can be good days after the all the weekend donations (and garage sale leftovers) have been sorted through and restocked the shelves.

I go to a thrift store surround by $4million+ homes. I look through every section in my size, looking only at the tags. If I like the tag, I look at the item. I’ve amassed a ridiculously huge wardrobe of fantastic, quality pieces this way.

Tuesday is senior days here and I avoid the thrift at all costs…unless you are a senior and can snag that discount!

Go often. Like every day.

Generally the good items at good prices do not sit around for multiple days.

I am not a reseller but avid thrifter since the 90’s. Here are some tips:

Feel the fabrics of clothing. After awhile you can tell the quality just by touching it. Same with finding leather purses.

Try to go often and avoid weekends. Thursday and Friday’s is often when they are restocking for the weekend and it’s pretty quiet.

Don’t be shy to shop out if your size and try things on. A tag may say a size 6 but fits like a 8/10 and vice versa.

Have a thrift wish list so you aren’t just buying random stuff because it’s a good deal.

If you are unsure about buying something ask yourself if you would buy it full price e and new at the mall. If it is a yes, grab yet!

Make a wish list of things you really want and keep an eye out for those things specifically. I have been thrifting for years and have admittedly accumulated a lot of crap just because I love the thrill of the hunt lol. Put everything you like in your cart right away so you don’t lose it, but take inventory before checkout to decide if you REALLY want/need each item.

Be selective. At first the high from finding and buying can lead to accumulating too much mid-grade stuff. Only buy things you truly love.

Don’t let it make you a hoarder. Throw fabrics into the washer as soon as you get home to avoid bugs

Go to the store wearing an outfit you like and feel like yourself in. Only buy stuff if you'd rather wear it than what you came in.

I’ve always had the best luck thrifting when I have a clear idea of what I’m looking for and take my time looking through everything. I like to go when I have lots of time and patience.

I also recommend looking at seams, between the thighs on bottoms, back pockets, armpits, zippers etc. for signs of wear/stains. I’ve come home far too many times and discovered holes and tears in items that would be really hard to fix, so those items ended up turning into rags. It’s such a bummer!

Oh and be sure to check pockets on jackets and purses even if you don’t want to buy them…. I’ve found money more than once!

What they are doing with the proceeds. Seriously. Our local thrift store is not a chain. The people that work there are all retirees that volunteer. All the proceeds (after bills) goes right back into the community. If a child needs glasses or medical equipment, they will make sure that kid has what they need.

I shop there, I donate there. (And it's nice, rich people donate to them often. So you get great deals!!) You pay $1.25 for jeans!! They often have 50% off sales, to get more stuff out there!!

My son wanted a blue tie..I went and got one for 50c.

And if you are looking for something specific and they do not have it, when they get that item, they will set it aside and call you to come take a look. If it's not exactly what in mind, they don't get snarky, they just keep an eye out for you!

My favorite place to thrift!

For me it’s like being in a gambling streak: in Dallas last month, it started out rough: bad neighborhood, homeless crawling through donation bin and a security guard who wanted to hold my shopping bag (I left)

By the time I got to vagabond and Genesis and Dolly python it was like I was on a gambling heater: it was a combination of factors.

Parking - if there’s NO parking it’s a great store

Music - great music, great thrifting

Comraderie- competition RUINS the experience, comraderie makes it. At Genesis, there were six of us in front of a mirror, having a blast. It was like Filenes bargain basement

Knowledgeable staff - the best stores are curated. Yes they are slightly more expensive, but so worth it. I’m not looking for genetic jeans, I’m looking for things no one wears (except me).

Smell - musty, old, sweaty BO? Forget it.

They really are hit and miss. Sometimes I find nothing at all for months at a time, other times, I feel I have it the mother load and I have to literally pass on things because there is so much I would like to take home. Just keep thrifting! 😁

It is always hit or miss for me, even in my favorite stores. You just have to put some work into it.

Yesterday I found a beautiful silk scarf for $4 that retails at $105. Some items in the same store were priced at eBay rates, but some weren't. I just had to spend a little time searching for the good stuff.

IMO, great thrift stores are the ones that have fair to cheap pricing and get new stock often. Even better if they are well organized and have friendly employees, but hunting for the good stuff is part of the fun (I can shop through the organized ones faster though). Good vibes are for sure a bonus though!

I tend to check basically all the thrift stores or 2-3 at once if I can as it is really hard to judge how busy they will be with shoppers and donations (which determines how picked over it is). It’s better to go more often just in general when it comes to thrifting. Also, I find that the high pricing issue is usually specific items or sections within the stores. Again, you just have to go often to learn these things and figure out what’s a good deal. In my area, the higher priced thrifts are more picky about what they put out too so I know it’s more expensive, but I usually find better quality.

So it kinda comes down to what you’re looking for, how long you want to spend looking, and your budget as to if a thrift store is good or great!

Prioritize quality over trend! It’s a very tactile kind of judgement - go for things that feel sturdy and/or luxurious. You can get a ton of stylish looks out of a few pieces of high quality clothing with a developed sense of style. Low-quality thrifted clothes do no favors for anyone.

Some tips that I live by for clothes shopping:

• don't go if in a rush

• always check racks with size up and down from your size

• look at every garment, even just for a second

• touch as many as you can, this is how you pick out high quality items

• bring a charged phone, if something feels high quality but you've never heard of the brand, Google it and check out their website

• watch for big brands with the little "***" on their tags under the logo (Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Tommy Hilfiger, etc)... the three little * could be little circles, diamonds or squares, but they are their outlet brands and significantly lower quality

• do a quick check for stains, snags or armpit holes or discolouration

• be kind to other thrifters, give everyone space, especially during these COVID times

Go to the trendy thrift stores. When you’re entering a lower income neighborhood buying their shit, you’re going to attract people outside of the neighborhood and eventually make the clothes more expensive for the people that need to shop at these second hand stores.

wear basics when you shop! it can help when you’re considering a new piece so that you can see it in an outfit that matches.

wearing leggings and tank top so you can try on clothes over your clothes in case they don’t have a changing room.

if you’re buying jeans be sure you can squat in them.

I love shopping alone but I don't go thrifting as it's not as common to find those types of shops in the uk. I'm really specific when going shopping and have an annoying order to things. (I have to see the item twice to make sure I really want it so I often go to one shop, go to another and then come back to the original to see if I'm still interested or if I found it more cheaper)

I highly recommend some earphones and a good playlist, it makes it more enjoyable. It feels more awkward listening to the background chatter and store music so I drown it out with music. Also, have an idea of what you want beforehand so you don't buy random things that look nice. Set a budget and be strict with it if you're trying not to spend too much money.

Except from that, don't worry too much about what you do. No one will care that you're alone, people are worrying about themselves more. I have a habit to look everywhere but the clothes infront of me so I think I look like a lost bunny when going shopping.

Most of the time I thrift alone. I just listen to my music in my headphones and look thru everything

just go and try on clothes

nowadays i buy most of my clothes from thrift/charity shops and:

• if there are multiple in your area try to do it when you have a lot of time in your day because it often pays to go to more than one - you might find nothing you like in one place but something really good in another

• check everything carefully before you buy it to make sure it doesn't have holes in etc. if you can try everything on too (if the shop doesn't have a fitting room ask if they have a returns policy)

• it can often pay to have a look at stuff that's one size above and below yours. sizing can be quite random because there's stuff from lots of different brands and countries with their own size policies so if you see something you like but it doesn't look like your normal size it often doesn't hurt to try it on and see if you like it! also this might just be where i worked but often the size tag they put on the hanger says something different to what is actually on the label

• if you like something but aren't sure if it's worth buying, I only buy things if I can imagine wearing them in an outfit with three other things I already own. otherwise i don't buy it. (obviously this won't apply if you're looking for a whole new wardrobe)

• if you don't think you have enough space in your wardrobe, try donating stuff you own but don't like/don't wear anymore before buying new stuff. just remember that if you won't wear something because it has actual quality defects (like a large stain on or something) the shop probably won't want to sell it either. i work in a charity shop and lots of people treat donating as their personal dump lol

that's just some stuff I thought of. lots of stores have very different policies/layouts so i think a lot of it is a matter of finding a method that works for you

i hope something on here was useful sorry i rambled a lot 😅😅😅

seems like thrifting is no longer any good. I managed to get a working film camera (a point and shoot even) for 5 bucks at a value village in the okanagan, same thing now is reselling for hundreds of dollars on ebay. Things like the market.

Know your brands, and know your sizes

Edit: also know the limitations of what can be tailored and how much it can be tailored.

Don't bother anymore. Thrift stores have been ruined by vintage resellers. If you do go expect to find nothing as you'll be competing with people who are trying to flip old shit for money.

I haven't had luck thrifting since about 2017-2018. I knew it was over when I started overhearing random teens in the thrift stores loudly talk about how much something would get on Grailed.

Go often. There are many trips where I've found nothing and some days I've found awesome things. It's incredibly hit or miss.

Target stores near rich or more affluent neighbourhoods. I think thrifting is much more successful in the states and with the popularity that it is having now, hidden gems are going to be harder to find.

It may not apply to everyone, but the Marie Kondo method in the book ‘The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up’ by her has been a huge game changer for me.

I thrift, but it’s with purpose. I won’t generally buy something that came from TJ Maxx or whatever has been mass produced. I love the well made vintage items.

All that being said, I absolutely have a room that my family lovingly refers to as my treasure hoard.

Thank you for reminding me I have to re read that book!

I add things to my cart and do 2-3 laps around the store.  Going down each aisle from both directions. Then I assess my cart and buy whatever I love 90%. I Often regret not grabbing something. So as long as I love it 90% worth I buy it. Worse case scenario, I donate it back or give it away.

A list
I keep a list of things I actually need. E.g., on the list right now is:

• Teapot, 1 litre
• Mens dress pants

By having specific things I go looking for, I am less likely to browse everything and get tempted by it all. Instead, I have a goal to focus on.

Allowance
I give myself a yearly allowance of how much I am allowed to spend on thrifting.

Yearly rather than monthly because it allows me greater flexibility.
But for some, a monthly allowance will work best.

It makes you more conscious about exactly how much money you spend on thrifting.
My yearly allowance is 300€ ($350), and it is a sobering number. Do I really want to spend that much money on it? Can I afford it?

Put everything you think you're going to buy in your cart. Before entering the checkout, review every item in your cart. Really think about it. Put everything back that you are not going to buy. Take a moment to think about how much money you've saved. I've had moments where I feel like I've stopped a train wreck from occurring. 🤣

Our family has a silly ritual when we want something but can't afford it, we just walk up to it, give it a little boop, and say goodbye.

Even my kids remind me to do this sometimes. Lol. To recognize that I want it, but can't or shouldn't buy it right now.

Yup same! I love thrifting and to have my own personal unique style 😃🙈

I haven't paid retail in over 15 yrs. I was thrifting before thrifting became cool (and a business for some). I'm the best dressed in my office, and I brag about it every day. "Thanks, it was thrifted!" Yes it takes some time to find the treasures, but that time is "fun time" for me, not a chore. Like most thrifters, I get a rush when I find a treasure, so it keeps me coming back.

It’s so satisfying having all the brands everyone’s wearing but paying ten times less. I see my coworkers and even my own friends spending a fortune on stuff, and honestly it feels kind of silly when there are so many thrifting options available now, even from your couch.

I recently bought a bundle of 5 lululemon leggings for $50. I didn’t even really need them, I just placed a bid during a live resale app show and ended up winning. When I looked up the actual price, over $100 EACH, I was genuinely thrilled. I might even resell a couple of them.

All that to say, thrifting is such a game changer. I’m also curious where you all thrift online. It makes life so much easier. I’ve been way less motivated to go to Goodwill or the bins lately. It’s still fun once in a while and gets you out of the house, but honestly gas is expensive.

I love the hunt! The adventure of discovery.. I agree it’s easier to get variety with thrift. I am careful though to only buy quality in perfect condition.