Review the facts and benefits of thrifting.
Why should you thrift shop?
- Thrift shopping is good for the environment. By purchasing secondhand or vintage clothing and accessories, you are keeping old clothes out of landfills and reducing your carbon footprint.
- Thrift shopping is good for your wallet. By buying gently worn items that have already been produced and shipped, you are cutting back on waste while saving money by avoiding unnecessary markups.
- Finding exactly what you want can be difficult when shopping at department stores or chain retailers; however, many thrift shops carry a large selection of used goods at low prices compared to similar items new in stores or online. This means that before buying something new online—and paying shipping costs—it’s worth searching for an item at a nearby thrift store and seeing if it fits in style and price range as well!
Research the thrift stores near you.
The first step to thrift shopping is to do a little research and find the best thrift stores near you. There are several ways to do this:
- Check out the thrift store’s website. Most of them have pages that list their hours, address, and phone number, as well as information about their dress code and other policies. If they have a Facebook page or an Instagram account, check them out too!
- Search online for “thrift store” + your city’s name (or “rag picker”) + “Yelp reviews.” This method may not produce as many results as searching only Yelp reviews specifically related to clothing or fashion (which can be skimpy), but it will give you more options than just searching via Google Maps or Yelp itself would provide—and it will allow you access even if the store doesn’t have its own website yet! Another benefit: sometimes sites like Yelp offer coupons that make shopping there cheaper than going elsewhere (for example: “$10 off all purchases over $50”).
Find a thrift buddy.
I strongly recommend finding a thrift buddy. It’s more fun to thrift with someone else, especially if you can help each other find items.
- You can share your finds with each other.
- You can help each other try things on that may not fit you or have different body types than yours and therefore be able to offer an unique perspective on whether something will work for you.
- You can help each other find the best deals! Thrift stores often mark down items as they get closer to closing time, so if you see something great and another person wants it too (or vice versa), then both of you should get it because there’s no guarantee that it will still be there tomorrow! Also remember that most thrifting store employees have pretty good knowledge of their inventory and which items are selling better than others in the store — so they might know some good deals if they don’t mind sharing… The key here is asking politely instead of just grabbing stuff without permission!
Make a list of what you’re looking for.
One of the most important things you can do when thrift shopping is to make a list of what kinds of things you’re looking for. If you have a list, then it’s much easier to stay focused and not get distracted by other things. It also makes it easier to go back and see what items you’ve already found, which can help speed up the process considerably.
Additionally, making a shopping list helps prevent buying duplicates or items that don’t match each other. Since thrift stores tend to be disorganized and cluttered, this is an easy thing to do without even realizing it!
Plan your route accordingly.
The first step to a successful shopping excursion is to plan your route. Map out the stores you want to visit, and make sure they’re all within walking (or driving) distance of each other. If you’re shopping with a car, park in a central location and walk from store to store.
If it’s possible for you, consider planning your route on the days when most stores will be open at their full hours—this way, if one store closes early, you won’t have wasted time or gas traveling there.
Bring a tote bag.
- Before you go, bring a tote bag.
- Make sure it’s big enough to carry everything you’ll buy.
- Bring a reusable bag that’s sturdy and won’t rip easily.
- Don’t just bring any old tote; bring one that you aren’t afraid of getting dirty.
- Choose one with straps or handles so it can be carried on your shoulder, which will keep both hands free for carrying other things.
Pick up everything you like/think you’ll like.
The best way to get the most out of your thrifting experience is to go into it with an open mind. Be prepared for things not to fit immediately, and don’t be afraid to try things on even if you feel uncomfortable doing so. If something doesn’t fit right away, hold onto it anyway! You might have more luck wearing it later on when your body has changed a little bit or you’ve found other pieces that work well with this one. Try looking through stores’ dressing rooms with friends; their opinions can be helpful in helping decide whether or not something is worth buying (or trying on). If someone offers help while you’re shopping at a store, take it! They may know the store well enough to help you find things that will look good together if they see something hanging up that catches their eye first before anyone else does.”
Don’t be afraid to try things on!
You may be surprised at how well something fits—and if you don’t like it, you can always take it off.
This is one of the most important things to remember when shopping at thrift stores. You never know what treasures are waiting just behind that double-locked door!
Thrift shopping can be fun and sustainable!
Thrift shopping is a fun way to shop. It’s a great way to find unique pieces, and the thrill of the hunt will keep you coming back for more.
It can also be a fun activity to do with friends and family, making it even more sustainable than your average trip to the mall!
