10 Thrift Shopping Commandments, Part Two

Thrift Shopping Commandments
Last week I gave you the first part of my 10 Thrift Shopping Commandments and here’s the final five. They’re in no particular order as they’re all crucial to ensure a happy, productive thrifting experience.


Would I Buy It At Full Price?
This is the question you need to ask yourself before buying anything. Cheap prices can be mighty alluring so you want to be sure you’re not solely buying something because it’s a steal. Though a dress may be $2, it’ll be a total waste of cash if you never wear it.


Patience is a Virtue One Must Possess
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people walk in and out of the thrift store after five minutes and wonder why they found nothing. Um, it takes time y’all. Try to give yourself an hour to browse and properly see what the store has to offer. Otherwise, you may be leaving some serious thrift store scores behind for other people to grab.

Give Back
You want good thrift karma? Give back to the thrift store. I know this sounds counterintuitive but try to adopt a one in, one out rule. When you head to Goodwill, Salvation Army or whatever your secondhand shop of choice is, bring a donation to drop off. Besides ensuring your closet won’t overflow, there’s just something about the law of freely giving, that allows you to receive bigger and better.

Goodwill Rewards Card
Save Even More
Some people don’t realize thrift stores have sales, so you can get already affordable gems at even more affordable prices. Check with your local store for days when certain items may be up to half off. And some stores even have rewards incentives, like Super Savers Club or the Goodwill Rewards Card, which I’m a proud card-carrying member of. They’re not available in all areas but put some {friendly} pressure on your local secondhand shop to bring the savings to your store.

Budget
Budget
I can’t stress this enough: have a set budget when you hit the thrift store. When you’re on a thrifting high and find tons of goodies, the tab can quickly rack up. Determine how much you want to spend for the day or per store and stick to that. And since most thrift stores now accept plastic, you may want to leave the credit or debit card at home.

So there you have it, my 10 Thrift Shopping Commandments.

What are yours? What are your must abide by rules when you thrift shop?

9 Comments
  • Natasha Fatah
    Posted at 14:13h, 26 March Reply

    As always, excellent tips!
    xoxo
    http://www.natashafatah.blogspot.com

  • Alex
    Posted at 19:20h, 26 March Reply

    I definitely try to stick to a budget. I’ve spent way too much at my Goodwill when I only intended to pick up a few things! 

  • myblackfriendsays
    Posted at 19:21h, 26 March Reply

    One of the ways I help myself decide if I should buy something is, “Would I repin this if I saw it on pinterest?” It’s a good way for me to determine if I really like something. 

  • Ablake48
    Posted at 18:52h, 28 March Reply

    Gr8 tips!

  • Ranaye
    Posted at 03:24h, 29 March Reply

    One of our local thrift store has a certain color tag for .99 every monday.  Unless I am looking for a specific item, I only go on mondays & don’t buy anything unless it has a .99 tag.  I once got a pair of Mossimo jeans with the tags still on them for .99!!!!!

  • designer consignment
    Posted at 09:20h, 29 March Reply

    Hello..
    Very informative post for all those who want to purchase something through consignment shops. It is very important that you should buy in a best way to save money as well as shopping is worth not waste.

  • Kellie Alexander
    Posted at 18:40h, 31 March Reply

    I try not to “browse” too often. Instead, I like to go in looking for something specific. It’s fine if I see something I must have, but browsing is prone to impulse buys. Not always. I also have days when I have nothing better to do than to hit the stores, but I usually spend less than five dollars on those days. 🙂

  • Pingback:My Secret Tips to the Best Thrift Shopping | Looking Fly on a Dime
    Posted at 12:01h, 14 August Reply

    […] I’ve done a ton of posts on thrift shopping 101, thrift shopping commandments, etc, I’ll let you in on the three secret tips I utilize to always** find great stuff. Well, […]

  • Pingback:Here's Why You Never Seem to Find Anything at the Thrift Store | Looking Fly on a Dime
    Posted at 03:00h, 11 September Reply

    […] or tweets like this. And in spite of all of the thrift shopping posts I do {thrift shopping 101, thrift shopping commandments, etc.}, there’s always someone who tells me they keep walking away empty handed. Of course I […]

Post A Comment