Diamond in the Rags: A Guide to Thrift Sales & Savings

For many the mention of thrift stores conjures up images of dark and dirty warehouses stocked with useless knick-knacks and stained clothing. There may be the occasional second-hand store for which this would be a reliable description. But these days, most can provide a very different experience. If you’re looking for bargains, a thrift store should be one of your first stops. It’s true that almost everything you come across is used, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find high quality products. Here are some strategies to approaching a trip to the thrift store., and if the prices aren’t low enough, try searching through a savings site like CouponCravings.com.
Visit more than one second-hand store. According to LifeHack.org, thrift stores can often be found clustered near each other in similar low-rent neighborhoods. This makes it easy to try out more than one store in a day. This is a good idea because each store will have slightly different stock since the major charities that run them often cater to different kinds of donors. While you may not have luck in all the stores, there is a good chance you’ll find something you like in at least one of them.

Look for sales and discounts for further savings. Money Talks News explains that even thrift stores have sales, or special weekly discounts. Some even have a specific day of the week when you can find extra deals on marked-down items. Ask thrift store employees about sales and discounts so you’ll know when it’s best to come back.

Keep your eyes open for high quality brand names. SimpleMom.net suggests that you can find much more than just basic cheap clothing at thrift stores. People donate used clothing and items of varied degrees of quality. If you are willing to take the time, you might find some hidden treasures in the racks.

Never forget to try clothes on first. Just because you find a brand you love, doesn’t mean you should run straight to the cashier to buy it. If you get it home and find it doesn’t fit right, it will just end up at the back of your closet, unused. And that’s a waste of money.

Thrift store shopping doesn’t need to be a daunting challenge. With the right mindset you can expect to save money on some quality products, and maybe have a little fun in the process. You just might find some gems that have been well-taken care of and are ready for their next home.