Making the Most: 12 Tips on Shopping the Thrift Stores

I'm starting a series on other ways to maximize your frugal finds by sharing ticks and tips I've picked up over the years. It's been trial, error and a whole lot of fortunate accident, but good or bad - up or down - it has always ended up as an adventure!

First up: thrift stores.

Thrift store shopping is a whole different game from your usual department store. There's no stock, everything is one of a kind, most need a little TLC or some good elbow grease and all of it is second-hand. Surprisingly enough though, thrift stores are also a great place to find high quality, gently used and sometimes brand new items at the fraction of the original cost.

Here's some tips on how to make that shopping trip a good one:

1. Look for the Deal of the Day - It could be a special tag color, week number, certain items or rack, but almost every thrift store has a sale every day, prominently displayed. If you don't see a sign right away ask the store clerk for the day's deal. While you're at the store counter see if they have an events calendar too. These can be really handy listing all the upcoming sales for the month or year.
   
2. Always Try it on - I don't know how many times I've picked up a clothing item from at a thrift store only to find that it shrunk in the wash or was custom tailored to the previous owner. Only trying it on will show if it's a good fit. Also, that mirror can be your friend. Seeing clothes as you would wear them can expose stains, rips, missing buttons, lost beads, bad zippers, etc.
3. Test Those Stains - I know it may seem crazy, but try bringing a Tide pen or Shout Wipe with you to the store or into that fitting room. Often you'll be able to tell if a stain is permanent or just a little dust from the stock room floor. It's well worth it to see if that stain will come out in the wash.
   
4. Look For Quality - You'd be surprised the brand names you'll find! You'll have to do a bit of digging, but I've seen wonderful deals on the best of designers. It's not just a luxury to have the nicer brands, think of it as insurance. Since you're buying second hand, the life expectancy of your item is considerably less than one off the shelf at Macy's. Quality brand made items last longer and are less likely to fall apart 6 weeks down the road.
5. Stick to What You Need - It can be tempting to buy when the deals are so good, but it can also add up fast. If you don't have an need for the purchase, there's a good chance it'll end up tucked away in a closet, garage, or worse back at the thrift store donation box. Tip to the wise - resist buying unless you know when and how you'll use it.
   
6. Keep your Eyes Peeled  - It's great advice to go into a thrift store with a plan, but I highly recommend keeping your eyes open for some surprising deals. You never know what you're going to find. You may go in for a pair of jeans and leave with the perfect coffee table for your living room. Stay open minded.
7. Know the Area - Knowing the community where your store is located will give you an idea of the items you'll find in the store. Elementary school near by? You may see a good rack of kids clothing and mom gear. Mall or retail shopping center down the road? You may find higher end items and more brand names. Downtown areas usually have more art selections and so on.
8. Check Specialty Shops - If you're looking for something specific, you may want to look for a specialty thrift store. Try Other Mother's for everything kids, moms and moms-to-be needed. Goodwill's new furniture Redesign Stores are packed full of furniture for every room in your home. And if you need to renovate, Stardust Building Supply is the place to go for gently used and second hand appliances, building material and hardware at up to 80% off retail.
9. Sign up for Newsletters - Newsletters are a great way to keep up to date on store events and sales, but also some offer coupons too! Check out Goodwill for example. Here in AZ, you'll get a coupon every 2 weeks!
10. Donate Your Goods - Donating isn't just good for the community, environment and the charity you give to, but, you guessed it, more coupons! Many thrift stores offer a coupon when you donate. Simply ask for a receipt. Also, your donation may be tax deductible.
11. Check for Promotions - From time to time a store might have a promotion for coupons or even prizes. Take for example Savers' Super Savers Pass where stamps are collected for purchases or donations to get a 30% off coupon. This promotion just ended, but your store may have something similar. Savers also has a Club Card for extra discounts. Sign up in-store for yours today.
12. Go Often - Anyone will tell you, shopping at a thrift store can be hit or miss. You'll have to go often to find the deals you're looking for, but it's well worth it!

Also did you know you can now shop Goodwill online? It's true! ShopGoodwill.com sells items from their Goodwill stores located all over the US. And just like shopping at a physical location, revenues from these online auctions fund Goodwill's education, training and job placement programs for people with disabilities and other barriers.

Do you have a great tip on shopping the thrift stores or want to share a great deal you've recently found? Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear your stories!