Thrifting Tips for Beginners: How to Score Great Finds on a Budget

New to thrifting? Here are some of my best thrifting tips for beginners. Let me show you my secrets for how to score great finds on a budget by hitting the thrift store.

Thrifting can be an exciting and rewarding experience whether it’s your first trip to the thrift store or your 100th!! As someone who has been doing it for years and has a blue ribbon in thrifting, I will tell you that it’s a great way to find unique and affordable items.

However, it can also be overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why I’ve put together some tips for beginners to help you get the most out of your thrifting experience.

Your best bet is to come up with a plan before you head out to go shopping. This means having an idea of what you’re looking for and setting a budget. It can be easy to get carried away when you’re surrounded by so many great deals, but having a plan will help you stay focused and avoid overspending.

Additionally, it’s important to be patient and willing to dig through shelves of knick-knacks to find hidden gems. Thrifting requires a bit of effort, but the payoff can be well worth it.

Understanding Thrifting

What is Thrifting?

When I say “thrifting,” I’m referring to the act of shopping at secondhand stores, garage sales, flea markets, and other places where people sell their used items. Thrifting can be a fun and affordable way to find unique and interesting items that you might not be able to find anywhere else.

There is not a spot in my home that doesn’t have something that is secondhand! It’s my secret to creating a style unique to my home.

Benefits of Thrifting

One of the biggest benefits of thrifting is that it’s environmentally friendly. By buying used items, you’re keeping them out of landfills and reducing the demand for new products. Thrifting is also a great way to save money. You can often find high-quality items at a fraction of the cost of buying them new. Plus, thrifting can be a treasure hunt. You never know what you might find, I love the thrill of finding a great piece hidden on a shelf!!

Another benefit of thrifting is that it can be a way to support local businesses. Many thrift stores are run by non-profit organizations or small business owners, so by shopping there, you’re helping to support their mission and keep money in your local community.

Overall, thrifting can be a great way to find unique items, save money, and support the environment and local businesses. So next time you’re in the market for something new, consider giving thrifting a try!

Getting Started with Thrifting

Choosing the Right Thrift Store

When starting your thrifting journey, it’s important to choose the right thrift store. Not all thrift stores are created equal, and some may have a better selection of items than others. I recommend doing some research to find thrift stores in your area and reading reviews online. Also, follow your local spots on social media to get the inside scoop for specials and pictures of new merch that has hit the shelves. This can help you get an idea of what each store has to offer and what other shoppers have experienced.

Another thing to consider when choosing a thrift store is the type of items they sell. Some stores may specialize in clothing, while others may have a wide variety of items such as furniture, home decor, and electronics.

In my area, the Savers chain of thrift stores is the best for thrifting for home decor. I never have much luck at the Goodwill in my area. But I see my friends finding the best stuff at their Goodwill stores so it really does vary by location.

Habitat for Humanity ReStores are great spots to find furniture and household items. They even have kitchen cabinets and front doors from people renovating their homes!

Best Time for Thrifting

The best time to go thrifting is during the weekdays, especially early in the morning or late in the afternoon. This is because weekends are busier, and the stores may be picked over by the time you arrive. Going early in the morning or late in the afternoon can also increase your chances of finding new items that have just been put out on the shelves.

Sometimes I end up going on the weekends and it’s always so crowded. I happened to stop in my Savers last weekend and it was jammed…but I ended up filling my carriage so I’m glad that I took the chance and stopped in!

Another thing to keep in mind is that certain times of the year may be better for thrifting than others. Some of my best thrift store hauls have been in late January when everyone is making New Year’s resolutions to get organized!!

Additionally, some thrift stores may have sales or promotions on certain days of the week, so it’s a good idea to check their website or social media pages for updates. Savers hands you a 20% off coupon after you donate goods too.

Overall, choosing the right thrift store and timing your visits can greatly enhance your thrifting experience and increase your chances of finding unique and affordable items.

Thrifting Tips for Beginners

As someone who has been thrift shopping for years, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks that can help any beginner navigate the world of thrifting. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Know What You’re Looking For

Before you even step foot in a thrift store, it’s important to have an idea of what you’re looking for. This can help you stay focused and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff in the store. Maybe you’re looking for a certain type of item like wall art. Whatever it is, having a general idea of what you want can make the thrifting experience more enjoyable.

Sometimes I’m looking for items that I can upcycle for DIY projects here on the blog and other times I’m going in looking for certain items like planter pots or baskets for new plants.

There is usually a running list in my head of things that I am on the hunt for when I’m secondhand shopping. Like right now I am thinking about Fall decorating and projects and my latest trip focused on that.

Take Your Time

There are items tucked in everywhere in thrift stores. Usually, you will have shelves on both sides of you when you are in an aisle. If you don’t want to miss the good stuff you have to take…your…time!!

My method whether I’m in a thrift store or other secondhand spot is the “double loop”. I take the time to walk the aisles twice to make sure I didn’t miss anything good!! FYI I usually do find something the second sweep that I didn’t see the first go-round.

That being said, another important tip to save you heartache: if you are on the fence about something just put it in your shopping cart!! You can always put it back if you change your mind but there is nothing worse than seeing something that you were eyeing in someone else’s cart!!

And always look on the bottom shelf and way in the back of shelves, there is hidden gold there! The green ceramic planter (above) was is perfect condition and waaaaay in the back of the bottom shelf! It looks like something from Anthropologie.

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Inspect Items Thoroughly

One of the biggest differences between thrifting and regular shopping is that the items you find in a thrift store have been previously owned. This means that they may have some wear and tear, and it’s important to inspect items thoroughly before making a purchase.

Take the time to inspect each piece for cracks or chips or broken parts.

Another tip is to use Google Lens to find out more about an item. I do this all the time when I’m inspecting dishes! I’ll use Google Lens and take a picture of the mark on the bottom of a dish to find out more about its history.

Making the Most of Your Thrift Finds

Upcycling Thrift Finds

When I find thrifted items that are not quite my style, I love to upcycle them into something new. There are so many ways to repurpose thrifted items!

So I will look at the shape of an outdated vase and think about how I could paint it to become more stylish. This is one of my favorite ways to create unique items for my home!

Same with furniture pieces, if you look beyond what it looks like in the store. That being said, don’t buy an ugly end table that needs refinishing if you don’t think you would put the effort into doing the work. It definitely defeats the purpose of upcycling in the first place…that’s just adding more junk into your garage!!!

This end table was a thrifted find. It had a cool shape but was pretty dated looking with a dark cherry stain. A little bit of paint made it look modern and perfect for my living room!

Selling Thrift Finds

Another way to make the most of your thrift finds is to sell them. If you come across a vintage piece that you know is valuable, consider selling it online or at a consignment shop.

When selling thrifted items, do your research. Again, Google Lens is super helpful while you are in the thrift store to look up items in real-time.

Honestly, I wish I had time to sell on eBay because I’ve come across so many fantastic dishes and serving pieces in the past few months that were dirt cheap but the resale value was amazing!

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Overall, upcycling and selling thrifted items are great ways to make the most of your finds. Not only will you save money by shopping secondhand, but you’ll also get to flex your creative muscles and potentially make some money in the process.

Common Thrifting Mistakes to Avoid

Thrifting can be a fun and affordable way to update your home decor. However, there are some common mistakes that beginners often make. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Don’t buy something just because it’s cheap. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding a good deal, but if you don’t actually need or love the item, it’s just going to take up space in your home.
• Don’t overlook items that need a little TLC. Sometimes a piece just needs a little wood glue or paint to be a star again. And if you’re handy, you might even be able to upcycle something into a completely new item.
• Don’t forget to inspect items carefully. Thrift stores often have a no-return policy, so make sure you check for damage before making a purchase.
• Don’t limit yourself to just one section. You never know where you might find a hidden gem, so be sure to browse all sections of the store! The book section is a great spot to find cheap coffee table books!

By avoiding these common thrifting mistakes, you’ll be able to make the most of your thrift store shopping experience.

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See What My Friends Found This Month!

Each month Stacy, Kim, Lora, and I share our latest thrifting and antique finds and ideas. Check out what my friends are up to this month.

More Thrifting Ideas

xo, Jennifer