A Thrifty Peach

This is a great oversized sweater that I bought in Valdosta, GA! And I got it all for only $3!

I personally search for longer sweaters like this that I can wear with leggings or skinny jeans and boots! 

One great way to save even MORE money is to check and see if your local thrift stores have sale days.  As I have discussed in previous posts each thrift store is very different, so take advantage of this!  Some examples of how thrift stores can discount their inventory:

Mondays- Some stores have a 'Monday Half-Price Day' policy.  It is exactly as it sounds every money every item in the store is half off!

Colors- Most thrift stores are categorized by some kind of color system (i.e.-blue=$1 and red=$2).  Goodwill specifically uses red, yellow, blue, and green.  Stores can make one color a week half-off, 2 colors one day a week half-off,etc.

At this store every item that was Blue was half-off the entire week!

Also, I'm sure you saw that every item that starts with 'B' is also half-off! That includes belts, blazers, bags, boots, etc.

Most people I talk to about thrifting, that are not active thrifters themselves, always complain about being completely overwhelmed when the walk into a thrift store.  This is a very easy obstacle to get passed and there are many ways of doing this.

1. Specific Items- The easiest way to being thrift shopping (the way most people begin) is to go to a second hand store looking for something very specific.  This could be anything from a piece of a costume to a specific colored shirt or belt.  It is much easier to walk into a store and know exactly what you're looking for so that you aren't overwhelmed with the amount of clothes or home goods.  

Personally I only went thrift stores for many years when I was in need of a specific item of clothing that I wanted for cheap and would most likely wear for one day.  This helped me become familiar with stores and their inventory.  

2.Have a Strategy-Nowadays because I go to so many second hand stores and they are all so different I try to map out how I'm going to get through the most clothing and get the best items.  There are many ways to do strategize your shopping habits so that you are the most efficient and effective along the way.  

Personally I like to always start with dresses (because they are my favorite find at a thrift store), then I move onto skirts (easy to find cute skirts and typically there aren't nearly as many skirts as dresses and shirts).  After my first excursion through the dresses and skirts I look at sweaters or blazer because they can really top of a great outfit with a unique flare.  Next is onto shoes, belts, and purses and typically you can scan all of these pretty quickly to see if any are for you.  Lastly, shirts! There are typically SO many shirts that there's no way it's efficient to spend much time looking through all of them.  I look at a few racks and those are typically the patterned shirts so that I can find something unique.  

Every person is going to have a different strategy because every person wants to get different results from thrift shopping.  I am mostly looking for unique pieces to add to my collection of clothing.  Many people are looking for home decor, books, electronic, baby clothes and toys, etc.  

3. Specific Styles-This is a great way to find pieces to finish an outfit you've working on but still don't have that exact piece you need.  Another way to use this to your advantage is if you're looking for styles that are popular that season.  For instance this season I'm looking for pleats, below the knee skirts, big sweaters, and short boots.  A great way to do this is before your go to a thrift store look through some magazines or department store flyers and see what is in style this season.  Then try to replicate that with cheap finds!

In the end everyone's strategy is going to be very different but to have a strategy at all will help new thrift store shoppers not get overwhelmed and help veterans use their time for effectively.  

See how this can be a bit overwhelming?? 

Every thrift store is a little different (that's really the secret to why they are so GREAT!) depending on layout, profits, location, and many more factors.  

A great way to categorize thrift stores is by looking at who supports the store or how they receive their inventory.  

1.Consignment- any store that receives second hand clothes from people in a trade manor, whether that is through money or store credit transaction

2. Popular Chains-Stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army receive donations from no money at all from the public

3. Upscale Resale (type of consignment)- Places like Plato's Closet only buys brand name or lightly used clothes in exchange for money.  They are VERY picky so sometimes it is very hard to make money from these places.  

4. Outreach ministries- Thrift store totally based on free donations and typically are giving the money or a portion of the money to a non-profit organization. 

The key to thrifting is TIME.  You have to have a bit of patience when beginning because thrift stores are organized very differently from typical retail stores.  Within the realm of thrift stores there are endless ways for them to be organized and laid out for the customer.  

Types of organization:

1. Type of clothing i.e.-dresses, skirts, shirts, etc.

2. Color ( in my opinion the worst way)

3. Size

Every thrift store varies but most Goodwills and Salvation Army's organize by color and independent stores are all VERY different.  

A great way to predict what you're going to find in a Thrift store is the location!

1. Big city- The pro to a thrift store in a big city is that people typically give or sell nicer clothes.   The con is that they are typically priced higher!

2. Small town- Thrift stores in small towns are great because they have lots of one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing but they are typically smaller stores.