Approach Thift Shops With Proper Timing And Skill – Frugal Challenge
There are better days than others to shop at the second-hand stores, and Monday would be one of those days. That’s because people are cleaning out their basements, attics, closets, and garages on weekends. You’ll get a tremendous selection of cast-off clothes, household appliances, and furniture at first light Monday morning.
If you live in a college town, get ready at the end of the school term to take advantage of those items that college students don’t want to haul to their next digs. You’ll find many items like small tables, chairs, desks, bookcases, and maybe even computers that may be perfect for your growing family’s needs.
The changes in seasons bring out the minimalist in all of us. You’ll often find many decorative items like pots and containers for planting your garden after the spring or fall season . Of course, after Christmas is the perfect time to find unwanted Holiday treasures that others have no further use for.
If your local thrift shop seems to be stagnating, it may be worth the trip to check out nearby communities. Another town may have a different and more diverse population than yours. A visit to a larger city is always going to be your best bet when it comes to variety and quantity of items of which to choose. Don’t discount the value of the money spent driving a few miles to find some real bargains.
Be sure to list all your window, table, bedding, and rug measurements on a paper in your purse. You won’t believe how many times you see something that’s incredible and all of a sudden can’t figure out if it will fit in your living room, dining table, or on your bed. Oftentimes, the size of the item has been washed off the label, so you’ll need the measurement to know if it will fit your table, bed, window, or floor.
If you’re looking at clothing, check the condition of the label first. If the label is easy to read, crisp and not shredded, chances are the garment is relatively new. It’s not necessarily the name of the manufacturer we’re after here, although that may be a bonus, but we’re looking at overall quality.
Thrift stores are all in desperate need of your business these days. Folks are shopping more and more at these outlets, hoping to find the ultimate bang for their buck, so the competition is growing. Compare prices and value. I challenge you to visit your local thrift stores and find out what they have to offer. Because, even when you’re only spending a dollar at a time, it’s your dollar… get the most for it!
Tags: thrift shop shopping
April 6th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
We shop our two local thrift shops quite often and the selection is usually very good. Our county had the quarterly county-wide yard sale this past weekend and I was able to find some excellent bargains. Our town also has a weekly auction that can yield some fantastic bargains, like a nearly new dinette set with four chairs for $15 and a nice cedar chest for $12. Bargains are out there if you take the time to look for them.
April 7th, 2009 at 1:44 am
We have a Goodwill in our neighboring town that has “quarter Mondays”. Then there is the 1/2 off stickers. It is quite a challenge to just find good clothing for a quarter but I have never come away empty handed! Today for example I purchased 3 name brand ( 2 of them were Eddie Bauer!) in excellent condition. I got them for a quarter because of the color! Bright spring colors that I can wear because I am a strawberry blonde that can wear virtually any shade! I always feel like I have hit the jackpot on Mondays!
April 8th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Love these tips..some I hadn’t thought of (amazingly). I frequent thrift stores mostly due to my one son’s uncanning ability to grow ‘overnight’. Difficult keeping up the clothing supply when every other week he’s changing (now 16). I do also shop neighboring towns…I found certain sizes more readily available in one store vs another. Love your blog!
November 9th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
[...] If you’ve gotten the urge to visit your local thrift shops now, before you start click here to read a few tips about when to shop and what to look for when you [...]
November 9th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
[...] Gift Shopping – Consider more inventive options for at least some of the names on your list. Shop smart and thrifty by looking through bargain basements and resale shops. Yes, even a trip through the second-hand [...]