14 Thrift Store Hacks to Save Money

Imagine if you could save 80% just by shopping second hand.

With more thrift and consignment stores starting to recognize the market value for their wares, it is even more important to understand how to seach out the best deals. Last time you were in Value Village or Goodwill - did you notice the prices seemed really high and out of reach?

As a life long thrifter, I have a few tips and tricks to help you find incredible pieces at a great price. It is entirely posibbly to outfit yourself and your family with a fashionable wardrobe for a fraction of the cost of retail, not to mention curate beautiful and unique home decor items. These are my top 14 tips that will guide you along the journey to saving money and discovering great pieces for your life.

(Photo:pixabay.com)

1. Follow Local Thrift Stores on Social Media

Following the Facebook or Instagram feed for your local thrift shops will keep you up to date on current sales and promotions. For example, There is a thrift shop down the street from my house that usually has a 50% off rack with prices ranging from $3-$40 dollars. One day, they decided to make everything on that rack only $1! If I hadn't been following their social media pages - I would have missed the sale.

Another example is a thrift store in my area decided to run a promtion on their clearance items where you could "Fill a Bag" with as many items as you wanted for $10. I later calculated the price tags and the bag I got that day would have cost me $110.... at regular thrift store prices.

(Photo: State Street Thrift and Vintage)

(Photo: Wise Buys)

2. Ask the Employees about the Best Times to Shop

The employees or owners are usually more than willing to give you tips on when you should shop for the best deals. Some shops may stock product everdyay as it comes in, while others may pile it up in the backroom and put it out once a week. I have a shop in my area that is closed on Sunday/Monday and they put out all of their new merchandise on Tuesday's. Finding out their inventory rotation cycle will help you determine the best days to shop at that particular store.

You should also ask them when certain items go on sale. Many shops use a color code system where a certain color is on clearance at the moment. This allows them to clear out inventory that has sat in the store for a while without having to sort through the entire shop and pull out sales items. Most shops switch the "Sale Color" once a month. The associate will tell if you what day of the month the new color goes on sale. Most thrift shops do the first of the month, but some do the 15th. If you can go the day that fresh inventory goes on clearance - you will have the best selection.

3. Location, Location, Location

Higher end neighborhoods tend to have better quality items in their thrift stores. People who live in these areas are more likely to purchase designer items and switch out clothing and home decor items every season. They are also less likley to shop at a second hand store, and so you have a lower level of competition for these items.

One disclaimer is that thift stores in affluanct areas are more likely to mark up the price because the know the value of their items. Keep this in consideration so you are not dissapointed if you don't find crazy deals in one good neighborhood. You will quickly map out which thrift stores tend to have good deals, and which ones tend to mark their prices up.

4. Buy out of Season

This tip may feel a little obvious - but if you have a little room to store extra items, you can score great deals out of season. I have found amazing wool coats for only a few bucks once summer hits, and some really cute tanks once we get to fall. This can also be a great time to stock up on seasonal home decor.

January is usually a great time to shop for a variety of reasons. First, people tend to drop things off befrore the end of the year so they can get a write-off on their taxes. Second, people tend to shed old items after Christmas because they have reiceved new and better items as gifts.

(Photo:giphy)

5. Don't be Afraid to Ask for Discounts on Damaged Items

If you find an item with a broken zipper, tear or stain - you may be able to get a deeper discount. It is possible that the sales clerk will say the defect is reflected in the price, but most of the time they will call their manager over to evaluate. The manager will likely offer you a certain percentage discount to take the item as they probably did not notice the defect when they accepted and priced it.

A damaged item may sit on the shop floor for a long period of time, and so it is in their best interest to move the item quickly. Of course, make sure that you are okay with the defect and can either repair or wash the item to your satisfaction.

6. Day of the Week

Although I stilll recommend asking the employee's advice on which days to shop - there are certain rules of thumb you can use to ensure success. In general, don't shop on the weekends. This is when the majority of shoppers are out and the inventory will already be picked through.

Many thrift and consignment stores recieve new items on the weekend because that is when people have time to drop it off. Most shops will need 24-36 hours to process new invenotry and will have new items on display Tuesday or Wednesday.

7. Resell your Items for Credit

Many consignment stores will offer you a higher percentage of the sale if you opt for store credit vs. cash. Use this to your adventage and sell old items to help fund your new purchases. Now, some of you might wear your clothes until they have no life left to give - especially if they were purchased second hand orignally. That doesn't mean you don't have valuable items to sell! It has become very common for consignment stores to carry home goods as well.

Do you have extra mason jars you don't need, a lamp sitting in storage or maybe a food chopper you aren't using? You might be surprised how much money you can get for home and kitchen items that are sitting around your house.

8. Look for Items without Price Tags

This may not happen to you every time you step into a thrift store, but it is more common than you think. Sometimes items make their way on the floor without being fully processed and priced in the back room. If you find these items, it usually works to your advantage.

Instead of a store employee carefully researching and setting the price - they have to call over the manager and give you a price on the spot. Nine times out of ten, they will quote you a price that is lower than it would have been otherwise because they are pressured to give you an answer right there. Often, I find that they ask me what I would be willing to pay for the item - and so I have the opportunity to set my own price or gently negotiate.

9. Join their Mailing List

This is another great way to find out about upcoming sales and promotions. Many thrift and consignment stores will also offer a discount for signing up. A consignment store in my area gave me a $5 coupon, just for signing up for their mailing list.

10. Know what Types of Items to Buy Where

Some shops will be known for great deals in particular items and knowing that can save you a lot of time and money. Goodwill may not have the best pricing on clothing, but you can find exceptional deals on furniture and kitchen goods.

Another example, is that Salvation Army tends to have the best deals on kids clothing and toys. After you've spent a little time at the thrift stores in your area, you will easily identify which types of items to get at which stores so you aren't wasting time driving around to shops unnecesarily.

11. Ask about their Return Policy

Let's face it - we've all been excited about a thrift store find, only to get home and realize the piece of art doesn't work in the space or the article of clothing isn't something you'd actually wear out of the house. Although some shops will have an "All sales are final" policy, some will allow you to return the item for a store credit within seven days. Worst case scenario - you re-consign the item and make back a percentage of your cost.

12. Look for Thrift Stores that Benefit a Good Cause

People often feel better about dropping of their items at a thrift store that benefit a good cause, vs. consignment stores that are for profit. Not to mention, they can get a tax deduction for their donation. Charity run thrift stores tend to get such a large influx of new inventory, that they price the items low to sell through quickly and make room for new items. I also feel really good about shopping at these places because I know my purchases are supporting a good cause.

There is a thrift shop close to my houes that benefits an organization that helps woman escape abusive relationships. They give these woman a home to live in, and provide free counseling and career advice. I bought a leather purse there the other day for $7 that was almost brand new and orignally from Anthrologie (pictured below). It was a great deal for me and I helped support at-risk woman in my area through my purchase.

13. Find items to Resell

This topics works especially well in shops like Value Village, Savers and Goodwill, where they have a variety of items. Do you have expertise in a particular area such as photography, wood working or book collecting? Are you familiar with lesser known - yet popular brands of clothing? If so, you might spot a high demand item at a low price that you can sell on Craigslit, Offer Up or ebay for a healthy profit. You can use these funds to subsadize your spending at thrift and consignment stores to help your bottom line budget.

14. Ask about Senior, Student and Military Discounts

If applicable, it is always a good idea to ask about what discounts you might have available. Some shops will offer senior discounts on Tuesdays, or may run specials for students. Here's an example of a thrifit shop in my area running a promotion for students. You can see that anyone who wears "Viking Gear" can get a discount on Wednesdays.

Thanks for reading through my top 14 thrift store hacks for saving money. I hope this inspired or helped you in some way. I should also note that just because something is a good deal, it doesn't necessarily mean you should buy it. It can be easy to get carried away and fill your home and closet with items you don't really need. If you have any other tips to share, I'd love to hear them in the comments!