Thrifting isn’t that complicated of a process, but there are still some things that you should keep in mind while thrifting. I list them here at the true Golden Rules of thrifting.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Be Patient
This is my number one rule when thrifting, and I repeat it to myself all the time. Magic doesn’t have to happen now, or even my next trip to the thrift. Just have fun. I’ve found the best pieces that I wear the most when I’m just rolling with the punches and having fun.
Know Your Style
There’s a pair of perfect Levi overalls hanging on the rack. They’re in your size, and at a fabulous price. But if you’re a skirts-and-blouse kind of girl that wouldn’t normally wear a pair of overalls, don’t waste your money. It may be a cool piece, but it’ll be an even better find for someone who wears denim daily.
Not All Thrift Shops are Made Equal
There is a difference between a consignment shop and a thrift shop. A consignment shop pays for the clothes that people bring in to sell, so thrift shopkeepers are more selective in which pieces they take and pass on. Therefore, the clothes they sell are probably more expensive. Thrift shops like Salvation Army and Goodwill take donations, and therefore they have more
Then, of course, you have trendy vintage boutiques that curate their selection. They go out to Goodwill and find that beautiful jacket, fix it up, and charge you forty dollars for their trouble. These places have great pieces, no doubt about it, but you pay a premium for their selective services.
Therefore, Buffalo Exchange (consignment store) and Salvation Army (thrift store) are two different breeds of the same animal.
Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash
Do Your Research
Don’t feel like you need to sequester yourself to your local Goodwill. Do your research on new places to thrift! Find estate sales to go visit. Find advertisements for church sales and donation centers. Go to a garage sale in your neighborhood. There are way more options than just Goodwill and Salvation Army. You just have to dig them up out of the abyss of the internet, or your newspaper’s ad section.
Also, know if you’re being ripped off. If someone is charging more than $20 dollars because it’s a name brand, make sure it’s legit. Look up online what other people are selling similar pieces for. Look up different ways to tell if something is fake.
Shower After Thrifting
This should be a given, but you don’t know where those clothes have been before they were donated, and before you even tried them on. Some of thrift shops clean the donations that they receive before putting them out on the floor, but don’t count on it. A lot of thrift shops don’t. Shake it out before you try it on, and always shower when you get home.
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If you follow all these rules, you’ll be golden for your first trip to the thrift shop! Happy thrifting!
The Ginger Thrift 