Thrift shopping is remarkably prevalent, especially for those who prefer the finer things but cannot yet afford the expensive items. Or for those who cannot find the perfect one-shoulder bandage dress they are looking for and do not mind buying it second hand.
What is a thrift store, and what is thrift shopping?
A thrift store is a shop that is full of second-hand or pre-used clothes and items for sale. Thrift stores are well-known, especially in neighbourhoods where people often buy second-hand clothes and house items due to their low incomes.
Thrift shopping is popular amongst shoppers looking for expensive pieces to buy at a much lower price; the only downside is that the clothes are second-hand.
What are the top tips for thrift shoppers?
Those who have been thrift shoppers for years know the top tips for thrift shopping. They know where to go, what to buy, and how to decide whether the item is worth it or not. And here are the tips they frequently use to find the gems in thrift stores:
Location
You must think that going to popular thrift stores is sure to get to the one-shoulder bandage dress you are looking for, right? Wrong! The most frequented and crowded thrift stores have the most amount of junk because the good pieces are gone faster than you can say “thrift.” The key is to go to the low-key stores having a decent crowd and don’t look super fancy. The chances of finding a gem in a crowded and popular thrift store are super rare so go to the less-known ones.
Look up discounts
Thrift stores have attractive discounts going on during the sale season; make the most of it. Ensure that you reach the store at the opening time to have plenty of time to look through the items and get the best one. Make sure you wear comfortable clothes take are easy to take on and off if you wish to try them on. Your clothes should not be too long and should not restrict your movement and, but still be durable to get you through the rush time.
That’s not all; some thrift stores offer exclusive discounts to certain people, including students, teachers, veterans, etc.
Avoid festival times
An expert thrift shopper knows that there is no worse time to go shopping than festival times as the crowd gets insane while the quality diminishes. If you wish to shop for festival-specific items and clothes, do it early enough to avoid the crowded times. Going thrift shopping for festivals early also ensures that you get the best pieces of high quality.
Know what to fix and what’s not worth it
Clothes in thrift shops have varying qualities; some look brand new while the others look worse for wear. However, most of the items with slight wear and tear are possible to fix, whereas the worse for wear cannot get any better.
A minor defect like a broken button of a coat or damaged sole of a shoe is easy to fix, but a trenchcoat full of holes is a lost cause regardless of how beautiful it looks.
Learn to have fun
Experts know that thrift shopping is a marvellous experience, even if it’s a tiring one. Thrift shoppers love looking at different pieces and determining which to take and which to drop. But, then, a careful combing of the place reveals gems they know they won’t find anywhere else.
Thrift shopping is not just an alternative for those who cannot afford it but is also a good option for those who cannot find the trendy pieces they have been looking for because the chances of finding a trend in thrift stores are high.
