Tips and Tricks for a Successful Thrift
In the midst of this frigid Pennsylvania winter, you may find yourself in the position of having to buy some clothing items. However, buying new clothes such as winter coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, or even pants can get expensive. As an avid thrifter myself, I will be giving you my best tips and tricks to help you thrift more successfully– whether that be for you or your child!
Let’s start off with your most basic thrift store and some general tips. Currently, because of COVID-19, a lot of dressing rooms are not open. Thus, before I even leave the house I make sure to dress appropriately with layers that I can take off in the event that I want to try something on. Once you arrive, immediately look around for signs that may be around the store promoting any sales. In past experiences, I have noticed that sales usually align with holidays or the middle of the week.
Usually, the colored price tags will correspond with the sales so I would also try to look for that. Although sometimes there are just sales based on rack; it really just depends on your thrift stores. And lastly, try to be patient with your shopping. Time is definitely valuable and precious; however, sometimes you will miss the best gems if you rush. If you are really pressed for time, have a clear goal in mind on what you would like to find and search diligently for that.
Up next we have one of my favorite thrift store chains– the Salvation Army. Every time I go I always end up leaving with something. Salvation Army thrift stores are usually very large and have a good selection. While they vary store by store, they will usually dedicate a day where colored tags are 50% off. At my local thrift store that day is Wednesday, but it can vary. Check with yours to find out what day they offer the sale. At another Salvation Army, I visited, there is a different color on sale each day of the week.
Another thing that I like about the Salvation Army is that they will sometimes have a rack dedicated to name brands they receive. At my local store, they will get large quantities of clothes that come from well-known brands that did not sell well or are returned items. For example, I have seen Zara clothing that is brand new but most likely overstocked. As for returned items, I have seen such large quantities of L.L. Bean pants that have been returned from the L.L. Bean outlet stores. Another niche thing is that I have also found college and school apparel from the surrounding area. So if you are looking for school apparel that you or your child can wear, definitely check it out!
The last kind of thrift store I will talk about are the Goodwill Outlet Centers. If you are ready for a new experience, this will be it! The Goodwill Outlet Centers contain bins filled with items of clothing, shoes, furniture, toys, and more. While this may sound tedious and time-consuming to sift through, the best thing about the Goodwill Outlet Centers is that most items are priced by the pound. So, they will weigh your items, and then charge according to the rate.
I have been to outlet centers in (Montgomeryville, PA and Reading, PA (there is one in Bellmawr, NJ too). Prices start at $1.64 per pound, and the more you buy, the more you will save because the rate will start to go down after twenty pounds. However, due to the nature of the center, the search for items can be intense. So if you are ready for the challenge, mentally prepare yourself and bring some gloves. No matter what though, I always end up leaving with such good items.
With this plethora of information, I hope you learned something new. While it can be overwhelming at times, try to stay patient and goal-oriented. Hopefully, on your next trip, you can apply some of these tips to add some new items to your and your child’s closet.