For just $20, you to can be the owner of {insert thrift shop finds here}!
You know how the infomercials go. But did you know that you can save money while thrifting? Here are a few tips on how to keep your money wherever you actually like it. If you said, “in my closet, where I can see it…” You, my friend, win at life.
1. Take your used items to save more money.
Some thrift shops offer a percentage off of your total purchase if you take a bag full of clothes/items in exchange. My favorite place to find clothes – Texas Thrift, offers 30% off in exchange for patrons bringing a bag of clothes in. How else could I get a $17 coffee table and $10 dress for a total of $19? Riddle me that!
2. Tax Write-offs.
Goodwill offers tax write offs at their donation drop off centers. Stay cool with Sam & them, and get a receipt for the things you give. Just don’t lose it or forget to actually write it off!
3. Shopping “Happy Hours.”
Some stores have random “happy hours” during regular business hours in which they offer great discounts. I was once at a Salvation Army store that had a 50% off all clothes going from 12pm-1pm. Can you say fast shopping?? I got there a little after noon and made some good half priced purchased before 1pm ever hit!
4. Big sale days!
Just like department stores, thrift stores have big end of season style sales. My favorite is when an entire store is 50% off. Holiday sales (i.e. Memorial Day) are fun, too. I can only advise that you get there early if you want to not feel rushed or over-crowded. I also like to scout out stores the day before a big sale to see if I will even want to go. If I don’t see things I’d like to purchase the day before, it would make no sense to try to fight the crowd that will be there on the day of a huge sale.
Overall, it is good to be familiar with the thrift shops that you frequent so that you can stay in the know about any specials that they may be offering. Being a frequent thrifter, I can rack up a huge bill. Who wouldn’t when there are so many cute finds?! So let me help you save. Take the tips above and apply them. Let me know how much you save the next time you go thrifting.
See more of my thrift store conquests like the huge dress haul, sun dresses, thrifted neutrals, and my favorite midi skirts!
xoxo dolls & dudes
The Comments
Erica @ Coming Up Roses
A flash sale on already discounted clothing means I would go SO HARD and buy all the things! I didn’t even think to check that out, so now…on to looking up all of the thrift stores near me!
cominguprosestheblog.com
Addie
Erica @ Coming Up Rosesyesss! I purchased double what I usually get because, HALF OFF!! 🙂
Aishwarya S
Wow. This is a fantastic post. I totally loved that dress! 🙂
Addie
Aishwarya SThank you, Aishawarya! 🙂
T Austin @ The Good Enuf Mommy
How beautiful is that!!? I love great thrift store finds!!
Addie
T Austin @ The Good Enuf MommyThanks, T Austin! 🙂 They are the best!
Logan Can
We do not have any good thrift shops in my hometown, but when I go visit my grandmother in Jacksonville, I love to go thrift shopping there! They have awesome stores! I love that dress!
Addie
Logan CanI bet Jacksonville has some great old finds! Thank you, Logan 🙂
Dionne Dean
Great article! I would look for the thrift store outlets as well. The Goodwill outlet has AMAZING prices and you can buy clothing by the pound. Thrift Giant Outlet here in Dallas is my fave as well.
Addie
Dionne DeanI have to get back out to the Dallas stores more often. I went not to long ago and racked up well!! 🙂
Carlyn Bullock
Hi – thanks for a great blog post! A few years back I bought my very particular high-school son who was attending a school full of trust-fund babies a T-shirt I found at the thrift store for $1.70 on half-price day. I wrapped it and put it under the tree. I knew he loved it when he chose to wear it the first day back to school after the Winter Break! He was in 9th grade, a freshman, he came home buzzing because SENIORS had come up to him in the hall to say , “Cool shirt!” He wore it weeks later and again came home smiling, this time TEACHERS had stopped him to say, “Cool shirt!” The third time he wore it he came home concerned. Seems a female teacher asked him if he had a sister who was a Tri-Delt (It was a navy blue U of Florida T-shirt with the word COLLEGE in block letters on the front and a picture of John Belushi from Animal House on the back with U of F above the pic and the words, Tri Delt or Don’t Try at All below). He blurted out, “It’s a GIRLS shirt!” stomping off to his room. End of story: He did wear it again, a few weeks later. He went off to college 4 years later, joined Delta Tau Delta and his fraternity brothers LOVE that $1.70 shirt! There are treasures in thrift stores! With a smile, Carlyn from offthesidewalk 🙂
Addie
Carlyn BullockSo you started a new trend for him! I bet you were the rock mom of the year!! 🙂 I love when young adults (particularly teenagers) catch on to the thrifting trend. It is helping break the cycle of needing to spend a lot of money on “quick clothes” that go to waste so easily because of their poor quality.
Lisa Riggs
Yay, I love thrifting! I agree with all these tips- I only try to go thrifting when there is some sort of sale going on, so I can get even more with my money 🙂
Addie
Lisa RiggsRight, Lisa? With thrift store prices on the rise due to popularity, it is so important to catch these sales, or you’ll find yourself still paying some high amounts!
Tiffany
It’s been such a long time since i’ve thrifted. Thanks for sharing these tips! You’ve inspired me to get back out there again!
Addie
TiffanyThat’s so awesome, Tiffaniy, I’m happy to have re-sparked your thrifting flame! I hope you find several great pieces at reasonable prices!
ARod
Great tips. The goodwill’s in NJ also have a color tix for the day which will be 50% off that day. I will always check for that and try to shop that color.
Addie
ARodARod, that’s awesome. I do love goodwill even though their prices are rising. Those half price color tickets are a life saver!
Leah
Love that dress! Great tips for thrifting!
Addie
LeahThank you, Leah! I hope they come in handy for you 🙂
Alicia
I never find anything at a thrift store which is frustrating because everyone else seems too find amazing stuff!
Michelle
AliciaI feel like that sometimes. The trick is to go often. You never know what you might find. Sometimes it’s a dud. Don’t give up.
Addie
MichelleI used to have a thrifting schedule, I’d frequent my favorite stores at least once every two weeks. I’ve been moving lately and have fallen off schedule, I need to pick it back up!
Addie
AliciaYes, go often and try to find as many stores as you can visit, as possible! Make time during the day to stick around and explore the stores. Hopefully these tips can help, too https://oldworldnew.us/how-to-thrift/
Aliza B
I love thrift shopping, and these tips are great. I hardly every drop off items, but I know that one does offer 25% off your next purchase. I’ll have to take advantage of it! I love that dress that you found. Great color.
Addie
Aliza BYes, you’ll be even more impressed with your price when they take that 25% off, Aliza B! 🙂 Thank you! 🙂
Artney
I haven’t gone thrifting for clothes in a while! I have a whole side of the closet with clothes I haven’t worn yet. lol Your blue dress is beautiful! I’m actually planning to go on Wednesday for discount day!
Addie
Artneythank you, Artney! 🙂 Girl I understand because I have a lot of thrifted clothes that I haven’t worn yet, haha!
Justine Y @ Little Dove Creations
I love that dress! And I never would have thought to bring in my own items for a discount, thanks for the tip! We do often take our things and donate them to the ReStore to get a tax write off for them though, & I think that’s something a lot of people don’t know about!
Addie
Justine Y @ Little Dove CreationsI’ve recently started doing the tax write offs, too, Justine! I didn’t pay them much attention before, but I’ve been donating too often not to take advantage of them!
Paris (My Big Fat Happy Life)
Thank you for the tips! I love to frequent my local thrift stores. Love the dress!
Addie
Paris (My Big Fat Happy Life)You’re welcome, Paris! And thank you 🙂
Caroline @ In Due Time
That dress is so cute! I need to hit up some thrift stores… clearly!!!
Addie
Caroline @ In Due TimeThank you, Caroline! And yes, get to thrifting!! 🙂
Lisa K
I had no idea about the “Happy Hour” times! That is good information to know and ask about!
Addie
Lisa KYes, I was amazed by it at first, too Lisa! Then I felt like I was on a game show trying to find awesome pieces to get for the discounted prices!
ashley
Love that dress! I had no idea that you could potentially take in your old stuff for a discount. I’ll have to see if the ones around me do that as I have plenty to give!
Addie
ashleyI hope they do, Ashley! Every bit of saving helps 🙂
Homestead Wishing
I love that dress. Thanks for the great ideas on being thrifty!
Addie
Homestead WishingThank you, and no problem! 🙂
Michelle
Texas Thrift? Where about Texas might you be? I’m near Dallas. I love to support the thrift stores in my little town. They are owned by a church or a local mommy. They often have half off sales too. School uniforms are always on my radar when I go thrifting.
Addie
MichelleI’m near Dallas, too, Michelle! The one I frequent is in Hurst. I LOVE IT! 🙂
Angie
Are you serious? You found that dress for that much? It is gorgeous and fits perfect! Did you have to alter it? I’ve never thought about bringing things in exchange for a discount! I’m going to have to be patient and try thrifting more. I think it’s a gift!! Great post!
Addie
AngieYesssss ma’am, Angie! I didn’t have to alter it at all, but I have to let it air dry, or it gets too tight around the center. It’s hand made so the buttons are a little wonky. Yes, girl, get to thrifting! The finds can be simply amazing!
Daniela Reyes
Such a beautiful dress. And thank you so much for sharing this post, I really need some of this.
Addie
Daniela ReyesThank you, Daniela! 🙂 I hope you have some good thrifting adventures!
Cole
I love thrift shopping! My favourite thrift store has a membership card, which offers members even more discounts and sale days that they get emails about. It’s awesome!
Addie
ColeI need a membership card to all thrift stores!! That sounds awesome 🙂
Jessica
I LOVE LOVE LOVE That dress! My hometown is actually Killeen and a few years ago they opened a Texas Thrift store down in that area, I was amazed at all the GREAT clothing and jewelry they had. I actually preferred Texas thrift over goodwill. Love it….thrifting is thrifting.
Addie
JessicaThank you, Jessica! I prefer them over goodwill, too because of the sales and the AWESOME selections!
Natalie
These are great tips! I don’t do too much thrifting since I tend to get annoyed that I don’t find something awesome instantaneously (an issue that’s only exacerbated by the fact that I’m usually trying to shop with my toddler). However, you inspire me to keep trying! 🙂
Addie
Nataliebahahaha, I know the feeling of wanting immediate finds! Maybe in a few years he’ll be able to hang and keep it cool with you while thrifting 🙂
annabelt @ geeks diet
I love thrift shopping! There was a great one near my old workplace. I think there must have been a lot of hipsters living around there because the baby clothes were always really cool!
Addie
annabelt @ geeks dietlol I found a ton of baby clothes for my bestie and her son was just born… sooo cute, so cute! 🙂
Audrey
Love the dress. Reminds me of the traditional wear from Burkina
Addie
AudreyI’m going to have to look Burkina traditional garments up! I love learning from other countries’ style!
katie
I absolutely love this post! I am new to thrifting and this was so helpful!
xo katie // a touch of teal
Addie
katieGreat Katie! Search around my blog for more thrifting tips, I have several! 🙂
https://oldworldnew.us/how-to-thrift/
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