I love a good deal, and thrifting is one of my favorite ways to save money. I can get new clothes, household items, and books by shopping second-hand and not paying full price. It’s amazing! I have been going thrift shopping for years now and feel I have accumulated a good chunk of tips to keep in mind when going shopping. These tips can also be used for things like home goods and books; however, I mainly go for clothes, so that will be my focus.

Get a cart. 

You might not think you will find many things, but sometimes you do. It’s best to be prepared. Having a cart frees your hands up to make the hunt easier.

Look at everything.

I want to maintain a specific clothing style, so I pay attention to dresses, shirts, and skirts. Find what you are looking for, and pay close attention to those sections. It’s unlikely you can go through the whole store. Focusing will allow you to look at everything on the rack more closely. I go through every hanger, looking at even the craziest clothes.
Just last week, I was out with my sister, and I glanced over a section while walking around, and she found a fantastic scarf that I missed. It fit her perfectly, so it turned out great but try not to miss anything.

Go often.

First and foremost, thrifting is a guessing game. It requires patience. There have been days where I dedicated three hours to shopping at different shops, and I maybe come out with a shirt or a teacup. Other times I only have 30 minutes to pop in, and I come out with a new outfit that fits perfectly. You have to go often to discover those gems.

No, seriously look at EVERYTHING.

For one, at least for women’s clothing, sizes are all different. I can be a small one place and a large another; this is proven even more true at a thrift store. Give items a chance before putting them aside.
Another thing to remember in a thrift store is that organization can be messy. It is harder to keep everything in order. People always pick things up and put them in the wrong places. Your next favorite item could be hiding in the wrong size.

Not sure where to go in Indy? Let me help.

Only 8 minutes from Marian is Goodwill on Lafayette Road. 

I have spent a lot of time there and have been delighted with my findings. The prices are low, so the place is perfect for saving.

You can also go to a Goodwill Outlet.

These places are insane. The whole space is filled with bins of clothing that people have donated. They rotate the bins every hour for people to sift through. This is the ultimate place for a deal because they sell clothes by weight. Items cost around $1.85 per pound. I recently went there and watched the moving of bins. I didn’t have much luck with the bins before, but after, I got to look through whole new things and found a nice winter jacket. They also have household items in their own containers, but I didn’t get the chance to look over there. There are two around Indianapolis.

 

 

Looking for places that are not Goodwill?

Thrifty Thread is a bit farther, but it is right next to Half Price Books, making it a great place to spend an evening. 

This place is filled with more high-end items for the same second-hand price. With that said, it is one of the more expensive thrift stores. That is a slightly used pair of boots for $18 instead of $7, like at Goodwill. This store regularly has low-cost items on one side, but on the other side, you can find high-end fashion items with costs ranging in the hundreds..