How to Thrift: The Best Thrifting Tips and Tricks

Save money, find the best deals, and learn to thrift like a pro with these must-know thrift shopping tricks!

Who doesn't love the thrill of the hunt? 

From exploring new areas and discovering new thrift stores to finding unique, vintage, and affordable

 home decor and fashion items. 

You can have disappointing thrifting days where you walk out empty-handed and days where your cart is full and overflowing.  

Today, I'm sharing my favorite items to thrift and 18 thrift shopping tips and tricks I've learned over the many years of thrifting. 

HOW TO THRIFT SHOP LIKE A PRO: 18 TIPS AND TRICKS 

1. MAKE A THRIFTING LIST

Walking aisles, browsing shelves, and digging through bins can get overwhelming.  Keeping an idea list of what you hope to find will help items stand out as you walk and scan aisles.   Entering a thrift store prepared helps reduce anxiety and the overwhelming feeling you may get when thrifting. 

MY CURRENT THRIFT STORE LIST:

- Vintage jeans

- Vintage flannels

- Wood furniture (solid wood, smoke-free, dovetail joints)

- Old books 

- Vintage and antique items

- Vintage glassware (Anchor Hocking, Whitehall, Fireking, Libby, Jadeite, Fenton Hobnail)

- Vintage brass animals and candle holders

- Vintage pottery (USA, Hull, McCoy)

- Hoodies, shirts, and shorts for my children

- Anything that can be upcycled or repurposed

Resource: The best home decor items to buy secondhand

2. GRAB A SHOPPING CART

Always be prepared and grab a cart when you first walk in the door of a thrift store.   You may find nothing, but you'll be happy you have a shopping cart if you find more than you can carry.   You also want to avoid leaving an item on a shelf because your hands are full and you must return for a cart.  

3. DON'T GET DISCOURAGED

Have an open mind and a good attitude when you go thrifting.  Some days, you may find incredible deals and others walk out empty-handed.  Don't let an unfavorable thrift shopping day get you down and discourage you from thrifting. 

4. CHECK ALL AISLES 

No aisles are off-limits when it comes to thrift shopping!  Inventory may be incorrectly categorized by employees or placed on random shelves by customers.   It's essential to check all aisles and shelves so nothing good gets overlooked.

Just the other week, I found a set of brass duck bookends in the silver aisle that I would have missed if I had skipped that aisle. 

5. SHOP OFTEN 

The best items and deals will get snagged up quick!  Shop as often as possible to ensure you get first dibs on new stock and inventory.  Many thrift stores restock throughout the day, while others restock early in the morning.  Either way, inventory is rotating and new items are hitting the shelves daily. 

I have a thrift store a few miles from my home and within a mile from Walmart and a grocery store.  I make it a point to stop in multiple times a week to try and catch new inventory.  Often, I walk out empty-handed, but other times I find some great items.

6.  AVOID IMPULSE BUYS

It's never a good idea to buy something simply because it's cheap or on sale.   You can quickly spend more than you intend and wind up with multiple items you don't particularly want or need.  

A FEW THINGS TO ASK YOURSELF WHILE THRIFT SHOPPING:

- Will I wear it?

- Do I need it?

- Do I already own it?

- Will it sell? (If you are a reseller)

7. CONSIDER THE RETAIL PRICE

Just because an item is at a thrift store doesn't mean it's a good buy.   Many thrift stores and secondhand shops are increasing their prices to near retail prices.  You may even find that some prices are more expensive than vintage shops and home stores like HomeGoods, TJMaxx, and Hobby Lobby.

Google Lens is a great tool to check prices and help limit overspending.

9. DOWNLOAD GOOGLE LENS

Google Lens is a search tool that provides information using image recognition.  I use it often while thrifting to confirm the brand, make, manufacture, or resell cost of items. 

Simply download the app, click the camera icon in the search bar, then take or upload a picture from your camera roll.  Google Lens will recognize the image and provide articles, videos, and other informative information.  

As a vintage reseller,  I find Google Lens especially helpful in identifying unmarked glassware and pottery. 

 

8. SIGN UP FOR LOYALTY REWARDS

Some thrift stores have punch cards and free loyalty programs that save a dollar amount or percentage after you spend a certain amount of money.  Loyalty programs are an effective way to save money, especially at stores that you frequent often.  I always take advantage of these programs and often save my points for higher ticket items or large purchases.  

THRIFT STORE LOYALTY PROGRAMS 

1. 2nd Ave Stores:  Earn 1 point for every dollar spent.  150 points = 10% off a future purchase

2. Savers/Unique: Earn 1 point for every dollar spent.  100 points = 20% off a future purchase of up to $100

3. Prime Thrift: Earn 1 point for every dollar spent.  20 points = $2 off, 50 points = $5 off, 100 points = $10 off,  200 points = $20 off, 500 points = $60

9. DISCOVER NEW AREAS & MAP OUT A ROUTE

Do you live in an area with very few thrift stores?  Do you often walk out empty-handed when you go shopping?  Broadening your thrifting area is a great way to discover new stores and increase the likelihood of finding better deals.   

I often travel across state lines for auctions and search for thrift stores and antique malls in every town I visit.  I quickly learned what thrift stores are near each auction and started mapping out my routes.  I've discovered many new places to thrift, which allows me to hit multiple thrift stores in one afternoon.

10. SHOP OFF-SEASON CLOTHING AND DECOR

Take advantage of higher inventory and lower demand and shop off-season clothing and decor.  Most customers aren't shopping for pants or sweaters in June, so you'll find the best inventory and snag great deals.

I shop all year long for holiday decor and winter clothing.  A local thrift store where I frequently shop rotates colors (even on seasonal inventory!) and offers discounts up to 50%-75% off.  I often snag snow pants for my kids and holiday decor at the highest available discounts. 

11. BRING CASH

Not all thrift stores take cards, so you want to be prepared.  Many smaller church missions and even larger chain stores only accept cash to keep overhead costs and inventory affordable.  

Red, White, and Blue Thrift Stores (a large chain store) is one of my favorite places to go thrifting and they don't accept cards.  They provide ATMs, but it's better to be prepared than pay additional bank fees. 

Paying cash will also help you keep track of spending and think twice about making unnecessary purchases. 

12.  DON'T RUSH 

Sure, you can pop into a thrift store, quickly scan the aisles, and be in and out in just a few minutes.  If you really want to find the deals,  shopping at thrift stores requires time and patience, especially when looking for clothing.   Check tags for vintage and name brands and look for stains, rips, or tears.

13.  THINK WHILE YOU SHOP 

Have you ever returned to a thrift store for an item you wish you had previously purchased?   Only to find it's no longer available?  I know I have!  

When it comes to thrifting,  it's better to play it safe.  Avoid leaving items on the shelf that you may want to return for later.  Instead, if you see something you may want to buy, put it in your cart and think about it while you shop.  If you later decide you no longer want the item, put it back on the shelf.   If you keep the item, you'll be happy you picked it up when you did!

14. SHOP THE RIGHT DAYS

Monday and Tuesday are my favorite days to thrift.  People often donate items on Saturday or Sunday and most stores have restocked from the busy weekend.  It also doesn't hurt to ask when a store typically restocks inventory.  It may be daily, but they may also have specific restock days. 

Thrift stores also have weekly discount days consisting of family, senior citizens, military, and dollar days.  Take advantage of your local store's discount days for even steeper discounts and savings. 

15. HAVE AN OPEN MIND

You can usually get a feel for a store the minute you walk in the door.  Have an open mind and give each store a chance, especially if visiting new areas.   You could find unique and cool items in a dirty and disorganized store and affordable deals in a higher-end, higher-priced store. 

If you see something that's a great price, but the wrong color or a little damaged, consider if it can be painted or repaired.  You may not find exactly what you are looking for in thrift stores, so it's imperative to keep an open mind and give each store and its inventory a chance. 

16. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HOLIDAY SALES

If you are okay with larger crowds and extra wait times, consider taking advantage of holiday sales.  Large chain thrift stores often offer storewide savings of up to 50% off during major holidays.  Keep in mind that inventory is usually limited and often picked over during holiday sales. 

17. DON'T OVERLOOK THE BAG AISLE

Larger thrift stores often group small and like items in bags and display them along a wall or on end caps. 

I've found MCM glassware, flower frogs, small brass animals, brass candle holders, and vintage Christmas ornaments, among many other items.  If I'm quickly scanning the wall of bagged goods, I look for brass since it's easy to spot and often grouped together.  

18.  KNOW THE COLOR OF THE WEEK 

Many thrift stores price and color code inventory, which rotates week after week.  Each week, a different color is discounted up to 75% off.  Thrift stores also have dollar days where all items of a particular color are $1.  It pays to know what color tags are discounted, so you can save even more.  

I hope these thrifting tips and tricks help you find incredible items, discover new stores, and save money!

     

    

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Furniture Makeover: How to Age Furniture With Paint

A small dated dresser gets an aged industrial makeover with paint and black metal castor wheels!

Small Ethan Allen dressers are some of my favorite pieces to update. 

They're solid wood, versatile, built with dovetail joints, and perfect for customizing and transforming. 

I've updated quite a few of these small colonial-style dressers in the past, but this latest makeover is a little different from anything I've done before. 

Instead of just simply painting or refinishing, I decided to try something new and create an aged wood look with paint.

You can give wood furniture an aged look by layering dark wax or glaze, but you can also age furniture with paint.  I was going for an aged industrial look, so I also added black metal powder-coated hardware and black industrial castors. 

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO AGE FURNITURE WITH PAINT

- Old piece of furniture

- 1"x5"x8" pine board (if needed)

- Dewalt Orbital Sander

- 80/150/320 Sanding pads

- General Finishes Dark Chocolate

- General Finishes Lamp Black

- Water-based Poly

- Natural bristle brush

- Purdy paintbrush

- Shop Towels

- Spray bottle 

- All-purpose cleaner

- Black cup pulls

- Black metal castor wheels

- Plastic cup

- Water

HOW TO AGE FURNITURE WITH PAINT

I started with a small Ethan Allen dresser that I found at Goodwill for just under $18.00.  It was the perfect piece to experiment with and try out a new painting technique.  

Last week, I talked about inexpensive ways to make furniture look expensive and today I'm incorporating many of those ideas to create an aged industrial chest. 

I began by removing all the hardware and sanding the dresser down to raw wood.  I started with 60-grit sandpaper and then worked up to 320-grit.  

After the dresser was sanded, I wiped it clean to remove any sanding dust.

I searched my garage for paint that might work for the look I was going for and settled on General Finishes Dark Chocolate and Lamp Black. 

I started with Dark Chocolate and made a wash of about 2 parts water, and 1 part paint.  I painted one coat of the paint/water mixture on the dresser then wiped off any access with a shop rag.   After the paint was dry, I gave the dresser a light sanding with 320-grit sandpaper. 

The next part was total trial and error.  After a few attempts, I found the best method to "age" the wood was to spray a small section of the dresser with water, lightly dab the tips of a small natural bristle brush into the black paint, apply it to the wet wood then blend using a shop rag. 

I primarily applied the black paint around the edges of the dresser and then blended it towards the center.  Additional water can be sprayed over the black paint if too much paint is applied or it dries before it can be blended. 

Once I was done with the black paint I allowed the dresser to fully dry.  I wasn't crazy about the color, but I felt it would darken with the water-based sealer and thankfully it did.   

After the sealer was dry, I attached the black powder-coated cup pulls and then moved on to adding the black metal industrial castors.  

Unfortunately, this particular dresser didn't have a solid bottom, but I had some scrap wood in the garage and was able to build a base under the dresser to attach the industrial castor wheels.

I splurged on the black metal pulls (they are my absolute favorite!) and the metal industrial castor wheels.  Good quality hardware is always worth investing in and can make a dramatic difference in the overall feel and quality of furniture. 

RESOURCE: How to Make Inexpensive Furniture Look Expensive

Layering and blending paint is a great way to add depth, dimension, character, and age to basic and ordinary furniture.

What do you think?  Will you try aging furniture with paint?

     

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Refinished Vintage-Inspired Multi-Drawer Cabinet

A multi-drawer cabinet with a dated flyspecked finish gets a vintage-inspired makeover!

A few weeks ago, I picked up a petite multi-drawer wood cabinet.

As with most furniture I buy, it was a little dated, had an undesirable flyspecked finish, and needed a little updating. 

It DID, however, have everything I look for when buying secondhand furniture (solid wood, dovetail drawers, smoke-free), so I bought it, brought it home, and got to work giving it a vintage-inspired makeover. 

SUPPLIES USED TO REFINISH A DATED WOOD MULTI-DRAWER CABINET

- Dewalt Orbital Sander

- 60/150/320 sanding pads

- Multi-purpose cleaner (I like LA's Totally Awesome)

- Early American wood stain

- Water-based poly (I used a Matte finish)

- Stainable wood filler 

- 2 1/2" Paintbrush

- Black cup pulls

- Black antique post office box labels

- Foam brush

- Rubber mallet/hammer

- Screwdriver

- Drill and drill bits

- Tape Measure

- Paper towels

HOW TO FINISH A WOOD MULTI-DRAWER CABINET

You can find a more detailed step-by-step tutorial for refinishing wood furniture here. 

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but the stain on this petite cabinet had a dated flyspeck finish.  Flyspecking is created by splattering furniture with tiny specks of darker paint or stain.  The technique is commonly used to give an aged look to inexpensive wood furniture. 

Personally, I feel that flyspecked furniture looks dated and cheap.  The good news is, wood furniture can be refinished and given new life.

The second "issue" with the multi-drawer cabinet was the dated wood railing that was added to the top.  Unfortunately, it wasn't installed with screws, but I was able to use a rubber mallet to break it loose from the cabinet. 

After I removed the railing, I filled the holes with stainable wood filler then began sanding the cabinet with an orbital sander.  I started with 60-grit sandpaper and then worked up to 320-grit for a nice smooth finish. 

Once I had the cabinet sanded down to raw wood, I gave it a good cleaning with LA's Totally Awesome, used an inexpensive foam brush to apply a coat of Early American wood stain then sealed the stain with water-based poly in a clear matte finish. 

I finished off the cabinet with new hardware, including black cup pulls and antique post office box door labels.  Adding authentic vintage hardware is a great way to increase character and enhance the vintage-inspired look.

See how I transformed a dated file cabinet with half round molding and vintage hardware. 

Resource: The Best Places to Buy Metal Labelholder and Pulls

The after is a subtle difference, but just enough to remove the dated feel, enhance the pine wood grain and add a touch of vintage to this multi-drawer cabinet. 

     

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