This past weekend, my 17 year-old daughter and I got up and went “thrifting” together. “Thrifting” is when we dress in the skinniest clothes we own and wear in public and head out to our favorite thrift stores to hunt for all sorts of fashionable treasures. This has been something we’ve done together for years and Tee has become pretty good at it even on her own. I’ve been a pretty avid and skilled thrift shopper since my aunt introduced me to it when I was 16 years old. I’ve always found some of the best things in thrift shops, from books, music, and household gadgets to fashion, accessories and furniture. I’ve never been one of those folks freaked out by buying things second hand. It’s no different than when folks give me things!  I’ve always seen it as a way to save money, be unique and reducing my carbon foot-print. #ReduceRecycleReuseRepurpose

I posted to Twitter and Facebook that Tee and I were going on a “Thrifting Adventure” and have since had a few people ask me about it. I’m usually very successful and find GREAT stuff, so I decided that I’d give the Dirty Pretty Thangs readers a few quick tips on shopping in thrift stores that would help anyone looking to give a try at some point:

PBG’s Guide To Successful Thrift Store Shopping

1.) Locate a good thrift store: There are thrift stores EVERYWHERE. I found a website where you can search for thrift stores in your area and read shoppers’ reviews of the places. TheThriftShopper.com has a National Thrift Store Directory as well as other helpful thrifting tips.

2.) Go with a plan and go with a friend: Have a general idea of what you want to look for before you go, so you won’t waste a lot of time wandering around in what is an enormous space that is usually well organized, but filled with thousands of one-of-a-kind items. Take a friend along so you both can keep your eyes open for what the other wants as well.

3.) Wear skinny clothes: This is so you can try on stuff over top of what you’re wearing and get a decent idea how it will fit you. A lot of thrift stores don’t have fitting rooms like regular stores. On this past adventure, I wore leggings and a tank top with a long button up sweater (another thrifting find of mine) over it. When I wanted to try on something, I just took off the sweater and slipped it on over my “outfit”. This always works out for me.

4.) If you find something you like, throw it in your shopping cart right away: Even if you’re just thinking about it or not quite sure you want to buy it, hold on to it! Some other crafty thrifter is watching you and will snatch it up as soon as you put it down if it’s a nice item. Tee and I put everything we like even just a little bit in our cart then do what we call “The Breakdown” before checking out. We put the stuff we decide we want in one cart and leave the other stuff behind in another cart.

5.) Check for quality: Always check your items for rips, tears, holes, broken zippers, permanent stains, etc. Some things can be easily fixed, but other things just aren’t worth it. That vintage clutch is not really a bargain if you get it home and there’s a hole it in, right?

6.) Bring a bag of your old/no longer used stuff to donate when you go: This will keep you from accumulating too many things in your house and you could be helping someone else out. And I personally believe giving an offering when you go in will bring you better luck on your thrifting adventure.

7.) Learn which days your local thrift stores have specials: Almost every thrift store has days where there are big sales like 20% or even 50% off the whole store. Some stores use colored coded tags everyday to indicate a percentage off the price. Get familiar so you can make your dollar stretch even farther.

8.) Once you get your stuff home, wash it: Thrift stores can be dusty, dirty, moth-ball smelling places, so wash any clothes you buy before wearing them. Tee and I usually go close to laundry day so it all can go in the wash together. The same goes for bedding, dishes and cookware/flatware. Polish up any furniture pieces that you buy as well. If I get a pair of shoes, I usually spray the inside of them with disinfectant.

That’s all I can think of now as far as tips, but if you follow nothing more than these few guidelines, you will have a great adventure in thrifting as well. If you have any other questions, feel free to drop it in a comment and I’ll answer the best I can.

Here’s a slide show video of what I was able to come away with from my last Adventure in Thrifting:

The track in the video is from my homies in the Low Budget Crew #DCGotTalent. Click here to listen and download their new instrumental project entitled “The Masters”. If you love it like I do, pay $5 and buy it.

The most I paid for anything was $20 for the Handmade African print outfit which was a steal and fits me like it was sewn just for me. I plan on shortening the skirt, though. Everything else averaged in price from about $4-$9. The earrings were no more than $2.00 for a pair and since Tee and I share most of our accessories, it was a fantastic deal. All in all, I’d say that Tee and I are powerful PowerThrifters and had a very good day in the two Value Village stores we visited in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

~pbg