By Angela H.
1. BE CREATIVE…REPURPOSE! Look at the parts that make up a thing. Can it be taken apart, cut up, or customized to suit your needs? When buying clothing, can it be tailored to fit, so you can shop in many size ranges?
2. KNOW WHAT A BARGAIN IS. What is the price when buying it new? What condition is it in? What will be the added cost of fixing an item in need of repair?
3. WHERE WILL I STORE THE ITEM? If you don’t have room to store an item, it should stay at the store, even if it is a great deal. If you must have it, then you must be willing to make the sacrifice to let go of items currently in your space.
4. HOW WILL I GET THE ITEM HOME? If you are shopping for large furniture, you may need to plan ahead to bring a vehicle that can accommodate your purchase. You may also need to plan not to have children and/or carseats with you for such a purchase.
5. CAN THE ITEM BE CLEANED? Is it still a bargain when including the cost of having an item cleaned? (i.e. dry cleaning)
6. BE PATIENT. If you don’t find a specific item this trip, keep trying! You can’t usually thrift shop with a list. Also, don’t give up if you don’t enjoy thrift shopping the first time you try it. Go more than once before giving up on it.
7. TAKE A FRIEND All shopping is more enjoyable with a friend!
8. BRING HANDWASH OR WIPES for when you leave the store. Sometimes you have to touch and move things just to see what treasures may be hidden on the shelves. This is a good habit to have for after shopping in ANY public shopping area.
6 comments:
Nice pointers. May I add one more? Take along your little digital camera. Sometimes just taking a picture and sharing it on your blog or in an email can satisfy your 'need' to have that item.
Great tips! It can be an adventure, that's for sure!
I love thrift store shopping and have for years! I finally found a replacement pair of jeans...practically brand new Calvin Klein ones for $6....right before my only other pair of jeans completely bit the dust. It took two separate hour-long trips but it was so worth it!
Thank you for sharing your tips. I read them yesterday and thought they would be great for the Wise Steward blog and then you sent me the email giving me permission to post it. Thanks again!
I love your tips too... I don't get to thrift shop much with kids in tow, I usually have to go in and go right back out, but hopefully I will get more time as my older three get into school. Yeah! Kaela will start this fall for kindergarten, can you believe it?
Ahhhh!! Thrift shopping!! Love it!
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