10 Thrift Store Shopping Secrets You Should Know

So, today we're going to speak well-nigh my favorite thing: thrift stores. As you lot know, I consider myself a truthful patron of the thrift, a master copy of the cope bin. I didn't genuinely laid out to decease such a person, but when I realized that it was going to toll me thousands of dollars to decorate my house, in addition to and thence realized that I had well-nigh 14 dollars, well, I decided simply to brand the best of the situation. So, I began thrifting. 

  Over the class of about three years, I've been to a billion thrift stores (rough estimate) in addition to managed to occasionally decorate my trace of piece of occupation solid pretty well 
(with the exception of this).

And in addition to thence of course, I started this spider web log 2 years ago, in addition to everything simply kinda cruel into place.
I could expand that paragraph into a 400 page novel, but I won't.
 Just know that from limitations comes creativity, thence don't live discouraged if you lot notice yourself inwards a similar spot.

Ever since I wrote this post last yr that went viral, I've gotten tons of questions well-nigh how I notice such corking materials at thrift stores. I don't receive got whatsoever magic formulas, but I've definitely learned some tips over the years that receive got helped me notice materials that I wouldn't receive got been able to afford or notice elsewhere. So, today I thought I would portion simply 10 of my favorite thrift store shopping secrets, inwards the hopes that it volition aid you, too.

Let's acquire started.

#1. It's all well-nigh location

I acquire asked all the fourth dimension well-nigh how to notice skillful thrift stores, in addition to in my experience, a thrift store inwards the prissy component division of town unremarkably has amend materials than the i inwards the bad component division of town, in addition to they are unremarkably less picked over. There are ever exceptions, but usually...
 nice expanse = prissy thrift store. 
For example, I went today (to a nice-area-store) in addition to establish a bunch of stuff, similar this laid of halt tables originally from Bombay. I recollect they were $15 for the set. 
I was thence tempted to select them abode in addition to either spray pigment them high gloss navy or utilisation Rub n Buff to pigment them gold, but I left them behind because they were a fleck likewise minor for what I needed for the bedroom. My search continues...

I also establish a corking Bergere chair for $8. Chairs amongst cushions similar this are pretty tardily to reupholster in addition to I thought this i would await genuinely corking inwards simply well-nigh whatsoever updated fabric, perhaps fifty-fifty something similar the cloth I used here. The woods was inwards genuinely corking condition, but could easily live painted, too.

I also establish this piece, which was almost perfect the perfect pinnacle for what I've been looking for (for our boob tube in this room), but it had a broken leg that was beyond the betoken of my woodworking-skill-level-of-zero.
Sidenote: That elephant planter totally mesmerized me. I stared at it for 5 minutes wondering if it was absolutely amazing or absolutely hideous. I kinda simply wanted to purchase it to set random materials inwards it....like socks or catfood or remotes.
Jesse: 'Where is the remote?'
Virginia: 'Look inwards the elephant.' 

#2. Harness the internet.

Let me innovate you lot to an awesome website. Next fourth dimension you lot desire to notice a novel thrift store inwards your area, or anywhere else, simply move inwards the zip code on thethriftshopper.com. It tells you lot all of the stores listed inwards that area, consummate amongst their hours, location, how to sign upwards for their mailing lists, in addition to fifty-fifty reviews from other shoppers. It's kinda awesome.

#3. Venture exterior your comfort zone.

  It may audio crazy, but I dearest to thrift on vacation. I receive got no thought why, but I tend to notice genuinely cool materials every fourth dimension I do. I've never purchased anything big, but if nosotros receive got our car amongst us, I mightiness grade a few minor items that I love. We went thrifting spell nosotros were inwards Florida (as I mentioned inwards my vacation post), in addition to I definitely establish a few corking items that I've never come upwards across at home.

 I brought abode a ginger jar, 2 milk drinking glass vases, a silverish champagne bucket, in addition to 3 bronze vino glasses.

I scored the bronze spectacles for a dollar each. And they were a corking lilliputian add-on to my colorful kitchen cabinets.
Btw, give thank you lot you guys for all your for amazing java suggestions on Facebook. It took me 85 years to acquire a fancy java machine, but it was worth the wait. 
Whoever recommended Chocolate Covered Donut gets a golden star. :)

 The silverish champagne bucket was my favorite Florida find. I've been looking for i to utilisation equally a planter for awhile now, in addition to was thence excited to notice i for simply $10. And it totally inspired me to acquire my commencement Orchid, which currently resides inwards the office, in addition to which I'm certain volition live dead inwards a week's time. 

 I swore to him that if he came to live amongst me, I would hold him alive. But, I'm already getting nervous later the situation amongst Vern's friend. Any tips?

#4. The Change of Seasons Rule
As a rule, I notice the best materials when the seasons change.
It's the fourth dimension when people build clean out their trace of piece of occupation solid in addition to give materials away. Just later the commencement of the yr is a corking time, too. Not alone is it the deadline for making donations that you lot tin write off on your taxes, but it's also correct later the opor-garai flavor when people receive got bought tons of novel materials in addition to are shedding the former materials to brand room. Hint: If you lot are inwards the mood to build clean out your house, it's belike a corking fourth dimension to thrift store store because everyone else is cleaning out their house, too.

I establish most of the materials on my mantle inwards the commencement duad months of Fall, in addition to the thrift stores were absolutely packed amongst materials around that time. The ginger jar, golden frame, in addition to mirror were all establish there.
That's a faux orchid. And no, I don't experience whatsoever to a greater extent than equipped to heighten a existent orchid later living amongst the faux i for a bit.

Here are a duad to a greater extent than items I saw when I checked out a few stores correct later New Years.

I thought that frame was a corking find. You could receive got a slice of mirror cutting to jibe it, or you lot could utilisation it to frame a corking slice of art. 

I genuinely ended upwards buying this lilliputian light-green bloom ikon that I establish for a dollar. It was framed inwards a uncomplicated woods frame that I painted gold. 

But, sidenote...can nosotros simply receive got a 2nd to appreciate the pineapple? 

He seems similar he has a corking personality.

My lilliputian ikon is genuinely thriving inwards the kitchen these days.

Although, at that spot are even thence days when I recollect of The Pineapple. And what could receive got been...

#5. Find out the best days of the calendar week to shop
 Some days are definitely amend than others when it comes to finding corking materials inwards a thrift store, in addition to I notice out yesteryear talking to the store employees. They are a full wealth of information.
In our area, most stores tend to acquire their novel donations on the weekends, in addition to and thence they receive got 24-36 hours to procedure it. 
This unremarkably results inwards Monday, Tuesday, in addition to Midweek beingness the best days.  
The exception to this dominion (locally) is Goodwill. I decease to Goodwill on Dominicus because that's when they denote the color of the tag that's going to live discounted for the week, in addition to that's when all the skillful sale materials commencement becomes available. Usually yesteryear Mon morning, most of the skillful materials that was discounted is already gone in addition to it's simply junky materials left on sale. Our Goodwill also runs sales for 50% everything on the commencement Sabbatum of every month. 
Basically, simply inquire the employees when novel deliveries brand it thence that you lot tin receive got a direct chances at the best stuff. 

Here are simply a few of my finds that I've been able to grade because I knew which days were best to shop. All of these I was able to acquire the infinitesimal they were brought out onto the floor.

I got this mirror for simply $10. Total fave.

And this genuinely corking navy vase for $8 that I sneak peeked on Instagram.

And in addition to thence this genuinely corking mirror (that ended upwards inwards the post well-nigh the dresser I painted dorsum inwards December). 

Also, simply yesterday I establish this lilliputian guy for $4.

He'll probable brand an appearance on the silverish leafed vanity inwards an upcoming post well-nigh the sleeping room updates.

#6. Frequency is key.

Great trade moves fast inwards thrift stores. Sometimes it's sold the infinitesimal the staff sets it out on the floor. So, the to a greater extent than you lot go, the to a greater extent than you lot notice skillful stuff. I exercise a quick 'pop in' a duad times a calendar week at fundamental times, which way I rapidly dart around the store for well-nigh 5 minutes to run across if there's anything there. For example, I went to my favorite store on Fri in addition to didn't notice a thing. Then yesterday, I went inwards in addition to establish this lilliputian jewel for well-nigh $5. I've been wanting a garden stool for ages, but could never notice i nether $100 fifty-fifty at discount stores. 
Which is pure insanity.
I'm thinking of spray ikon it to await similar situation), in addition to you lot tin genuinely notice some corking stuff. 

You tin see the master copy Goodwill site here in addition to the Goodwill Books site here.

#9. Get a discount

 This may non be inwards your area, but if it does, acquire excited. Our local schools number schoolhouse coupon books i time a schoolhouse year. They toll well-nigh $10 each in addition to receive got a crazy amount of coupons inside. I unremarkably purchase i or 2 every year, for the sole argue that at that spot is unremarkably 2-3 coupons within for thrift stores. And some of the coupons you lot tin fifty-fifty re-use i time a month. For example, our majority has a re-useable coupon for 20% off your purchase at KARM (one of my local faves), in addition to i for 25% off at Goodwill. 
Basically, it's saves me tons of coin when I thrift, in addition to at that spot are also tons of coupons for gratis burgers in addition to milkshakes. 
I exercise it for the children.

And final but non least...

#10. Don't receive got it likewise seriously.
 Thrift store shopping should live fun. And you lot shouldn't live spending tons of coin or turning into a famous A&E hoarder. If you're doing either, you lot should belike sit down downward in addition to nibble on your thoughts for a minute. And if something you lot bought breaks or doesn't move or turns out to live a terrible lapse inwards sentence (been there, girl), simply high 5 yourself in addition to shrug it off. You paid 99 cents. It's okay.

For me, the destination is simple. I dearest finding things that receive got seen amend days (but receive got tons of potential) in addition to thinking well-nigh how to brand them amazing i time to a greater extent than or how to reuse them inwards a dissimilar way. And in addition to thence I exercise it, in addition to relieve tons of money. Because rather than spending thousands of dollars on all novel stuff, I've been able to repurpose a lot of former materials that's ended upwards beingness pretty cool inwards the end.
And my promise is that this spider web log shows you lot that you lot tin exercise it, too.  


That's all for today, ya'll.
Thanks for visiting my spider web log today. Ya know I hateful it. 
 You tin banking concern check out my other thrift store posts
 here, here, in addition to (the best one) here.

And I'll live dorsum shortly to portion my 10 spray pigment tips, my favorite project yet, the sleeping room reveal, in addition to the craziest affair that's ever happened on this blog. Ever.
'Til side yesteryear side time!

Christmas Countdown

Are You Ready for Christmas? Here are a few of my Christmas posts:
DIY Ornament Wreath DIY Snowflake Books    Magnolia Leaf Wreath   DIY Christmas Ornaments

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