I grew up shopping secondhand or thrifting as many call it and my love for this kind of shopping runs deep. You never know what you are going to find and I think that is the beauty of it. I understand that this kind of shopping can be overwhelming but my first tip will help with that! Shopping secondhand is a great way to help your money go farther and get quality items for less. So here we go!
- Have an idea of what you are looking for. It is easy to walk into these types of stores and instantly feel overwhelmed. Avoid that by only checking the sections of the store that the item would be in. If you don’t need more clothes, avoid the clothing racks like the plague. If you are looking for furniture head straight to that section, seriously put on the blinders and beeline it. Most stores have clothing racks in the middle or to one side and the other goods along the walls of the store.
- For the mommas out there, SHOP FOR YOUR KIDS. Majority of my sons clothing is from thrift stores. ESPECIALLY when they are constantly growing out of sizes. I don’t love a lot of the graphics that are on kids clothing these days so I look for plain shirts and neutral colors. I typically scan the rack for colors I like or patterns that aren’t obnoxious. Always look for the next size up, you never know when your child will have a growth spurt and then have no pants to wear. If I’m really into it I’ll take the time to sift through every item of the rack but use the same scan method when looking at clothes for myself. I have found many great secondhand books and toys as well.
- If you are new to the quilting gig check out the bedding. Most of my quilt backings are from flat sheets that I have found at thrift stores. Be on the look out for muslin sheets – a durable material that makes a great low volume for in between your quilt blocks. Bonus tip check by the pillows usually the craft sections near and I have found unopened spools of thread and quilt batting! If you want more tips on building your fabric stash read this.
- Looking for a quick DIY? Check out the furniture. Most of the time you can find items that just need a little bit of love to come back to life. If looking at wooden chairs, I like to make sure there is very little wobble. I’ll take it off the shelf and actually sit in it. There shouldn’t be any spools missing, if it feels unstable whatsoever I’ll pass on it.
- Know that you don’t have to buy anything you see. It may be a great find but always ask yourself if you need it. Can you picture it in your home? Do you have a spot picked out for it in your head already?
Shopping secondhand stores is always hit or miss. Sometimes you find great things at killer deals and other times you find absolutely nothing. Regardless, I hope these tips encourage and inspire you to frequent your local secondhand store a bit more.
I’d love to know your tips for this kind of shopping and if you found this helpful! Send me a message on Instagram @kmdcreates or leave it below!
