5 Things You Should Buy from the Thrift Store!

...or yard sale, estate sale, you get the idea!

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you probably already have your go-to items that you look for when you're out shopping. You are either there with purpose, or you have a general idea of what you're looking for. If you don't, you should! I thought it would be fun to offer up my personal suggestions on things you should always try to buy at your local charity/thrift shop. These are items that, if possible, are best served buying second hand because of the absolutely STEAL you can come across with them! Stick around until the end of the post and see what some of my friends look for also!

1. Books.

I have found some amazing books while thrifting. I actually have a whole huge books-a-million bag full (irony?) of recently purchased thrifted books that are awaiting photos for blogs and videos so that they can be read and enjoyed. You can literally find ANYTHING. I'm going to need a new bookshelf soon to house all of my books found for mere CENTS. I never pay more than 1.00 for a book, regardless of value. One of the most recent finds was at our Habitat for Humanity ReStore where my son found a GIGANTIC ($40) book on Spain (of which he is obsessed) for .50!!

2. Cast Iron Cookware.

I do realize that this is a specific item and not so much a category of things, but I wanted to really stress how great of a find this stuff is. Cast Iron almost (read: never with the right skill set) becomes unuseable. Keep your eyes peeled for this stuff anywhere you go. I've known people who even found some great cast iron during curb alerts. There are an abundance of online tutorials that teach you how to re-season your cookware, so don't shy away from rust. Trust me, all it takes is cooking with it once and you'll never go back to anything else. I could go on and on about how great cast iron is and how you can literally throw it in a fire and it does nothing but help it, but I'll spare you those details and let you find out on your own.

3. Furniture.

Not the cheapish Ikea/Walmart/Target kind. I'm talking about the real deal. The good stuff is sturdy, and it's just a blank canvas waiting on you to sand it and paint it to fit your needs. In my most recent 10 Tips to Successful Thrifting  post, I talked about the importance of seeing things with an open mind. If you are able to look past the fabric or the knicked up wood on a piece, you can really strike gold for a fraction of what you'd pay for something of much less value. I've purchased a couch for $30 before. It's amazing.

4. Home Decor.

Paintings, Vases, Candles, Shelves, Linens, the list goes on and on and on. Depending on your area, you may notice a "theme" that runs throughout some of your stores. I noticed when I lived in Orlando that there was never a shortage of a certain male mouse, and in my current location (college town); no shortage of vibrant dorm decor. It's not all the same things though, and that's the beauty of it. I live for the unique and slightly weird when it comes to what I put in my home, and I couldn't achieve my personal style WITHOUT thrifting. There's something for everyone.

5. Accessories.

If you've read any of my previous posts, you'd know that I recently found a very expensive (at least for my pockets) J. Crew bubble necklace in my local Goodwill for an amazing price. Second hand is a GREAT way to get accessories. Personal style often changes, and with that many people clean out and donate. I buy most of my accessories this way now, but I do warn that you should have an idea of what things go for. You never know when something you may overlook is actually of great value. If you plan on shopping for jewelry, do a quick google search of how to tell real gold or silver from costume jewerly. This may help you profit off of your trip if you choose to do so. Thrift stores are also a great way to get an eclectic collection of belts, shoes, and of course... BAGS!

Honorable Mention: Clothing

I have a whole series planned on this topic, which is why I didn't include it on my list. I feel like clothing should be a given, but if it isn't, I urge you to give it a go. It's an incredible resource for building a brand new wardrobe for next to NOTHING. It's the only way I am able to keep clothes on my child, and it's also great if you have sewing skills. I've got a post coming up where I turn an old, ugly dress into something fun and "now". Keep checking back soon as I start a series on why kind of clothing you should look for when you go shopping at thrift store.

I recently took to my personal Facebook page and asked what some of my friends' go-to items are when they go thrifting. Here are a few answers:

Heather- Children's Clothing

Mayte in Miami- Tin Lunchboxes and Home Decor

Stephanie- Photo and Poster Frames

Jacqui- Cast Iron and Glass Cookware

Donn- Camo Prints

What items do YOU look for every time you shop?

10 Tips to Successful Thrifting

I could make 50 of these lists (and who knows, I might!) but I wanted to start things off with my top 10 thrifting tips to live by. I can tell you countless times of hearing of  "thrifting failures", so here's my informerical promise to you: Live by these tips and you WILL succeed.

[1] List out things you want (even if it's not a priority) and the things that you actively need.
Leave nothing untouched because you never know what you will find! I have a running list in my carry around notebook of things that I need for home, in my wardrobe, or for projects. This makes it so much easier when I am in the store and find things that I "may" want.. I can reference my list and help to make my decision. This is also a great place to keep a list of things that you want in your wardrobe.

[2] Grab now, think later.
One of the beautiful things about thrifting is that there are usually no two things alike in the store. One thing that I always coach people to do is to put anything you have the potential of wanting in your cart, shop it around and then decide. Two things come from this. The first is that you secure that item in your posession, instead of the hands of the person coming down the clothing line behind you that may take it if you don't. It's better to put something back at the end of a shopping trip, then to think of something while you shop around, only to return and find it gone (and that WILL happen.). Talk about disappointment! Once you're finished shopping, you can then assess your loot and narrow down the items that you truly want to take and the ones that you want to put back on the shelf/rack. This editing process is crucial if you wish to avoid impulse purchases that lead to over spending!

[3] Think Creatively.
Just because something is dirty, doesn't mean it can't be washed. Liken many things to a cast iron product. It's pretty much never dead until it's in pieces. Unless an article of clothing is terribly damaged, it can be fixed. Housewares can be painted and things can find a new life in new ways. I often buy things for certain elements, I get it home, take those off and reuse the rest. Part of thrifting as a lifestyle is to have an upcycle mentality. Without that, you're missing out on half of the greatness that you can pull from a killer thrifting find.

[4] Know Retail Prices.
I don't mean that you need to be a walking price gun, but it is a good idea to have a running rate of things that you typically shop for. Most thrift stores are great at pricing, while others just take a shot out in the dark and end up over charging for some items. Have a grasp on what your clothing and accessories typically run (especially for smaller pieces like belts, wallets, etc) and have a general idea of wall art and appliances, as those are often priced higher than things such as clothing. I rarely run into this as a problem, but this tip is super useful for the newly minted facebook sales groups that are popping up. Don't get "had" by folks out to make a quick buck, know your retail prices!

[5] Shop Often.
You will find new things while you shop, so imagine what you're missing when you only thrift once in a blue moon! Go often, and if you can, go when they put out fresh stock! Many stores will run super discounted specials also, so it's great to know what is going on and when. We'll get to that a little later though.

[6] Map The Sales.
Know your stores in the area (or area that you are going to) and if at all possible, know the sales. Know if they run $1 sales from 10-4 or if they do dot sales on certain days of the week. From there, you can organize your trips and optimize to hit each sale to the best of your ability. This may sound extreme, but once you find your pattern, it won't be a huge deal at all!

[7] Look around the store at least twice before leaving.
I always do a twice and sometimes third around when I go to the thrift store. Things may be put back on the rack, or come fresh from the processing table while you're looking in another section. This is often when I find my best finds, so go ahead, do your store pattern, and then do it once more and see what you find!

[8] It's okay to leave empty handed.
Epic fails are to be expected. You will win some and lose some, but the wins will more than make up for your failures. The more you shop, the better you will be at spotting something that's a great find. If you end up empty handed, get back in there in a few days and try again. The great part of thrift stores is that they aren't chain retail establishments that carry the same stock for months at a time; every day is a new day for "new" things!

[9] Shop at LEAST 3 sizes up and 3 sizes down.
I'm a really big girl, the kind of big that you can't find often in normal stores, but because of an open mind, I have never had trouble finding things that I enjoy. I've purchased sizes that I'd never dream of fitting in a traditional store, but because many items are vintage or made from brands that aren't commonly seen, you'll find the fit to often be even better than off of the rack. This rule is also useful for those items that have been "hidden" for future purchase (because someone decided to not follow tip #2). I've found things hidden everywhere, so get to hunting!

[10] Set a spending limit.

I have my own way of doing this. I have an ideal limit, and then my "OH MY GOD I FOUND ALL THE THINGS" limit. They are often within 10 dollars of each other, but a limit will keep you in check. It's easy to get carried away and impulse buy things you don't really need, so when you get to the editing phase of tip #2, you have a limit to reference so that you don't spend out of your means!

Spray paint is your friend. So is sanding, drilling, cutting, seam ripping, and barrels of acid (okay, not the acid.. unless you're doing some hardcore upcycling). The point is, look past what you see and know that there's nothing a $2 can of paint can't fix!