Saving Money Buying Clothes at Thrift Stores

Everybody loves a bargain, and thrift stores are great places to find new and like-new clothing items for much less than you would pay retail. On your first visit to a thrift store, you may be overwhelmed with the array of merchandise, but with a strategy in mind, you can find wonderful deals.

Locate the store
If you do not know where the second-hand stores are in your area, use your telephone directory to find them. During this economic crunch, more "repurposing" stores are appearing in different areas of town. Allow yourself enough time to browse. It takes a little more time to find the real bargains in thrift stores.

Survey

When you walk into the store, grab a buggy and take a trip around the perimeter of the store. This gives you a picture of how merchandise is organized. On this trip you are looking for clothes, but on the next trip you may be hunting for other items. You can save yourself time in the future by knowing the layout of the store.

Narrow down

When you get to the clothing section of the shop, begin to narrow down your search to particular types of clothes. Are you looking for skirts or pants and shorts? What sleeve length do you prefer? Do you want shirts with or without a collar?

Narrow down your search even more by color. Choose items in colors that you love and that look good on you. Keep in mind if you are looking at bottoms (skirts, pants, shorts), solid neutral colors, even if they are not your favorites, can easily be mixed and matched with different patterned tops.

While you are pulling out any interesting clothing items that might work for you, take note of the feel of the fabric. If you are a low-maintenance wardrobe person, avoid all cotton items that will need to be ironed. To save on dry cleaning bills, steer away from fabrics that require dry cleaning.

When pulling out items, get a general idea of the size by taking a look at the garment before you look at the size tag. Measurements are not standard for all clothing manufacturers, so you many wear different sizes in different brands of clothes.

Eliminate

Now that you have a buggy full of items, take the time to eliminate anything that you question. Look for stains, worn spots, holes, tears and any other signs of excessive wear. Keep only those items that could pass for new. If there is a dressing room, take the time to try on items.

Mix and match

When you get home, wash the clothing items to remove any "strange" odors. Look through your closet to find other pieces you have that can be worn with your "new" clothes. For a fraction of the cost of items from a department store, you have expanded your wardrobe!