I have been a Thrift Store girl for as long as I can remember. My sophomore chorus gown was purchased for $10.00 at a thrift store, because it had a small stain which was removed after a careful cleaning. My bridal gown was purchased at a consignment store as well. While I can often find wanted items at yard sales, there is also a place for thrift stores and consignment shops as well. We have a list of our top 10 items that you should be purchasing via thrift instead of paying full price. Check out our post on 15 Items You Should be Buying at the Dollar Store.
- Baby items. Items for a new baby can be so expensive, and many times you can score super cheap items like high chairs, bouncy seats, and more at a thrift store. If you are looking for something specific, it also helps to let your name and number with the manager, to let them know you are looking for a specific item. We have thrift and consignment sales in our area twice a year where mom’s thrift and consign their infant or baby items at a fraction of the normal cost. The only items we don’t recommend buying for baby are items like a car seat, cribs, and always check to see if items have been recalled. Parents.com has a recall page you can use to search for items and it is free. Check out our Baby Registry Checklist for a list of items baby needs that you might find at a thrift store.
- Kids’ clothing. The picture above is of one of our local consignment stores (slightly different than a thrift store), where I take my children’s clothing and they pay me in cash for those items. I am also able to find super cheap clothing for my kids at this same location. While I do feel that prices are much lower when you can find clothing for children at an actual thrift store, these items are still usually marked much less than full price. Kids grow out of their clothing so fast it is silly to pay full price for items that they will outgrow in a few months. Shopping at thrift and consignment stores for kids’ clothing is much less expensive, and you can usually find brand names.
- Kitchen supplies. I have been able to find countless items for my kitchen at our local thrift store. Everything from small appliances to silverware, cooking utensils, and more. When I know of a young person just starting out on their own, I always make sure they know where the best thrift stores are located so they can start building their own supply of items they will need for when they move out on their own. Make sure to check metal baking items for rust.
- Cards. Our local thrift store has a section of very inexpensive cards for many occasions, and several times I’ve been able to score adorable cards, packs of invitations, or gift card holders for much less. Not every thrift store has this section, so if you can’t score cards there, always check your local dollar store. Our store has cards for $0.50 each and they are high quality and don’t look cheap. We have three local dollar type stores, and I have found that just one of them has these high quality cards, while the other two carry cards that don’t look as nice, so make sure to check each store.
- Toys. Our second son is now playing with a huge toy ship we purchased at a local thrift store over ten years ago for $5.00. At the time I’m sure the ship was valued at over $50, but it has gone through both of my boys, and they have used it very hard. Make sure to check all toys to make sure they have all the necessary parts to run. It’s also good to check to see if the battery terminal area is ok, and ask about the return policy in case the toy does not work properly.
- Games and puzzles. We have found many games and puzzles at thrift stores for pennies. These items are much more expensive when purchased new at the store. Again, make sure that all the game pieces are present before you buy it. Unfortunately, it won’t be possible to determine if all the puzzle pieces are there. However, if you aren’t too OCD, and can live without a few pieces, you can still have a ton of fun by putting the puzzle together as a family.
- Designer items. There have been several occasions where I have totally scored a designer item at a thrift store. Whether it’s a brand name pair of boots, a designer sweater, or even a pocketbook, you know you’ve made bank. Now, there are times where items have untrustworthy labels. However, if you follow designers and know how to look for an authentic label, you can really score a huge savings.
- Books. While I don’t always find books I love at a thrift store, I have had many occasions where I was able to score a good read for pennies. I’ve also scored very inexpensive books for my children. Make sure to check book bindings, and ensure that no pages are ripped or torn. I find more rips and tears with pop-up books for children. However, there have been a few times I’ve scored very adorable items for my son. I also open the book and do a pretty thorough check for any type of bugs. While it’s highly unlikely to bring bugs into your home, I do know that cockroaches like to eat the binding in books. Please note that I’ve never seen a bug in my home from a thrift store purchase, even after twenty or more years of thrifting!
- Maternity clothes. Maternity items are easy to pick up at thrift stores. I have found it hard to find maternity items even in many of our local department stores, and I have had more success at thrift and consignment stores to find good maternity clothes.
- Construction items and craft supplies. You would be surprised at the items people donate to a thrift store. I have seen kitchen cabinets, doors, windows, and more. Many times these are bulky items that people just want to get rid of and so they will donate them to get rid of them quickly. I’ve also found skeins of yarn, fabric, and more at thrift stores that could be used to make gifts for others, or items for the home. Craft items can be very expensive, and thrifting could possibly help you support your hobby at a fraction of the cost.
What are some of your favorite items to thrift? Comment them below.
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