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CTC Readers' Poll:
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"What are your tips for finding great bargains on clothing at thrift stores? How do you find those items you do what when they are hidden among all the other clothing that doesn’t fit your needs?" |
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"After
several years of shopping at thrift stores I
have discovered that I keep a 'mental list'
of items I am looking for. This keeps me
focused rather than becoming overwhelmed by
all the merchandise. I may be looking for a
red cardigan sweater or a warm winter dress for
example. I also look for certain brands
which I know to be of good quality. I am
also creative with clothing. A nice
dress in colors I wear might need a little
hemming to make it more fashionable. I
have also shortened sleeves in blouses and
dresses if I like the fabric or print.
If a pair of jeans fit me well I might
shorten them into 'clamdiggers' especially
if they are light in color for summer. It is
important to look carefully at magazines
regularly to see how fashions change.
This helps a lot when shopping so you can
adapt clothing and avoid buying things that
are obviously out of style. I also try
to purchase items that are 'classic'.
Trendiness is okay if not carried to extreme
as styles change often. This applies to
pants, skirts, jackets and sweaters. When
purchasing any item you have to think
carefully about how it is going to
be used in your wardrobe. The biggest
problem with thrift shop buying is getting
carried away and buying too much. I have
often purchased something with the knowledge
that I will be discarding something at home. Then
I ask myself, 'Do I really need this?'"
~ Janice
"I also dislike when clothing is not sorted by size. I am plus size (super-sized, really) and tend to look for items that are longer than others, or falling off the hangers, or doubled on the hangers to fit me. otherwise I decide what I need -- a pink shirt for instance -- then only look at the pink shirts. Sometimes when sorting through items to locate the pink shirt, I find other items that are my size. When it comes to the kids, I just look for all natural fiber items that are their size and above." ~ Anonymous "My first rule is that I try very hard not to bring my children with me (too much of a distraction for me). This is a slight disadvantage if you are looking for clothing that fits the child right now. However I am usually shopping ahead, so I don't find it to be a problem. The thrift stores I shop at have their clothing all hung on hangers. I can look at a section of dresses and weed out some of them based solely on how long/short they are. I look for one of the appropriate size and then use it as a quick measuring guide for the row (then I inspect tags of the dresses close in length). Pants can be done in much the same way. I have not found a way to pre sort shorts or shirts so I am looking forward to other readers' responses." ~ Jen
"I
don't have the time or patience to browse
through clothes in thrift stores that don't
sort by size. I don't feel too bad about
this. In my experience, thrift stores that
don't do this very basic function are not
well-run. The two I can think of in my
region who don't sort clothes are dirty and
overpriced at the same time. There isn't
much turnover and things sit and gather
dust. Spend your time at well-run stores
with a lot of turnover. Having said that,
when you're looking at kid's clothes: find
one shirt/pants/whatever in the size you're
looking for, and then stand back and look at
the rack to see other things that hang on
the hangers about the same length." ~
Catherine in Minnesota
"Go in with
a plan. Decide on 1-3 items you want to target.
Shop only in that section of the store, such as
women's tops. Since they are usually sorted by
color, zero in on the colors you know look best
with your skin/hair tones.
Limit the amount of time you are there, or it could be dinnertime before you decide to leave! If you haven't found what you need after 30 minutes, decide to come back another day. For children's clothes, I scan the racks each time I go and have been surprised at what I find. I skim quickly, especially with pants that I can see are too short of too long for my boys. Shopping frequently gives you the best chance of finding something in your child's size. I always scan for the 1/2 off color and pretty much buy only those. If I really love the item and it's not 1/2 off, I'll think through how badly I need it. Not want, but need. I may risk it and come back when that color is 1/2 off, but usually the item is gone. Know when
your local store changes its weekly 1/2 off
color and try to shop on those days when
selection of that color is at its highest. The
clerks don't usually keep it a secret and don't
mind if you ask what day they change the
signs." ~ Patty in Ohio "Our Goodwill is amazing in Colorado Springs because they have different racks for different clothing items plus they color code the tags to show what is on sale that day. I try to go with a list in my mind of what I need (not want). This way I can scan for certain items on specific racks without just looking randomly for something I might need someday. This also cuts down on the amount of clothing items I end up purchasing which I don't really need. It is a lesson in self-control. I also try to go mid-week because usually by then the items dropped of on the previous weekend have been processed and put out. I have also found that Goodwill is a fabulous place to buy inexpensive books to donate as well. Ask your child's teachers if there are any books that they need for the classroom on specific topics and then you can donate them to the classroom. Also, see if your church library is in need of any books and keep your eye out. It is amazing to see how God works through the little things in our lives." ~ Joanna
Editor's Note: Thanks to all these readers who took time to write! |