Thrifting 101: A beginner’s guide to shopping at thrift stores

Thrifting can be more than a hobby; it is a great way to save money, be environmentally friendly, score unique finds, and create your own personal style.

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However, no matter where you shop, there are a few things you need to know as a beginner to make sure your shopping experience is great.

Here is a beginner-friendly guide to what you need to know to get into thrifting.

1. You need to know what thrifting actually is

First things first, thrifting is buying second-hand or pre-owned items at a lower price than the average price of a new item on the commercial market. You can thrift in various stores, including charity shops, vintage markets, flea markets, community clothing sales, and Facebook Marketplace.

Thrifting is not limited to clothing. You can thrift anything from art pieces to furniture.

2. Always fit thrifted clothing

Sizing of vintage clothes, depending on the decade, era, and material, won’t fit like the sizes in commercial stores today. It’s best to fit everything you want to, or be creative with how you style the item. A pretty denim mini skirt might not fit you as a skirt, but it could fit you as a sleeveless top.

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3. Inspect your items

It doesn’t matter if you are buying the item from a reputable store; inspect the item for stains, defects, holes, mould, or damage. This can be for all items like bags, shoes, furniture, art, and crafts. Small faults can be fixed, but it’s better to identify them before buying, as the cost of repairs will effectively increase the item’s overall price.

4. Put tailoring in the budget

When accounting for your spending limit, consider tailoring as part of the budget, as some items may have an ill fit, or you might like the material, not the shape.

Customising other items like furniture or art can also end up turning into a revamping project. This is something you need to take into consideration.

5. Wash and disinfect everything you buy

It is important to wash and clean everything you buy before you use it. As soon as you buy your items, get them home and wipe down whatever item needs to be wiped down, disinfect what needs sanitising, and wash whatever needs washing.

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