Welcome class, to thrifting 101. I am your all-things thrifting guru, Jack. I consider myself the Gwyneth Paltrow of shopping secondhand.

Thrift shopping is a fun, sustainable, and fiscally friendly way to buy anything from home goods, to clothing, to books. You can find items that heavily resemble anything you have pinned on Pinterest, or stumble across a piece of art that fits perfectly into your room decor, the opportunities are endless.

The Basics

At the same time, thrifting is something you can work to get better at, like everything, practice makes perfect. While luck is a factor when it comes to shopping secondhand in general, what I maintain is that it is a mindset. You need to be prepared to look through multiple racks of clothing, often not color coded or sorted by size. Personally, when I go thrifting, I try to make a day out of it, hitting four to five thrift stores. I am able to tell if I should keep going by the end of the second store because I am likely on a roll of absolute must-haves, or I am frustrated by everything by everything I like being in a size that just does not fit, or is not worth the price. But that leads me to my second point.

The Budget

Macklemore famously said, “I’m gonna pop some tags, only got $20 in my pocket” in his 2012 smash hit Thrift Shop. Whether or not he meant to, he had a really solid point. Go to the thrift store with $20 or $40 in cash. It keeps you within a budget, and some stores are cash-only, so it’s a two-for-one hack. Sticking within a set budget ensures that you are only buying within a certain amount of money, and is a guaranteed bang for your buck.

The Balance

If you think you might like the piece you’re looking at, I recommend pulling it out and carrying it with you, giving you time to think about it while not giving anyone else the opportunity to take it while you ponder. When you find any given article of clothing, book, appliance, etc. take the time to consider if you can live without it. Will you beat yourself up for not taking advantage of the deal in front of you? If the answer is yes, your solution seems pretty obvious. If you are unsure about something, multiply the cost by 2x or 3x, and if you would still buy it for that much, it seems to be a good fit. 

The Brands

This next piece of advice is optional, but one I live by: just because it’s designer, does not mean it is a necessary purchase, or even cute! Thrift stores can be flooded with Tommy Hilfiger, Lucky Jeans, and other well-established brands, but don’t let that fool you. Stores can often mark up pieces of clothing from these companies because they know people will pay more for them, so make sure you NEED this piece. 

Be Ahead

A few more pieces of optional advice that I live by: 

1. Bring headphones! While I do love the occasional “Monday, Monday” by The Mamas & The Papas, I do feel a bit crazy when I head it in five stores in a row!
2. Wash the clothing as soon as you get home! I am always so excited to wear the new stuff and get frustrated with myself when it is sitting in my hamper when I am planning what to wear.
3. Consider how many outfits you can pair with the given article of clothing. Whether it’s versatile and easy, or a statement piece, go with your gut.
4. If there are changing rooms, take advantage of them! 

Edited by: Iylah M