my tips for thrifting

 Thrifting is one of my all time favorite things to do.

I go thrifting at least once a week and if I don't get out at least that often, I start to get fidgety, haha.

In fact, yesterday, knowing that I have a busy week ahead, I snuck out for a few to check out one of my favorite Goodwill shops.

Here are my tips for thrifting to make your experience enjoyable and not overwhelming.

Some of these shops are huge and can be a little daunting if you are new to thrifting.

GO WITH SOMETHING SPECIFIC IN MIND:

Write out specifically what you are looking for so you don't get sidetracked. 

Sometimes I go with a couple things in mind. Maybe it is a kitchen item, or a storage piece, or a piece of furniture. That way if I don't have a ton of time, I stay on track by only looking at those areas in the store.

ONLY BUY SOMETHING IF YOU REALLY NEED IT:

You will find so many fun things while you are thrifting. 

I used to fill my cart and buy it all. 

However, do I really need a Pottery Barn Kids toy even though it is brand new in the box for $2.99? NO, my kids aren't little anymore and I have learned over the years to not buy something just because it's cheap, brand new in the box, or otherwise.

Think about where you will use the item you find. If you can't think of a space for it, put it back. Someone else thrifting might be thrilled to find it and might have a great purpose for it.

BOOKS:

Thrift shops are a great place to find books.

Childrens books are usually the cheapest so if you are going to deconstruct books, like I have here, choose the fattest kids books you can find for the biggest bang for your buck.

I usually look for books in the right size and with the right binding color {because 99% of the time I will take the covers off for display} over the contents of the book.

CUTTING BOARDS AND OTHER KITCHEN ITEMS:

I always look for cutting boards at thrift shops. 

They usually always have wood ones, and I often see marble or granite pieces too.

Another kitchen item I look for is silverplate silverware. You may have to rummage through bins to find them, but typically they are around 29 cents each.

White dishes and ornate stemware are two other things I always search for and usually find every time.

LOOK FOR ITEMS TO REPURPOSE OR MAKEOVER:

Furniture in perfectly good condition can be donated. Maybe it doesn't have the perfect finish or color on it, but that is what paint is for!

The tray in the 3rd photo above started out a dark wood color. I painted it and added a decorative design on it and ended up hanging it on the wall.

Look in the kitchen section for cups or utensil holders that could be repurposed in the bathroom for makeup brushes, or with pens and pencils in it on a desk.

Think outside the box!

Have so much fun with it and if you find something amazing, please share it by tagging me on Instagram, at mysweetsavannah!

xoxo, Melaine