Thrifting is unlike any other type of shopping. You’re always looking for something while knowing that there is no way to predict what you may find. At Community Thrift Store, we understand the thrill of the hunt and we admire the resourcefulness and persistence of avid thrifters. Whether you’re new to the thrifting game or a seasoned pro, we have a few tips to help you make your thrift dreams come true:

Thrift Shopping DOs

• DO Make a List This isn’t grocery shopping, so you may not cross off everything on your list in one trip. But keeping an ongoing wishlist can help you prioritize which sections to check first so you don’t miss out on your most wanted items.
• DO Keep an Open Mind Yeah, we just told you to keep a list in order to stay on track – but sometimes the thing you need isn’t exactly what you expected! You may realize that a vintage chair can serve as a stylish and functional nightstand. Also, sizes and styles vary by brand and era so if clothes are what you’re after, make sure to check different sizes and sections.
• DO Bring a Friend Some diehard thrifters will actually keep their favorite thrift shops a secret for fear of competition for the best stuff. You should share the love though, and not just because thrifting with a friend is more fun! A friend can help you decide if an outfit works or they can help you carry home a new furniture find.
• DO Come Prepared If you’re looking to spruce your wardrobe, jot down your body measurements and bring a soft measuring tape and wear clothing that you can easily try things on over (many thrift stores, including CTS do not have fitting rooms.) Bring a regular tape measure and your home measurements if you’re looking for furniture. And of course, always bring a reusable bag!

Thrift Shopping DON’Ts

• DON’T Put Down Something You Love A common affliction for thrifters is a sort of reverse buyer’s remorse that happens when you think “Maybe I’ll come back later and buy that” only to learn later that someone snatched it up and it is gone forever. If you think its cool, someone else will too – so you’d better get it now!
• DON’T Give Up It can be easy to get discouraged by an empty handed trip. The trick is to remind yourself that the magic of thrift stores like CTS is that it is a different store every time you go! We are constantly taking in donations and adding new stuff to the sales floor every day. If you didn’t find it this time, check back soon!
• DON’T Miss a Sale Some of us thrift as part of a commitment to sustainability, some of us are too unique for the mall, but ALL of us like to save money. Learn the sale days at your favorite thrift store to save even more! At CTS get 25% off EVERYTHING the first Monday of each month and 25% off all clothing Shoes, Jewelry, and Accessories the third Monday of each month. We also rotate a special sale the last Friday of each month. Join our monthly newsletter to stay on top of sales (including occasional secret sales for subscribers!)
• DON’T Forget the Donations Were you inspired by Tidying Up with Marie Kondo? Have you had a bag of donations sitting near your door since then? Get inspired by knowing that when you donate to Community Thrift Store you can decide which of our over 200 charity partners your donation will support. Learn more about donating to CTS.