13 Clever Thrifting Tips to Save BIG at Secondhand Shops This Holiday Season!
Love thrifting? You’ll definitely want to read our tips before you head to your Savers, Goodwill, or local thrift store!
Going thrifting? Get the inside scoop on how to save!
I’ve been shopping at my local Goodwill store for many years and believe thrifting can be a valuable resource for scoring deals for the home and family.
Whether I’m visiting the Savers near me or a local consignment shop, there are always ways to spend less! In my opinion, thrift store shopping is such a FUN treasure hunt. I would 100% pick a good thrift store adventure over a big box retail trip any day!
Plus, with the holidays around the corner, you might just spot some festive finds at the thrift store near you!
Whether you’re a thrifting expert or a newbie, I’ve rounded up some helpful information to help you save even further at these affordable and adventurous stores.
It’s also worth noting that some of these same tips can also be applied to various other thrift stores to save money. This post is not sponsored by Goodwill or Savers, but rather meant to be helpful, and FUN!
Hip Tip: Before I jump into all the juicy details, it’s important for you to know that all Goodwill’s are individually managed. Therefore any sales, special deals, or coupon values, will vary for each location and some locations might not have them at all. Additionally, all stores are unique in what is available since items are all donated.
Here are all my top thrifting tricks to save BIG at Goodwill and other thrift stores:
1. Sign up for the monthly newsletter Goodwill coupon or text alerts to save even more!
Once you find your local Goodwill thrift store location online, sign up for their email newsletter or text alerts to receive coupons and be the first to hear about sales. This thrifting tip is also a favorite of my coworker Nicole’s.
At my location, we get an extra 20% off coupon via email that we can use over and over without any limit. You just have to spend over $20 to use it. Sometimes if I go thrifting with a shopping buddy and don’t spend $20, we will combine orders at the cash register to get the extra 20% off and then even up later.
2. Stay up to date with your local store’s sale calendar.
Staying up to date with your local Goodwill is the key to knowing the inside scoop on daily, weekly, and monthly sales. Sounds too easy, but believe it or not, lots of folks don’t do this. So make sure to sign up for their local mailing list so you’re always in the know.
It’s also a good idea to keep up with your local Goodwill’s Facebook page (if they have one), as they often post current sales, coupons, and special events. As an example, here’s the Goodwill of Southern Nevada Facebook page.
The other cheap thrift stores near me often have social media pages. Don’t forget to check if your local thrift stores have them too.
3. Go on the weekly color tag sale days and pay as low as $1!
That’s right! Every week, the Savers near me and some of the Goodwill locations have a special color tag sale day, so make sure to keep up to date on their website or the next time you head in-store.
For example, here’s a specific Goodwill store page that lists their current and upcoming sales. You can expect to see sales anywhere from 30%-50% off and sometimes even tags that sell for just $1 each!
The Salvation Army also has a similar program. According to Hip2Save’s Monica, every Wednesday, they offer half price on apparel.
4. Shop early in the morning at your Goodwill thrift store!
It’s probably no news to you that some people make a living on buying cheap stuff at thrift stores and selling them for a profit. Sometimes, thrifty finds are priced for way less than it’s worth (unknowingly); therefore, the good stuff is sure to fly out the doors fast.
Since employees price new items at night, make sure you’re the first person in the door so you can get to the really good deals first. I find the best stuff when I am there right when my store opens!
As just one example, check out this large vintage pottery bowl I found recently priced less than $6, and I spotted it re-selling online for around $200! What a score! I think it also helps to go to a Goodwill location near a retirement community like mine. I find lots of cool vintage stuff!
Here’s another example of me being the first in line at my local Goodwill thrift store recently and scoring a beautiful vintage Pyrex bowl for just $3.49 before coupons! I head straight to the housewares section first to scope things out.
5. Shop at a Goodwill clearance center and pay only by the pound!
Something a lot of people don’t know is that Goodwill makes an effort to ensure items don’t end up in landfills, so one major way you can contribute is through thrift shopping at one of their clearance centers. Here, you will pay a low cost by the pound rather than paying for each item individually. So if you’re stocking up on some pretty lightweight stuff like clothing, be prepared for some big savings! Kids clothes are a great item to pick up since they grow out of them so fast.
To find your nearest Goodwill Clearance Center, head to their store locator and type in your zip code. You’ll then need to scroll down until you find a store that’s called a “Clearance Center.”
6. Save extra cash if you’re a senior, military member, teacher, or student!
Both my mom and my mother-in-law are Goodwill shopping experts and are so fun to treasure hunt with! They shop at their local store on Tuesdays to get their Goodwill senior discount of 25% off!
Discount days and amounts may vary by region or location, but you can expect the following discounts:
- For seniors: If you’re a senior over 55 years old, you can get anywhere from 10% to 25% off depending on location.
- For military members, students, teachers & first responders: Bring I.D. and get anywhere from 10% to 25% off depending on location.
The Savers near me also has amazing senior discounts on Tuesdays. If you’re a senior over 55 years old, you can get up to 30%. This discount should be available at most of their locations.
7. Find out the best day to make donations.
If you’ve been avoiding a drop-off at your local Goodwill, now is the perfect time to find out what the best day actually is. At most Goodwill locations, they host special donation days, where you can receive a pretty sweet coupon to use on your next thrifting trip. It’s a win-win – drop off your unwanted goods and receive money when you’re ready to buy something new.
If your store doesn’t have this, you can still ask for a receipt and claim your donations during tax season for a possible write-off if you itemize.
Don’t forget to check with your local thrift store if they have special donation days, too. I know that at the Savers near me, you can snag 20% off any day as long as you drop off clothing or household items.
8. The Savers near me has a rewards program, and yours should too. Join it!
If you love thrift shopping at Savers, join their rewards program called the Super Savers Club. Sign up with a valid email address to get exclusive offers. You’ll earn points each time you shop. When you reach 100 points, you can redeem them for 20% off your purchase of up to $100. When your birthday rolls around, you’ll get a coupon for 20% off a purchase of up to $50.
Bargain Hunt is another discount store that has a rewards program and a birthday coupon.
9. Visit a thrift store in an upscale town to find a great deal on expensive items.
If you visit a secondhand store in a ritzy area, you can often find designer clothing and other goods for an amazingly low price. Some of these items may even be barely used! Keep an eye out for high-end materials like hardwood, leather, and woven goods.
If you live in a small town, you might be in luck too. Check out your local thrift store because sometimes they ship in goods from larger cities, and that merchandise might just be an expensive brand name.
If you find a piece of vintage clothing but aren’t sure what it’s worth, visit the Vintage Fashion Guild to get an idea.
10. Pick up Target’s last-season merchandise at stores like Dirt Cheap.
Word on the street is that Target has moved its clearance items to liquidation stores and secondhand shops. Look for last season’s Target products at stores like Dirt Cheap, Bargain Hunt, and Goodwill. If you browse the aisles, you might just find some of these modern products for super low prices.
11. Double-check your items before you buy.
Don’t waste money on products that won’t work or are missing necessary parts. Test the electronics to make sure they power on, and always double-check your games and puzzles to make sure all the important pieces are there. Also, give clothing and glassware a glance in the light to make sure you didn’t miss a chip, crack, or tear.
12. Expect the unexpected when thrift shopping.
There’s definitely a unique collection of goods at every Goodwill or thrift store. However, there are goods you may not realize could be there – and for super cheap! You can likely score great deals on pricier sports equipment like golf clubs. I spotted these golf clubs at a secondhand store near me.
One of the best items to buy when thrifting is furniture. You can’t beat the price, and you can always paint wooden furniture to give it new life. You can even find brand-new mattresses if you’re in the market for a new bed! They started at just $169 for a twin-sized new mattress.
Also, give those older items a good look. Some of the statues and vintage dolls might just be worth a pretty penny! Check in the pockets of clothing, too! You might just find other goodies hidden inside.
13. Make friends with the employees.
If you love thrifting, it pays to chat with the thrift store owner and employees. Want a new Coach bag? Let them know! Not only will you gain some new friends, but they might just alert you if they receive something good.
Want to see some of my latest Goodwill thrift store finds?!
Not only did I score a Pyrex vintage bowl for cheap, but I also found some beautiful white porcelain basket weave plates for around $1 each! This handmade wood cutting board is gorgeous and will be perfect for building a cheese and cracker board. At just $6, it was a nice find as well!
Check out more thrift store hauls and items I’ll always look for at thrift stores!
Goodwill now sorts out the better clothing and electronics and puts them on -line, they never make it to the stores. Our local news station in NY/NJ did a story. Game player systems go directly to on-line.
Lina, love the picture of you and your mom, and mother in law! How fun!!!
Oh thanks! We did have a blast and found some great things 💕
Hi Lina 👋 Have you found your Goodwill stores are still keeping good prices? I love a good treasure hunt at Goodwill especially looking for Fiestaware. You have inspired me to go back to our local Godwill and see what I can find! Thanks for all you do! 🙂
Hi there! Oh I love hearing that!
Yes, I do think slightly higher just like everything else, however I have been able to score some fun things lately! I have a couple stores new my house so it’s convenient to pop in and see what’s there every so often ☺️
I wanted Fiestaware forever and kept looking. Ended up buying myself a whole bunch of it at Kohl’s for less than I was seeing random pieces pop up in Savers/Salvation Army. As far as I know, they don’t sell it in the stores (at least they don’t carry it in my store) but you can get it online and, last time I bought it, you could also use coupons!
I live in SW Michigan. We have tons of thrift shops; Goodwills, Salvation Army, Mission Stores, etc. My son and I love to thrift shop.
Thanks for sharing about the thrift stores near you! Glad to hear you enjoy hunting down the great deals too! 🙌❤️
I go every Thursday when the goodwill near me has items that haven’t sold for over a month for $1.99. They often have good brands like Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, ASOS, Zara, J Crew etc. Last week I found a Brioni for Newman Marcus men’s shirt that would sell for over $500 for $1.99. I’ve found high quality bags like Bruno Magli and Falor, though I paid more for these. It’s a treasure hunt and sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don’t.
Oh wow, great finds Laura! There’s one GW I used to live by that had so many high end brand clothing they would have a separate rack for designer which was cool. I agree it’s a fun treasure hunt!
My husband bought a pair of khaki shorts at our local Goodwill. When he checked the pockets before throwing them in the washer, he found $60.
Check pockets for sure. My late husband had a pile of pant to donate. I looked in the pockets and he had $500 in it.
Don’t forget church rummage sales. Not as organized as Goodwills can be but going on bag day (whatever fits in bag for a set price like $5) is fun.
That does sound like fun, Hannah! Thanks for sharing this rummage sale too as a great place to score some goodies for less! 💗