thrifty tips #3: Scan by Pattern

Now that we’ve done all our prep work…let’s go inside the store.
(If you go back to thrifty tips #1 or #2 you can be updated on the list of the 8 types of stores where I like to shop for my thrifty deals.)

Imagine that you are in any of those 8 types of stores
(except for #6: the outlet mall or #8 the regular retail store clearance or end of season)
What do you see?
Racks and racks of clothes from every era, every age group, every body type and every style all mashed together…and usually poorly organized, I might add.

What happens then…do you turn and run because it’s just too overwhelming?
or do you dig in your heels and get to work?

You know exactly what I do…I dig and go!
If you’ve gone shopping with me, you know that a switch turns on and I turn into the ‘girl on a mission’…weaving in and out of isles, touching fabrics, searching for patterns and shapes of clothes that scream “take me home! I belong with you!” and scanning the racks for something special.
I scan so intensely that I usually leave the store with sore eyes. no joke. lame…I know.

Understand this: I don’t just stand there and sort through the racks…you can do that too, but I don’t have time for that.
So I’m going to do my best to show you through the eyes of my crazy ‘girl on a mission’ self exactly how I attack a store to come home with nice, sometimes vintage, well made, and otherwise expensive clothes…because, well, that’s what I like.

Just remember, these are MY opinions…
it’s okay for you to have different ones.

So, let’s practice scanning the racks. It’s a skill I think is essential to thrifting and one I truly believe can be acquired. 
This is our first lesson is honing those skills and training your eyes. Let’s start with patterns – they are the easiest to spot. 
You are in the store and you are faced with this…
You scan this rack of patterned skirts…which one catches YOUR eye? Which one will YOU pick up?
I’ll tell you which ones I will take the time to look at…

Here they are one at a time… cheetah print + roses = pass.

ooooh… what’s that? Vintage wool pencil skirt with a beautiful hounds tooth plaid print…definitely worth my time to pick up and check the size!
This is an expensive skirt and if it fits – a deliciously thrifty find!!!

Supersize flowers…too big of a print for most people to pull off. Pass…

ummm…pass.

not my own personal style, but easy to pair things with and neutral enough…definitely worth a look see.

no, I don’t think this is for me either.

Okay, let’s practice scanning with another rack…

What catches your eye? These catch mine…

Nice grey wool pencil skirt.

Not my personal style, but definitely IN style right now…

I guess I didn’t get a picture of the last one. A great black skirt with tiny polka dots…pairs with everything!

Okay, here’s our last practice. Take a quick glance at this picture and then tell me what you see…anything worthwhile?

Definitely one beautiful skirt hiding in there…

Beautiful print… well made in a good thick fabric. Still with the tags. A PERFECT thrifty find!

So I hope you got the gist of this scanning technique. Just know, you don’t have to sift through every article of clothing on those racks.
You don’t have time for that! You DO have time to find great thrifty deals…you just have to practice.

Start by going thrifting with something particular in mind.
For example: Go on a day when all skirts or sweaters are 99 cents…and JUST hit those racks.
Practice scanning.
Remember, if you approach it right, you don’t have to be overwhelmed.

Alone or not alone?

With our thrifty tips #1 and #2 we’ve done our homework to know what kind of thrifty places are available to us and we’ve made a plan to know when is the best time for us to go.

So, for tip #3 we have one more thing to talk about that will help us finish our preparations.
Then for thrifty tip #4 we will actually enter the store and talk in detail about HOW to find our treasured items…
Here is the question for tip #3:
to go alone or not alone?

I don’t find myself alone very often.
You can usually find me with a small army of strapping young boys…
who don’t really like shopping but
are usually VERY good for me when we go.

So when it comes to hitting the thrift stores to snatch up great deals
I’ve had to figure out how to squeeze it all in…
if you know what I mean.

I’m guessing most of you are wondering how to do the same thing
so let me share with you what works for us…

1. Take drinks and snacks.
The night before my planned trip to the thrift store or resale shop I
stock my bag full of some of these…and for my men, some of these!

2. Don’t be embarrassed to entertain:
It is not inconceivable to see or hear me singing songs to my boys, cracking jokes or zooming through the store like my cart is a race car to get through the last 10-15 minutes of my shopping trip.
The trick is multitasking.
While entertaining, I’m simultaneously scanning the racks.
(we will be learning how to practice the art of scanning in the next few thrifty tips)

Here are the last few things to think about…

3. Don’t be afraid to leave empty handed:
Sometimes you won’t find anything worth bringing home and that’s really okay.
Don’t buy something you won’t actually wear in real life.
It’s easy to get excited about something that is made well, fits, and is on sale for 99 cents.
But if you aren’t REALLY going to wear it, it is still 99 cents wasted.

5. Make Friends with the Sales Associate:
Ask sales staff when they put their new stuff out and/or the best day to shop. The early bird really does get the worm when it comes to shopping a thrift store.

6. Set a budget:
Make sure you know how much you are willing to spend for what… it is also really easy to get carried away – well, it is for me – and it’s helpful to set a number for yourself so you don’t end up spending more than you meant to.

Now, you all should know that I don’t always take my boys with me on thrifting trips.
There are many times that I don’t.

For instance:
Saturdays when everything is 50% off at the community thrift store,
the “grab bag” sale held every 6 months at the resale shop,
and the damages/defectives outlet.

These are the trips I try to go alone.
These trips are better for everyone if we are apart.
You will have to choose what works best for you, but the things I share with you are what works for me and my crew.

Okay you thrifty people, I’ve got some tips coming that delve into how to scan those racks full to the brim with ‘junk’ to find treasures.
We will go over things like fabric, pattern, cut, style, etc. so be ready!

thrifty tips #2: Make a Plan…and work the Plan

I’m hoping you’ve done your homework and found some of the places we studied in thrifty tips #1 so now we can make a plan!

  Now we have to be informed of the sales schedule of each of these places so we will know WHEN we need to hit the store to maximize our savings!

1. the thrift store: most thrift stores are going to have a sale calendar, daily sale posted in the store, or sometimes they only offer a Saturday sale which is usually everything 50% off. You can call, go in and grab a printed calendar (if they offer one) or sign up online to be given notice of all upcoming sale. 

Since I live in Ohio, I go HERE and print off the calendar or stop in at the beginning of the month and grab one. Now that I know the sales planned, I circle the days that I know I will HAVE to stop in…even for a few minutes if that’s all I have. For example, t-shirts, dresses and blouses are 99 cents this Friday…so that means – I WILL be there!

2. and 3. the consignment shop/ the resale shop:  In Ohio we have quite a few of these types of stores, but I’ve found that my time is best invested in Plato’s Closet and Once Upon a Child.

Every 6 months (February and August) they have what’s called a “grab bag” sale where you are given one grocery bag to fill as much as you can and you get to purchase it for $15. Now, that might not sound like the best of sales, but I’ve come home with piles…literally piles of clothes for my boys and my nieces and nephews for quarters. Yes, that’s right…quarters. There is a technique to this – rolling - we might have to devote a thrifty tips post to it later.

Go HERE and HERE to check if there is a location near you, give them a call and see if they hold the same type of “grab bag” sale, and then mark it on your calendar so you don’t forget…you won’t be sorry!

4. and 5. the flea market /garage sale/ estate sale: It’s that time of year! There are quite a few places that turn into eclectic treasure hunts on Saturday mornings when the weather turns warm. Find a place near you and make a morning out of it. I don’t hit many flea markets, but it is always fun when we do. It is a chance for us to get out of the house as a family for a little while. 

My favorite thing to look for in the Spring is neighborhood or community garage sales. You get some exercise walking from house to house while minimizing the constant in and out of the car. But you have to be ready to pull out your bartering hat and be smart about your choices.

6. the outlet mall: did you know that you can print out coupons to use at the outlet mall? You can! Most outlet malls also hold special events at certain times of the year and ongoing military appreciation discounts, prime shopper discounts, student discounts, etc. You can find the outlet mall website near you or call them to get this information. (HERE is the one I love)

7. the distribution center outlet (a.k.a. damages/defectives outlet): I will admit, these are hard to find…but when you do – boy oh boy, it is fun! We have one here in Ohio that stocks damaged, defective or unsold items from the Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy. Sometimes you have to be willing to pull out a needle and thread to fix little holes…but for me, it’s worth it!

It is located in a big warehouse and you must REALLY search through everything, but you can grab some great deals especially at the end of a season.

For example, they throw all the unsold sweaters in large bins and put a 99 cent price tag on them. Can’t you just see me there sifting through that big ole’ bin…yeah, I like finding the treasures amongst the junk.

8.the regular retail store clearance or ‘end of season’ sales: My favorite for this is Target. I have a serious crush on Target and I have a hard time leaving the store without spending $50. On what?!?…I don’t even know. That’s bad. so bad. So here’s what I try to do…

1st, Know this…Target has a national markdown schedule. Keep your eye on the end caps of aisles for marked down, clearance, and discounted items. They mark down items every two weeks and continue to mark them down every two weeks until sold or until they reach 75%.
Target rarely marks non-holiday items lower than 75%.

2nd, Here is the markdown schedule:

Monday: Electronics, Kids Clothing, Stationary
Tuesday: Domestics, Women's Clothing, Pets, Grocery
Wednesday: Men's Clothing, Toys, Health and Beauty, Lawn and Garden
Thursday: Housewares, Lingerie, Shoes, Sporting Goods, Movies, Music, Books, Decor,Luggage
Friday: Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, Jewelry

Holiday markdowns (Christmas item markdowns vary):

Post Holiday Day 1-3: 50% off
Post Holiday Day 4-6: 75% off
Post Holiday Day 7-8: 90% off

Okay, so that was a lot of information…keep doing your homework and we will get to the more exciting and rewarding thrifty tips really soon! We have to get through the nitty gritty before we can shout our thrifty treasures from the rooftops.

Happy planning…see you tomorrow!

thrifty tips #1: do your homework

Well, there’s no place better to start than the beginning…
so let’s start from there.
First things first – we have to know where to go and understand what we can expect when we get there.
 
Here are the 8 different types of places I go to find my thrifty deals.

(I have included a few of my results from searching in Ohio, Utah, Florida and Colorado because I know I have readers in these areas.)

1. the thrift store: A shop that sells used articles, especially clothing, as to benefit a charitable organization. i.e. Goodwill, Salvation Army,Thrift Center and Thrift Town (FL), D.I (UT), etc.

2. the consignment shop: A store that basically borrows items with the provision that payment is expected only on completed sales and that unsold items may be returned to the one consigning. i.e. Snooty Fox, 2nd Chance, Fashion Addiction, Puttin on the Ritz,Encor Décor,
Seet Repeats (FL)

3. the resale shop: A store that resells something purchased from another. i.e. Plato’s Closet, Once Upon a Child

4. the flea market: a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. i.e. Adobe, Redwood 6 Drive In Theatre (UT), Springfield Antique Show (OH), Blanding Flea Market (FL), Beach Boulevard Flea Market (FL)

5. the garage sale: A sale of used household belongings, typically held outdoors or in a garage at the home of the seller.

6. the outlet mall: a large group of shops, usually situated outside of towns or cities, which sell clothes, goods, etc. for a reduced price. i.e. Prime Outlets (OH), Tanger Outlet, Mile High Marketplace (CO), Premium Outlets (FL)

7. the distribution center outlet (a.k.a. damages/defectives outlet): usually a warehouse type store which sells overstocked or damaged and defective items i.e. items with mislabeled sizes, holes, rips, stains, broken zippers, etc.

8. the regular retail store ‘end of season’ sales: A sale in which unsold stock of spring, summer, autumn, or winter clothing or goods are sold at the end of each particular season at a reduced price. i.e. Target, Wal-Mart, TJMaxx, Tuesday Morning, etc. also including all of the above. (we will go deeper into that next time.)

You might have more to add to this list,
but this includes the places that I frequent.

Now, your homework for the weekend…open up a word document and give it a “thrifty tips” title. Then head over to google and search for these types of stores in your area. The next step is simple…copy and paste, my friend, copy and paste. Get a whole list of addresses and phone numbers so that you have all the information you need.

I will delve a little deeper into each one of these 8 areas in my next thrifty tips post so I’ll see you back for more!

thrifty tips begins…

I’m not going to lie. I like shoes. I like dresses. I like flowers and pretty things. I’m not a woman who doesn’t care what she looks like. I like looking nice (I write this with no makeup, hair all a frizz and sweaty work out clothes on - hahah - that's funny)…looking nice makes me feel like well, ME. But one thing is for SURE…I do NOT like to fork over the insane amounts of cash written on the tags these items have hanging from their seams.

I’m just not a full price kinda girl.

maybe you aren't either?

I’ve been sifting through a good number of blogs for a while in which they feature their thrifty finds and every time I see the pictures of those beautiful items at amazing prices and I think… “way to go you! I wish they were MY finds!”  But these amazing ladies never teach you HOW they found them!

I’ve had a fair number of people ask me where I get an item and when they hear a thrift store or at a great clearance price they usually say: “really”? or “HOW”?

It’s not just luck…I promise.

I truly think it is like your taste buds…stick with me here. The more you work out that muscle, the more keen your tastes become until you are able to pick out certain ingredients from your food in your sleep – I guess that’s if you’re eating in your sleep. Anyway, hunting for good deals is the same. Learn how to work out the muscle –do it – and you will see results.

I’m going to give you my little tips so YOU can feel the rush of finding something beautiful and expensive at a price you will want to shout from the rooftops!

Once a week…for as long as it takes…I will post a tip. If you come to check and you’ve missed it – just click on my ‘thrifty tips’ button and they will all be archived there for your convenience.

to start off – I’m going to give you a little ‘taste’ (I had to) of what’s to come…

look at this beautiful material – nice…right?
It’s my newest love. and the inside is filled with a delightful pattern ready to surprise you…
I paid $3.50 for this cropped wool jacket. In store this jacket costs $50-$60. Pretty great deal right?!?!

my favorite part…it reminds me of this beauty I had my eye on at anthropologie (over $130) and I’m going to do my best to teach you HOW I found it!

so there you have your appetizer…I hope you come back for more – don’t forget this week’s giveaway!
You could be my special winner and receive something handmade, beautiful and FREE! so go enter – it will just take a second.