I am a huge fan of thrift shops and true bargains of all kinds. To me, there is nothing greater than finding something you love without creating a dent in your wallet. Goodwill is my main source for bargains, deals, and "steals." With this list, I hope that everyone is inspired to take a trip to their local Goodwill.
1. Allow yourself some time —this could be a while.
Not everyone enjoys shopping, but for those of you who do, I think it can be agreed upon that it is most enjoyable when done as a leisure activity. Shopping is much more fun when you can get lost in the adventure and lose track of time without having to stress about it. I enjoy shopping at Goodwill alone because I could spend three hours in there, and I wouldn’t want anyone rushing me. But with the right thrifty buddy, it can also be a blast.
2. Decide on a budget.
The great thing about Goodwill is, you could have a $45 budget or a $5 budget. Either way, you will have endless opportunities.
3. Decide on your purpose.
Maybe your purpose is to go in with no purpose, and that's totally fine. Sometimes, your purpose finds you while shifting through the clothes (wow this sounds deep!). Other times, though, you may be in there for a certain purpose. Maybe you are looking for a prom dress, maybe an ugly sweater. Luckily for you, they have it all!
4. Grab what you think looks cute, hideous, or absolutely hilarious.
Grab it all. Grab the things you think look cute, grab the things that your grandma would think are cute, grab it all! This will definitely make the trying on step more enjoyable.
5. Try it on.
Even if it looks ugly on the hanger, it may look cute on. It also may not. You never know! That tie-dye poncho could look absolutely horrid on (in this case, you get a good laugh) or it could end up being your new favorite item of clothing. Always try it on.
6. Organize.
What I like to do is have a “Definitely yes, couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t buy that” pile, a “hmmm, maybe” pile, and an “Oh my gosh, ew, never” pile. These could also be titled “yes,” “maybe,” and “no.” But that just wouldn’t be as fun, now would it?
7. Reorganize it.
After organizing everything into the three different piles, you may realize your "yes" pile is way too large. Make sure to check through a few times, total up your price to make sure you didn’t go over your budget, and if needed, you can always phone a friend for advice.
8. Venture to the back (where the mugs, books, and cassette tapes are).
This is one of my favorite parts about Goodwill. There always seems to be little hidden treasures in the back, like Leapfrogs, old Disney VCR cassettes, and blow dryers from the 1900's. Maybe you won’t find something to buy, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll definitely experience some hardcore nostalgia.
9. Wear it with pride.
