When I hear "thrift shop" I no longer think of dusty old furniture or severely outdated clothing. Instead, I think about all the great finds I've collected over the years. Between Goodwill, garage sales, and thrift shops I have managed to sift through the piles of unwanted items to come out with items I love. By the end of letting you in on all my steals and secrets of thrifting, you'll be diving straight into heaps of the "unwanted" to find treasures of your own.

Alyssa Gasa

Start with a Goodwill store.

Not all Goodwill's are alike but you can almost always find something that will catching your eye. Above is a picture of my most recent Goodwill haul. It only cost $30 for all of that! What I love about Goodwill is that they have everything organized by sizes, colors, and types of items. Starting here is a good place because this is where you can find the widest assortment of items at the cheapest prices. Search through the belts, bags, and homeware to see if you can find any unique additions to your home. I always rifle through the books and games first to see which ones stand out and which ones I've been hoping to find. You will save so much money looking here first, then by going to a bookstore and buying brand new at retail prices or even sale prices. My favorite game Sequence is $18 in store but I found it brand new for $4.99. Not to mention the books above were only .99 cents!

Next, I'll usually search through the clothing. To save some time, I always stick to looking in the sections of colors that I wear most. These tend to be neutrals, blues, and reds. Colors like these are where there will be better quality pieces, but also where those terribly printed and out of style shirts can be avoided. You might find lots of clothing pieces that should have been left alone in the 80's and 90's but don't let that deter you. I skim the clothing sections quickly just by feeling the fabrics as I flip through. You can tell straight away if the fabric is quality made or just cheap. Following that, I look at the brand. While the brand isn't the most important at all, it can give you a better indication of how well the piece will last and if it's even worth your $4.99. Above are shirts from my latest trip which included Charlotte Russe, American Eagle, and Target. I know I can trust these brands from past purchases so I am more included to buy them. Like any other clothing store, check for stains, rips, and try it on. After all that, I hope you come out with some unique pieces to add to your wardrobe.

Alyssa Gasa

Garage sales should be on your summer "to-do" list.

Alyssa Gasa

Consignment shops are for the real hidden gems.

Reusing does more for the planet than it does for your wallet.