You’re going to eventually determine which thrift stores are “good” for you. But if you haven’t ever been to them before, you might be wondering just where they are. Here are a few of the larger organizations that have multiple thrift shops across the nation.

The Salvation Army
Goodwill
Savers
Assistance League
St. Vincent De Paul Thrifts
America’s Thrift Stores
Deseret Industries

There is a pretty good chance at least one of these chain thrift stores is near you. However, some of the best deals can be had at the smaller thrift stores - this is especially true in more rural areas. So don’t overlook those. There are also nationwide listings of thrift stores at this website. However, I’ve found that thrift stores change frequently, often closing or moving. So you’ll want to check if they still exist first by calling if they have a number listed.

Also, I absolutely DO NOT trust ANY online review of any thrift shop. I need to see it for myself because inevitably, the reviewer is not looking for the type of items I’m looking for. Don’t let a bad thrift shop review turn you off from checking it out for yourself.

Once you identify several thrift store candidates, go ahead and visit them a few times when you have a chance. Try and see if their merchandise matches up with the kind of thing you’re looking for. Note the store hours, what kind of parking they have, the type of clientele, and most importantly their proximity to one another. Write all that down on a sheet of paper or notebook. Or better yet, you can use Google Maps to record that information on an interactive map. I’ve been keeping one for thrifts in Southern California for a few years - it has all of that detailed information on over 75 different thrift stores.

The reason it’s a good idea to figure out which ones are close together is that you can try and set up a regular “route” to maximize the number of thrift stores you hit, while saving the most gas and time. Also, you can “schedule” in visits to garage and estate sales based on their proximity to thrifts if you go on the weekends.

The quick and dirty answer to this is pretty simple: ALWAYS. What I mean is, if you are halfway serious about finding good stuff at the thrifts, you need to go VERY frequently. I realize that this is a problem for most folks who work a 9 to 5 job - well, too bad. =) You can work in a visit on your way home.

I know a lot of people who say, “I never find anything good when I go.” This is because their idea of visiting the thrift is on at noon on a Saturday once every 2 months. That just doesn’t cut the mustard for thrifting. I’m not saying you have to be waiting in line for the doors to open at 9am every day (although, there are TONS of people who do that). What I mean is that there are going to be some days where you don’t find anything at all - and you need to accept that.

I usually two circuits a week, one shorter route that coincides with weekly errands and a longer route that takes in 5-6 stores on Fridays when I don’t work. Of course, if you’re not working, feel free to go EVERY DAY.

OK, so you know you need to go frequently. So what time is best to go? I think it varies for every thrift store and what part of the country you’re in. Some people swear by waiting outside the door in the morning, while others try and time visits to coincide with new items being put out. For me - this is the equivalent of trying to time the stock market. I would much rather go more frequently as my schedule permits, than trying to time the visits. However, I will say that the weekends can often be a bust - and that’s because this is when most people have time to visit. I hate fighting the crowds, so I try not to visit during the rush.

If the thrift store is in a “sketchy” neighborhood, you might want to avoid going at night. However, I’ve had some of the best luck at certain thrifts right before they close. This is because they occasionally will put out new items for the next day right before closing.

Some thrift stores use a color-coded tag discount system - that is, depending on how old an item is they will discount it 30%, 50% or even 75% off. They change the color of the tag that is discounted every week. This is the one occasion that I DO try and time my visits. If I see a piece of furniture I with, say, a purple tag, I’ll note it’s color and then wait until they change the discount to that color. You can sometimes find out what color is going to come up next just by calling the thrift and asking. They usually also have a set day where the color tag is set to change - try calling in to ask what the current color is. It will save you a trip if it’s not the color you’re interested in.

Um, also - I try to avoid “Senior” discount days at the thrift. Nothing against seniors, and if you are one you should take advantage of the discount. But, it just tends to be more crowded on those days.

Over the last few years, I’ve come to realize that there are certain things I bring along on thrifting trips that save time and effort. I know this is very dependent on the individual, but if you’re just starting out you might want to take note:

Small bills and pocket change: Not only will you usually be able to pay faster, but the clerks will ABSOLUTELY love you for giving them exact change in cash. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen a thrift store customer give a clerk a hundred dollar bill. I’m sorry, but, ARE YOU AN IDIOT!!!? Thrift stores in general have very little change, and it’s constantly being consumed by stupid customers who give large bills. Trust me, it will endear you to the clerk working there - they might even become more friendly (see below on “How To Act“). In some cases, I’ve seen customers not being able to pay because the register had no money for change. Some thrifts will take credit cards, but keep in mind that this may also take longer at the register.

Mobile phone with camera: This is an absolute must - well, having the camera is very helpful, but not required. I didn’t have one of those until recently. Anyhow, it can be helpful to have your phone ready in case you need to ask someone (or more likely, a significant other) if 50 dollars is too much to pay for that garish 1970s TV lamp. You can use a “Lifeline” like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and ask them to quickly look up an item on Ebay. Don’t do that too frequently, though, or they’ll get annoyed. =) A camera is nice to take a few quick snaps of an item you might want later or aren’t sure of just yet. Remember to also take a picture of the tag color and price if the thrift has discounts. If you have a really fancy shmancy phone, you can even record information about the items you’re looking for.

Hand Sanitizer: I would seriously consider leaving a bottle of this stuff in the car. I’m not a germ-o-phobe. And while it’s impossible not to come into contact with germs when shopping, at your average thrift HUNDREDS of people may have picked up that same deer figurine that you just grabbed. The chance that one of them had a case of the sniffles is enormous. I’m not even going to talk about thrift store bathrooms. If you have a purse (I’m shoot outta luck there…) you can keep the hand sanitizer in there for easy access. Otherwise, just leave it in the car and use it after leaving every thrift.

Maps or GPS thingies: This is mostly relevant when you’re visiting new thrift stores - after awhile, you get into a routine where you know where your thrift stores are by heart. But it’s always good to have some sort of map just in case. Better yet, print out the directions and/or the interactive thrift map that you’ve been working on and bring that along. If your car has GPS functions, that’s fine too. Dang, but whenever I use them, they always seem to point me down streets that do not exist…

Helpful lists and literature: If you’re like me, there’s a gazbillion things you’re going to be looking for. Treat a thrift excursion like a grocery shopping trip - write down a list of things you’re looking for (or better yet, use that fancy shmancy iPhone). If you’re a collector, a checklist of which items you already have can be useful. You might want to also toss a few of your identification books in the back of the car.

Layered Clothing: Thrift stores are notorious for having shaky air conditioning and heating systems - hey, they wouldn’t be thrifty if not, right? Because of that, I would consider dressing in comfortable clothes. Bring a jacket instead of a sweater. Looser jeans are good - I wouldn’t wear shorts unless it’s really, really hot. Comfortable shoes are a must, and wear socks for trying on shoes. If you don’t have a purse (guilty) then make sure your clothes have pockets for spare change, etc. For the ladies: You’ll want to wear a tanktop if you intend on trying on tops. And don’t be an idiot and wear a ball gown and high heels to the thrift - not only is there a good chance you’ll be cold, but you’re going to look farking STUPID. And yes, I see people like that ALL THE TIME.

Snacks and water: My regular thrift store route usually takes between 3-4 hours. It usually runs into lunchtime - but being the Cheaplander that I am, I just hate to stop and waste time buying a burger. Because of that, I usually try and take some sort of crackers, bread, or cookies so that I don’t pass out from hunger. I also make sure to bring water to re-hydrate (yes, yes, thrifting is heavy exercise, haha!) and/or coffee to stay alert. If you’re hard-core, you might want to bring a pick-a-nick basket like Yogi Bear - preferably a small cooler with reusable ice packs inside to keep your food and drinks cool.

Jeweler’s Loupe: I don’t have one of these, but I know some people swear by them. You probably don’t need one if you’re just looking for clothes, but for collectibles it can be helpful when trying to determine condition or reading a maker’s mark. I guess if your eyesight is not very good, this might be helpful too. A simple magnifying glass will work just as well too.

A larger car (or not): If it’s furniture you’re looking for, you probably want to drive a car to the thrifts that is bigger than a 3 door Geo Metro. I have a bigger SUV, which is rather nice if I come across furniture. However, the savings in gas with a smaller car nearly wipe out the convenience of a larger car when thrifting. I think it’s going to be a personal choice which car you take.

Your own donations: I guess most people wouldn’t think of this, but where do you think the thrift store gets all their stuff to sell? From YOU. If you’re able to, then give back. You can write it off - ask your tax guy about it. For the charitable organizations, I usually try to bring along stuff that I don’t want - that way you can donate at the same time that you visit the thrift store to look for things. It’ll save you an extra trip. One funny thing that happens to me often: I sometimes find the same items I just donated on the shelf in the store - within a week!

This is one of those “intangibles” of successful thrift shopping - feel free to skip this section, though I feel it’s the most important. It comes down to this: Courtesy. I think this applies to more than just thrifting - it’s severely lacking in today’s society. But I’ll hop back down off the soap box in order to get to the salient points regarding thrifting.

I’ve seen people bicker over an item at a thrift, physically push each other out of the way to get to the “new” items, or surreptitiously STEAL items out of other people’s cart. If this was you, shame on you. It doesn’t matter if you’re a power Ebay seller, an antique store owner or just a casual thrifter. Being courteous to other people will get you much farther than the profits from the collector item you’ve grabbed from someone else.

Also, try and be nice to the workers there. Think about it: if I’m a clerk and you’re an arsehole, I’m just going to have a bad impression of you. If you’re pleasant, give exact change, and are very patient in line - I might strike up a conversation with you, become an acquaintance and eventually keep an eye out for things you like. I’ve had clerks give me discounts or free things, just because I was nice to them.

If you have 20 items in your cart, and the person behind you has just one, for the love of Cheaplander just let them go first! I can’t believe how many impatient and rude people (I hate to say it, but, often senior citizens) think that they’re the only one in the entire store.

When parking for the thrifts, try not to block any driveways or box anyone in - especially in residential neighborhoods. How would you like it if I blocked your car in at your house? If you need to - park several blocks away and walk. You could use the exercise, right?

If you pick up an item to look at it, try and be gentle when putting it down, especially if it’s breakable. I’ve seen Ebay sellers just grab 10 plates and flip through them, throwing them back onto the shelf afterwards and cracking them. Idiots.

If you’re using a shopping cart or pushing a stroller, please don’t block the fricking aisle. God, I particularly hate people who block the entire aisle for 15 minutes or more. Pick up your item, look at it, and then move out of the way. If you need to examine a piece thoroughly, put it in your basket and do it later.

Never make assumptions about people at the thrift. Once, when we were moving a table we had bought out the back of a Salvation Army, I accidentally bumped into someone standing and looking at books. Even though I apologized, he immediately became sarcastic, saying “Okay, have a nice day now! Keep up the smiles! Hope you have a nice life!” I think he thought we were stupid and/or didn’t speak any English. The guy looked sort of like a hipster who was perhaps knowledgeable about the kind of furniture we’re interested in. If he hadn’t been such an arsehole farkwit, maybe we would’ve struck up a nice conversation or became friends. Instead, he just succeeded in spreading a little more hate.

In conclusion, thrift store shopping is supposed to be FUN - not a job. Let’s keep it that way…