Tonight, I was reading all the crock pot recipes online and decided to finally get a crock pot. I went to the Goodwill 5 blocks from where I'm staying and made a beeline for the crock pots. I quickly picked one out, tested it, paid $9 and was out of the store within 10 minutes. If I had gone there without a specific mission, I could have easily filled my cart with junk and spent the entire $60 I had in my wallet at the time. Do you know what you're looking for when you go thrift shopping ,or do you just buy things on impulse?
If I need something specifically I'd go in with a plan and try to get out before I spend any more but on days where I feel like just browsing and buying whatever I find I don't go in with a plan because I think there's a lot of fun to be had in discovering new items at a thrift store and getting a lot of those unique finds for a low price.
I usually have a plan and if I can't find it then I will browse and rarely buy anything unless it's a bargain book. There is the odd occasion where I have found something that I have always wanted like an old battered leather tan case and I bought it and lugged it around with me all day.
I pass by a couple of thrift stores, but I haven't really checked them out yet since I'm inside a vehicle. So far, I have only tried to buy thrift items from Ebay and other sites, so I just browse and buy what I want when I see one. If I buy in person, I think I will go in and only buy what I can afford.
Actually, every time I do some shopping, I always plan it ahead of time since I don't want to spend too much money on things that won't be that useful to me. I always stick to my shopping list.
I might be a bit weird; I’m less likely to buy anything at all if I have no plan, no matter what kind of store we’re talking about. I seem to need at least some sort of guideline on what I’m looking for. I guess I’m the opposite of an impulse shopper. I’m actually thinking of checking out thrift shops for some items I need soon, so I’m definitely going in with a list.
I have to go with a plan, or I find that I buy far too many things that I just don't need. I have a feeling that a lot of people will be like me in that respect, and probably waste a great deal of money, which of course defeats the object of trying to be thrifty in the first place. I always make sure that I know what I am going for, and the budget that I have set for myself, and I will work that way. Going in with no plan of action has never been something that has ended particularly well for me, really!
I go with a specific amount of money available and a list. If I find items that I need more than other things on the list, then I will buy those instead, but the amount of money doesn't change. I keep a certain amount in PayPal, and that is what I use to pay for the items, via my PayPal Debit card.
I think that the trick with thrift store shopping is patience. I keep a list of things I need on my phone and check it before each visit. I decide my maximum price ahead of time and never go over it. There is a large Goodwill near me and I got all of my furniture basics (bed, sofa, dining table, three chairs and coffee table) for less than $100 total by following this approach. Partly by waiting for the Sunday/Monday half price deal for old stock. I am very handy at fixing things so for furniture with faults I waited for the sale knowing it was unlikely anyone would buy it before then. And I actually paid less for that overall as I scan for under-priced designer goods and resell them on Etsy. If you count that I got my furniture almost for free!
I like going in with a general idea of what I'm looking for. Sometimes I might pick up one or two things extra, but I'd never spend more than 3-5 euro extra. Bit of an impulse, but it's under some control at least!
