If you are new to the world of thrift shopping, you might be feeling a little lost as to when and where to go. Thrifting can feel overwhelming at first, but with just a few tips and tricks, you can become a thrifting pro. One of the most important things to know about thrifting are what days and times are ideal for thrifting so that you can score the best deals. I did all the work for you and researched and compiled the ultimate guide to the best days and times to go thrifting!
What are the best days and times to go thrifting? As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to go thrifting early in the morning to avoid crowds and find the best merchandise. Also, look for sale days at your local thrift store. Spring and summer tend to be a good time of year to find what you want because there tends to be a larger amount of donations during those seasons.
The Ultimate Guide To The Best Days And Times To Go Thrifting
You can thrift any time that you want and find some treasures, however, with just a little bit of knowledge about sales, when stores restock and what times of the year thrift stores have the best stuff, you will have even more success. All thrift stores are different, but there are some general guidelines to go by that will apply to all thrifting. I have experience thrifting and have done the research so that you will know exactly when stores have the best deals.
Thrifting is definitely hit or miss. There is no guarantee that you will find exactly what you are looking for. This is why it’s important to know when the most ideal times are to go thrifting. Your chances of finding something will improve and you might score a better price too!
The Best Days Of The Week To Go Thrifting
Shop at the beginning of the week.
Many people drop off their donations over the weekend. Thrift stores don’t immediately put out donations, so it’s best to wait until the beginning of the week when the store has put out the new stuff. According to this article on goodwillaz, employees are usually stocking earlier in the week. This concept probably applies to all thrift stores, not just Goodwill.
Monday is usually when the sale changes. Many thrift stores such as Goodwill and Savers have a specific color of tag that is on sale for the week. Usually the tag color changes on Sunday or Monday. So, if you shop earlier in the week, you will have better luck at finding those sale tags!
Saturdays tend to be busier. It makes sense that thrift stores will be more full of shoppers during the weekend. If you have margin to thrift during the weekdays, you won’t be fighting as many crowds.
The Best Time Of The Day To Go Thrifting
Shop in the morning if you can.
In my experience, I have found that shopping in the morning is ideal. In fact, I have a local thrift store that has amazing furniture deals and things can go pretty fast there. When I’m looking for a specific furniture piece, I get to the store early and wait at the door until they unlock it so that I can be one of the first people in the store.
It might not always be possible with your schedule, but getting to the thrift store first thing, right when they open is usually the best time to score any deals, especially if they restocked the night before.
The Best Seasons Of The Year To Go Thrifting
Shop Around National Holidays
In my personal experience, the best times during the year to go thrifting are on or around national holidays. Most of the national chains as well as some local thrift stores run 50% off sales around these holidays. Don’t just assume that the sale is happening ON the holiday, it may be the day before or after. You will need to check your thrift stores app or website first to determine when the sales are running.
If you have decided to shop on a 50% off sale day, you will want to go first thing in the morning. Like we discussed earlier, getting to the thrift store first thing in the morning is the best time. Sale days can be very busy, with lines stretching around the store. So, get to the store right when it opens. I will get there a few minutes early and literally wait at the door for them to unlock it. This will help you fight against long lines as well as give you access to the merchandise right away. If you go late in the day on a sale day, it will be pretty picked over.
Shop At The Beginning Of The Year
People tend to organize and purge at the beginning of the year, making it a great time for thrift stores. More donations are being dropped off, so the stores are more fully stocked. Also, people are getting those last donations in at the end of December for their tax write-offs (as suggested by this article by Looking Fly On A Dime) so try thrifting in January.
Shop In The Spring And Summer Months
In my area, garage sales run in the late spring and early summer. This makes it a great time to go thrifting. Many neighborhood garage sales take all of the leftovers to the local thrift store, making the stores fully stocked with some great finds!
The Best Times to Find Furniture At The Thrift Store
Spring and summer are good times to find furniture at the thrift store. Like I said earlier, garage sale leftovers will hit thrift stores in the spring and summer months. Another thing to consider is that a lot of people move in the summer, meaning that leftover and unwanted furniture will be donate during those months (as suggested by this article from The Spruce).
Shop sale days. Some of the thrift stores in my area put their furniture on sale on certain days of the week. Call ahead to find out if your local thrift store does this, and which day it happens. Then, make sure to get there early on that day to find the best items.
The Best Times To Find Clothing At The Thrift Store
Shop offseason when looking for clothing. You can find some of the best clothing items if you can shop offseason. The only problem with this is that some thrift stores don’t put offseason clothing out. However, if they do, shop the opposite season since it will be less picked over.
Tips For Shopping Anytime
The good news is that you can thrift anytime of the year, any day of the week and any time during the day and still find some great stuff. No matter what your schedule is, try out thrifting! No matter when you are thrifting, there are just a few things to remember to help to be successful.
Check to see if your thrift store offers a discount for donations. Many thrift stores will give you a coupon for a certain percentage off if you drop off a donation. So, if you are planning to go thrifting, grab a bag of donations to bring with you for a discount.
Download the app for your thrift store. If your store has an app, make sure to download it so that you will be notified of sales. My local thrift store will send a text anytime they have a sale, so I’m always aware of what items are on sale during the week.
For more thrifting tips, check out these articles:
Tips For Thrifting During COVID
How To Tell If Glassware From The Thrift Store Is Valuable
How To Clean Furniture From The Thrift Store
