While I find it difficult to imagine…I know that not everyone likes to shop! Even fewer enjoy thrift shopping. Shopping at a thrift store can be an overwhelming experience. Especially at the larger stores. It’s difficult to know where to start or concentrate your efforts. So, here are my tips for how to reduce overwhelm at the thrift store. 

Go In With A Strategy

One way to reduce overwhelm at the thrift store is to go in with a strategy. Meaning, have an idea of what you are looking for and how much time you’ll give yourself to find it. For example, a few months ago I was looking for a utility jacket for an upcoming vacation. I gave myself about 30 minutes to scour my local Goodwill to find the jacket. Nothing else! In this case, I found the jacket. However, that doesn’t always happen. This brings me to my second tip…

Keep An Open Mind

It’s best to go into the thrift store with low expectations. Some days you’re going to find great stuff. Other times not at all. So it’s important to set those expectations with yourself before you step foot through the door. If I hadn’t found that utility jacket that day, I know there would be new inventory the next day or week. That’s one of the perks of thrift shopping – inventory is constantly being refreshed! While keeping an open mind is great, there are days that you might be short on time and patience. That’s where this next tip can be really helpful.

Focus on the “Go-Backs”

This is a great way to find the good stuff! Usually near the dressing room there will be a “go-back” rack. This is where people will put the stuff they’ve tried on but decided not to purchase. These shoppers have already done the work for you. They’ve scoured the racks for the good stuff and they’ve put it back because it doesn’t fit or they didn’t like the way it looked on them. End caps are another place where people put their rejects. I’ve found great stuff this way! Just be careful to inspect the items carefully for any damage. That could be another reason it was put back. Bottom line – if you’re short on time and patience, the go-back racks are one of the best ways to reduce overwhelm at the thrift store. 

Seek Out the “In-Season” Sections

Some thrift stores will have areas where they feature seasonal items. For example, a couple of my local Goodwill locations will put their seasonal stuff toward the front of the store and organize by clothing time. This summer it includes things like sundresses and bathing suits. If you don’t want to break your arms flipping through the huge dress section, these seasonal sections are the way to go. 

Don’t Try To Look At Everything

I get it, if there is a hidden gem to be found, you want to be the one to find it! But most of the time it’s just not practical to try and look at everything. Concentrate on a few areas that are important to you that day. For example, maybe you make a commitment to look through all the jeans one day. The next time you might look through all the dresses. It’s okay to then do a quick scan of some other areas. In a large thrift store, this will keep you from getting tired and cranky and prevent you from making bad purchase decisions. Of course, if you are at a small thrift store you might be able to look at everything. Just don’t make it your goal if you want to reduce overwhelm at the thrift store. 

Give it a Try!

Now that you have these tips in hand, you’re ready to start building your sustainable, ethical wardrobe. Need more help? Check out the Checklist for Creating a Sustainable Wardrobe on a Budget.

Additional Resources

For more tips on thrift shopping, check out these blog posts and other resources:

• Thrifting for Profit Guide
• 4 Ways to Be a More Conscious Shopper Blog Post
• Secondhand Gift Giving Guide Blog Post
• 6 Ways To Spot Quality Clothes When Thrifting

Tell me about your thrifting experience. Do you have other tips? Drop a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!