Most people I meet are either super into thrift store shopping or firmly against it. I grew up being taken to thrift stores by my mom so I wasn’t too thrilled with them when I was younger. However, once I realized that I could find some amazing items secondhand, I started to like them more. Especially as I began to see the impact of consumerism on the planet (and my budget) I became an even bigger fan.
Now, with years of experience under my belt, I know exactly what secondhand items to look for!
Glassware
I have never bought new wine glasses. Why? I have always been able to find full (or close to full) sets at the thrift store. Plus, it seems like someone always breaks one at every party so why pay a ton? There is plenty of glassware in good shape that I can repurpose! I also buy a ton of mason jars and glass storage containers because they are so inexpensive and usually in great condition!
Books
Books are actually one of the easiest things to buy secondhand. For one thing – you don’t have to try them on! As an avid book reader, I have gone back and forth over whether using a tablet or paper copies is better for the environment but ultimately found that secondhand was the way to go!
You can buy secondhand books on Amazon and Barnes & Noble (there is a button right on each book’s page to see the used buying options). There are also retailers like Half-Price Books who sell used books at a discount. And an online retailer I recently found called BetterWorldBooks which not only sells discounted used books but they also donate books and help fund literacy and library programs!
Plates & Mugs
Many of my mugs are mismatched but some of my favorites have been from the thrift store. Thrift store mugs are also great because you can fill them with homemade biscotti and hot cocoa mix and give them as gifts! Plates (especially serving dishes) are another good option as well because there is such a variety. I have even made a homemade DIY cupcake stand out of thrift store plates!
Thrift store mugs and plates make a perfect DIY 3-tiered cupcake stand!
Jeans
I’m not sure if you’ve gone shopping for new clothes lately but I was so frustrated to find out many jeans on the market are made of polyester now! One pair that I looked at was only 68% cotton! If you are trying to avoid synthetic fibers because of ocean pollution, (or just don’t want to wear plastic) this really creates a problem! Traditionally jeans are made of 100% cotton and most jeans that you find at the thrift store are still made with cotton so I shop there for all of my jeans! It’s also great because I can find high end ($100+) jeans for less than $20. Win-win!
Baskets
Baskets are amazingly useful. I use them for organization and storage, for harvesting veggies from the garden, making gift baskets for friends, and even for carrying muffins to work! So many baskets are other home stores are super expensive but buy it secondhand and they are rarely over $5.
Cast Iron
Cast iron has been around literally for hundreds of years. They are excellent for cooking over everything from an open fire to an electric cooktop and they don’t have horrible chemicals in them like non-stick cookware. Though they are getting a lot more popular, you can still find cast iron in a lot of stores. Look for brands like Lodge, Wagner, and Griswold. My parents have several Wagner cast iron pans that have been around since before they were born and will last generations!
Plant Pots
These are another ridiculously expensive item! Non-plastic plant pots usually are over $10 each (even for small ones). Unfortunately, this makes my plant hoarding habit way more expensive! I always look for plant pots secondhand because they are much more affordable. I even was able to find over a dozen terra cotta pots on craigslist for about $20 one time! Just check and make sure the pot has drainage holes.
Vases
I’m not even sure what store I would go to to buy vases because I have only ever shopped for them at thrift stores! Vases typically run about $2 at most secondhand stores so it’s definitely a great deal. I find it so valuable to keep a stash of vases on hand in case someone gives you flowers or if you want to bring a flower arrangement as a hostess gift. You don’t need the vase back because you have a collection of them at home.
Where to Find the BEST Deals (on anything secondhand)
Estate sales, Garage sales, & Yard sales
These are typically pretty informal and the household holding the sale just wants to get rid of their extra stuff all at once and make some money doing it! They are more hit and miss but you can find some great deals, especially on “old” (and likely high quality) items. Feel free to barter!
Thrift stores (Goodwill, Value Village, Salvation Army)
Thrift shops can be found anywhere (even in the tiniest towns)! Many thrift shops are non-profits or have training or education programs that they support so your purchase (or item donation) goes to a decent cause. There are often a ton of items all in the same place so it’s the perfect place to get kitchen items, clothes, and books all in the same spot!
Some shops have deals on different days (like Senior discounts every Monday, blue tags are 50% off on Wednesdays, etc.) so they are a great way to save even more!
Online (Craigslist, Offerup)
Online selling is basically limitless and while there are a lot of sites that either resell used goods (like eBay) I have had more success with location-specific online selling. One of the risks that I have found with online reselling is that there’s not really a guarantee of the product and you can’t check it out before you buy. I like using Craigslist or Offerup for many secondhand items from sports equipment to tables and chairs.
Consignment Stores
Most consignment stores are either for clothing or antiques but they are a great place to find high-quality items. The prices are going to be more expensive but I have found some of my favorite clothes at consignment stores. Most of the time clothes are still under $20 or under $40 for higher-end clothing so it’s still a great deal! Over 80% of my clothes are secondhand and many have come from thrift stores and consignment stores.
Friends & Family
To be honest, most of our first apartment was furnished with secondhand items from friends and family! I think the only thing we bought new was a side table and a set of silverware from Ikea. Everything else was secondhand. We were, of course, thrilled to take it and our family and friends were happy to give some things away that had been taking up space in their garage.
I also know of people who hold clothing swaps with friends and love it. I think we’ve all had those moments when we look at what a friend is wearing and think how cute it is! A clothing swap is a perfect way to refresh your closet with cute used items that will save you a ton of money.
Of course, the bigger picture here is that the purpose of buying secondhand is not only to save money and get high-quality items. It’s also a way to reduce the huge impact our consumption has on the world. Every time we buy (or throw away) something new, we are throwing away the resources that went into creating the item, getting it to the store, and into your home. And, that item will still require resources as it is shipped away to the nearest landfill. Just being a little bit more intentional with the items that pass through your life (and slowing down the store to landfill cycle) can make a huge difference.
Do you shop secondhand? If so, what has been your most amazing find? If not, what still stops you from buying secondhand? Comment below!
Kate Spade purse in great condition. Lasted me years and got a ton of compliments. I didn’t know what I had until a couple of people commented on it and asked me were I got it. I just thought it was functional and colorful.
Wow – what an amazing find! I love the leather purse I got from the thrift store – I hope it lasts me as long as yours did!
I know someone who found a two litre mason jar at a thrift store. It’s really amazing. I’ve never seen one anywhere else and I am dying to get my hands on another one.
I disagree about jeans. Where I live, nobody donates jeans until there is something wrong with the zipper.