Thrifting 2.0: Uncommon Tips for Shopping on a Budget

Savvy Event Planners, DIY Home Decorators, and Thrifting Enthusiasts - This one’s for you!

Okay, there’s no secret here - I absolutely love thrifting!

And my wild guess? You do, too!

If you love DIY party planning, home styling, and event decor as much as we do, you know that thrifting is a total game-changer — if you know how to do it right.

At Uncommon, we spend a ton of time shopping for a wide variety of clients, events, projects, and productions.

I gotta tell ya: I’ve made every thrifting mistake in the book!

The good news?! You don’t have to fall into the same thrifting traps I have! Because today, you’re getting our ultimate guide to shopping on a budget. Think of it like a deep-dive into our very best thrifting tips and tricks - that will help you confidently deep-dive into those thrift store bargain bins!

What to Bring to a Thrift Store (Besides Your A-Game)

Common Thrifting Mistakes - And How You’ll Avoid Them

Step one: Bring the right items to make your shopping experience as comfy as can be!

Purse Choice: As a thrifter, you’ll need a crossbody bag that sits over your shoulder. After all, you need to be hands-free so you can dig into the goodies and lift your favorite finds off the shelf.

Show me the money! Pro tip: Never assume the thrift store takes credit cards. Come prepared with cash, just in case that's all the store, garage sale, or estate sale is able to take.

Clothing Choices - AKA Your Thrifting Uniform

Pant Choice: Simple, casual jeans are a great choice, but make sure you wear a belt! Some of the best deals I find are overlooked items on the bottom shelf. That means you might be doing a good amount of bending down to get a good look at the items you want.

Coats: Ditch ‘em! Seriously, I leave mine in the car. The last thing you want is to tote around a bulky Minnesota parka while juggling a stack of candlesticks and vintage plates. Park your car as close as you can, and hustle your bum into the store! 

Bonus: If you’re thrifting for clothes while you’re out and about, make sure to come with ...

• Shirt Choice: I always wear 3 layers on top - a cami, a t-shirt, and a button-up. These three layers will cover any type of clothing you want to try on. 

  • Have ya ever tried on a white sheer blouse only to realize you have a black bra on - and then your sister calls you out of the fitting room to see you try it on?! Yowza! That’s why camis are your thrifting best friend. 

  • Wear a fitted t-shirt for trying on a flannel, plaid, button-up, or cardigan. That way, you can know if it feels just right in the shoulders and arms.

  • Lastly, I throw on a button-up for when I find a jacket or coat and need to know how it fits over a couple layers.

• Shoes! Wear shoes that are slip-on and lace-free. We’re talkin’ easy on, easy off!

• Socks! If you’re shopping for shoes, make sure to have socks with you. Either wear a pair of socks or bring a pair with you.

Get the Best Thrifting Deals

Where and When to Shop Smart

Now that you are well-dressed and equipped to thrift, let’s talk about what to look for and when. To start:

… What do two Fendi purses, a silver Lexus, army pants, and flip flops have in common?

… They were NOT on my shopping list. At least not today :)

We thrift for all kinds of things, but let’s make sure you’re strategic about what you’re shopping for and when. For instance, here are some of the tag sales, holiday sales, & specials you can find at the time of this writing:

Goodwill

• Tuesdays Tag Sales - 50% off 1 Colored Tag (Differs from the photo)

• Seniors, First Responders, Healthcare Workers, & Military Wednesdays - 25% off Purchase

• They host various VIP savings days, so check out what's going on near you!

• Scope out the Goodwill Easter Sales Calendar! But please note that deals may be different in your area.

Salvation Army

• Tuesdays - Kids Clothing 50% off, Toys 25% off

• Wednesdays - Seniors Receive 50% Clothing

• Thursdays - Military Veterans & Students Receive 50% off Everything

• 1 Colored Tags on Sale Each Day

• Public Service worker receives 50% off transaction

• *Keep in mind that deals will vary by location!

Arcs Value Village

• Colored Tag 50% Sale Everyday

• You can check out their monthly sale calendar!

Extra Special Deals? We got ‘em!

• Goodwill’s VIP Sale program is SO cool. All you have to do is text to enroll! They will let you know about upcoming sales that are special for their VIP members.

• MOBILE SALE ALERTS TO SIGN UP: Using your mobile phone, text JOINGOODWILLMN to the number 757575. They'll text you a code to take 25% off your next purchase. After that, you'll be the first to learn about upcoming VIP sales so you can save big. You will receive 2 to 4 text messages per month. Message and data rates may apply. Opt out at any time by texting STOP to 757575.

• Goodwill also offers "Early Access" deals that vary each month! You can find the special deal on their website at the bottom of this page.

Plus, you can get in on Arcs Value Village’s rewards program! Y’all, this is fantastic! This program gives you points for the money you spend - and points for donating to Arcs. Plus, you get a chance to shop their holiday sales a day early!

The Best-Kept Secrets to Thrift Shopping Success

Know Your Local Deals and Steals

Not everything you find is truly a deal - but if you know what to look for, you can score gold. So how do you get the biggest bang for your buck at thrift stores?

1. Look for discount tag signs! Most thrift stores have certain colored tags on sale that week or that month. This is how you’ll find the very best bargains!

2. Look for sale calendars! Some thrift stores post their calendars on the doors, whiles others have them at checkouts. You may even find them on their websites and social media. These calendars spell out what items will be on sale, and they’re great tools to help plan your thrifting days!

Our thrift stores are full of amazing deals! But without a doubt, our favorite items to thrift here in Minnesota are Target products - it’s one of the many perks of having Target’s headquarters here! But a friendly head’s up: Goodwill’s black, red, and purple tags are NOT included in sales. And you guessed it! The majority of Target products are marked with those colored tags.

On the flip side, Salvation Army DOES include their Target products in on their tag sales, which means you can score some serious Target goodies at crazy good prices!

One more thing to note: Here in Minnesota, there is a Salvation Army in the North Loop with a section FULL of all things Target. (It used to be in the basement, so we still call it "Target Basement"!) Want a smokin’ deal on your favorite Target brands?! Head on over - there are SO many goodies to find!

Psst … When you get home and you’re ready to pull it all together, check out 11 Ways to Decorate Your Home With Thrift Store Finds, According to Designers from the queen, Martha Stewart.

5 Final Tips + Our Favorite Thrift Shop Finds

Uncommon Secrets to Shopping on a Budget

Our parting tips for the best thrifting adventure ever?!

1. Keep an eye out for party-planning decor like vintage glassware, candlesticks, cake plates, linens, and fun photo booth props. Curated gems like these will take your event to the next level!

2. Always, always, always look over each item you are purchasing! Look for holes, scuffs, dents, and tears. 

3. Real talk: We rarely have buyer’s remorse on anything we buy at the thrift store, but we instead regret NOT buying an item we like. Remember that many items you will find are one of a kind, so don’t miss your chance to buy that item when you see it!

4. Thrifting for event decor?! Download a free guide to Uncommon Tablescaping on our homepage. We’ll walk you through all the major considerations you need to tablescape like a pro!

5. Thrifting for furniture? Make sure to always have the right size vehicle, necessary tie-downs, straps, and moving blankets. We’ve have had too many furniture items become impossible Tetris pieces in our vehicles because we didn’t plan accordingly.

When are our best thrifting days at Uncommon?! It’s when we don’t go in looking for anything in particular. Instead, we keep our eyes open for anything and everything! This method is how we’ve built our inventory of event decor! 

The good news?! YOU can get in on those finds, too! We’ve held onto some of the items we love the most, and now you can rent them for yourself! No need to stress about venturing out and wondering if you’ll find something you love for a deal. If you’re in a pinch, just browse our 17 categories of rental items and reserve the perfect item you need!

Or, if you just need some budget-friendly party staples you can order in a flash, check out the Uncommon Shop for essentials like:

• Tablecloths

• Place Cards

• Cake Plates

• Candlesticks

Then, learn to confidently mix and match your vintage thrift store finds with the modern essentials you need to pull it all together!

Your Uncommon Encouragement: Thrifting Edition

Remember: Thrifting takes time, patience, and a little faith. Make sure to show yourself some grace and have fun with the process!

When you find your next thrift store deal, tag us on Instagram! @uncommoncs We can’t wait to see what you find!

And then YOU tell US! Where are your favorite places to thrift, and what are some of your favorite finds?!

Happy Thrifting!

The Uncommon Team