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Mmmm. There’s nothing quite like the musty, slightly off aroma of the Thrift Store. That’s the scent of savings, friends.

While many people shy away from the Thrift Store, I embrace its sticky hand-me-downs with open arms.

The thrift store is a great place to shop for items at a steep discount. But did you know that you can save even more money at the thrift store with a few smart shopping strategies?

Here are a few of my favorites! Let me know how you save at the thrift store in the comments.

Bulk buying

This isn’t available everywhere, but it’s an option worth mentioning. I’ve read over at The Nonconsumer Advocate that Goodwill has some bulk buying locations.

Instead of paying a set price per item, you pay by the pound. This is a great way to snag lots of items on the cheap. I don’t think I’d get much out of it, but it could be a nice way to furnish a bare bones apartment, for example.

Check for coupons

I’ve always loved going to the thrift store. In high school my thrifty friend Katy and I loved to stroll through Goodwill to find good buys. I was shocked one day when she whipped out a 20% off coupon!

I had zero idea that coupons were “allowed” at the thrift store, to be honest. But if you check in local newspapers or subscribe to the store’s email list, you’ll get an occasional coupon.

Who knew??

Sales

Thrift stores get overloaded with a lot of crap. When this happens, be on the lookout for blowout sales. Lots of thrift stores have daily sales depending on tag colors. For example, my local thrift store slashes the price of blue-tagged items by 50% on Wednesdays.

But you gotta read the fine print! I realized at the register that the 50% discount was only for blue-tagged clothing. Out of sheer laziness I still bought my non-clothing items and chalked it up to experience.

Rewards programs

Not all thrift stores offer this, but my local thrift store has a reward points system. You can use either a physical card, app, or phone number to track your points. I found this only works if you regularly shop at the thrift store. If it’s a once a year deal, you might be better off without the hassle.

One time I earned 20X the points when I shopped during a sale. The cashier checked my balance and said, “Oh, you’ve earned $5. Did you want to use it?”

I couldn’t say “HELL YES” fast enough. Now I make sure to time my thrift store visits when they offer multiplied rewards points. Score!

Enroll in email lists

Staying informed is one of the best ways to save money. I sign up for email newsletters from all my local thrift stores to know when they’re having blowout sales or rewards bonuses.

Know a fair price

I equate “thrift store” with “savings” in my little lizard brain. Sadly, this isn’t always the case. I’ve been shocked at some of the prices in thrift stores. Once I found a Goodwill charging full price for a used humidifier.

Whaaaat?

I like to keep a running list of items to find at the thrift store. When I add them to my list, I add a ballpark estimate of what I should spend on the used item. Don’t get hoodwinked by thrift stores looking to make a buck!

Make sure it works!

I feel ashamed that I have to add this one, but it’s a real problem. Once upon a few months ago, I desperately wanted an ice cream machine. After perusing the thrift store for months, I saw two for sale. I opted for the cooler-looking one that looked new.

The problem? I had no idea how ice cream machines worked. Even if I did, my thrift store didn’t have outlets available to test the machine.

‘Lo and behold, I get home and the machine doesn’t work. It was missing the churn basket. Y’know, the part that you NEED to make ice cream. I had to contact the manufacturer and go through a huge ordeal. At the end of it, I never got a replacement basket and had to chunk/recycle the machine (sorry Earth).

I do think you can get a great deal on electronics at the thrift store. But be careful! Test everything and make sure there are no missing parts.

Location, location, location

A thrift store’s location matters big time, both for selection and pricing. On one hand, you’ll have a better selection and quality if you shop at a thrift store in a nice neighborhood. On the other hand, you’ll probably pay higher prices at nicer stores.

I prefer to shop at stores in lower-income areas, because these are where the best deals are. Sure, I had to sort through 20 fugly 80s prom dresses to find a Calvin Klein work dress, but it was worth the savings.

Choose the location of your thrift store carefully.

Donate

This is a good option if you need to declutter while picking up a few new items. Some thrift stores will give you a store credit for donating. This is a more popular option at secondhand fashion stores like Clothes Mentor, Plato’s Closet, or ThredUp. I’ve heard of some Goodwill locations giving store credit or coupons for donating.

I’m a fan of anything that kills two birds with one stone!

Time your shop

The deal with thrift stores is that everything is donated. They don’t have a regular supply of certain items. That means some days are leaner than others.

I tend to shop on Saturdays because it’s convenient, but it’s not the best day to score deals. When you shop on high traffic days, you’re picking through everyone’s leftovers. Also, it’s harder to spend time digging for the good stuff when there’s a crowd.

If you like to have your pick of the store, ask the cashier what day of the week(s) they stock.

Discount gift cards

I’ve recently gotten into the discount gift card game. It’s a whole new world to me, but it’s a great way to plan ahead and save a little extra cheddar. Sites like Raise.com sell discounted Goodwill gift cards, usually at a 2 – 6% discount. For example, if you bought a $100 Goodwill gift card, it would cost $94 – $98.

Are you going to get rich doing this? Nah. But if you shop regularly at Goodwill, it could be a good option to consider.

I like buying these discounted gift cards with my 2.5% cashback rewards credit card to save even more.

Shop off-season

Thrift stores receive so many donations that they need to move inventory quickly. Just like regular retail, you can score deep discounts when you plan ahead and shop off-season.

For example, I like to buy my winter clothing items around this time of year. The thrift store is desperate to get rid of their fluffy winter sweaters, and I’m pleased as pie to buy them at 80% off.

Items are usually cheaper when demand is low and thrift stores need to make room.

Go often

This is a controversial strategy. Many thrifters recommend that you shop at least once a week. This works if you have a lot of self-control and you’re looking for a particular item. Some people argue it’s a recipe for disaster to make shopping of any kind a habit.

I fall in a happy medium between the two. I don’t go to the thrift store every week, but I do go there to “fun shop” on occasion.

It’s all about learning not to buy things you don’t need. I have a lot more self-control if I bring Mr. Picky Pincher along to hold me accountable. “Honey, you don’t need those vintage 70s sewing patterns. You haven’t sewn in months. … Put them down!”

The bottom line

I adore the thrift store. It’s a great place to find hidden gems, especially when you’re watching the budget. Save a little more money with these hacks and you’ll never want to pay full price again.

We want to know: What are your favorite ways to save at thrift stores?

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