How to Save Money at Thrift Stores

by Christina on November 19, 2012

The following post is from Christina of Northern Cheapskate:

photo credit: pixeljones

My latest trip to town resulted in the ultimate thrift store find: 6 brand new black printer cartridges for my printer for just under $18.

We print a lot of coupons and documents around our house so, saving $72 on items we use regularly was a great feeling. I’ve had a lot of those great thrift store trips in my life.

I first got turned on to thrift store shopping in college. I was a broke college student, and a friend of mine brought me to an eclectic thrift store off the beaten path. I was thrilled to find jeans for just $7 a pair. Once I recognized the savings potential, I began seeking out other things at thrift stores: furniture for my first apartment, household goods, Christmas decorations, and even gifts.

I also learned that as easy as it is to save money at thrift stores, it’s just as easy to waste money. Give in to impulse shopping at the thrift store, and you’ll quickly clutter your home and empty your wallet. Save yourself some time and money with these tricks:

Know what you have. Know what you need.

Before you shop anywhere, you need to have an idea of what items you already have and make a list of what items you’d like to buy. It’s pretty easy to walk into a great thrift store, become overwhelmed and then overbuy. I like to use Evernote to save time and money by putting my lists on my phone so it’s easy to keep track of what I am looking for.

Shop with cash.

Shopping with cash prohibits you from overspending. And many thrift stores prefer it because it keeps their costs down. Set a budget, get the cash and then shop.

Shop early.

The early birds catches the worm, and that’s especially true when you shop secondhand stores. Wait to shop until the end of the day and some of the best inventory will be gone.

Shop on sale days.

You can score some amazing deals when you shop on sale days. Look for signs in your favorite shop or ask the clerk when the next sale is.

Get to know the sales staff.

The staff at your local thrift store is a great resource for potential savings. They can help you find what you’re looking for and alert you to sales. If you’re a regular customer, you may even be able to get them to drop the price on an item that’s been there awhile or ask them to keep an eye out for a particular item.

Ask about rewards programs.

Several thrift stores in my my area have a frequent shopper punch card. When you fill the card, you get $5 off your next purchase. Sign up for any rewards programs your store offers and save even more.

Explore thrift stores all over town.

Make it a habit to explore lots of different thrift stores. The inventory in these stores can very dramatically from neighborhood to neighborhood. In addition some local department stores often donate their unsold inventory to be sold at thrift stores. If you find a thrift store like that in your neighborhood, you could score brand new name brand clothing for a fraction of the cost. Sites like The Thrift Shopper can help you locate stores in your area.

Consider shopping to make money.

I probably would have bought those ink cartridges even if they weren’t the right ones for my printer. Why? Because I could have sold them on ebay or Craigslist for a profit. A skilled thrift store shopper can turn big savings into a money-maker with a little effort.

Finding an awesome deal at a thrift store is great. It’s also a great feeling to know that when you shop at thrift stores, you’re helping extend the life of things by keeping them from going to the landfill.

Waste not, want not is something we all could do more of.

How do you save money at thrift stores?

	Christina Brown is the creator of Northern Cheapskate, a blog dedicated to frugal living through coupons, freebies, and money-saving ideas. She lives in the rural north woods of Minnesota where she clips coupons, pinches pennies, and chases her three boys (a 7-year-old and twin 5-year olds) as a stay-at-home mom.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1497762910 Joann Podhurcak O’Neil

I often use waxed paper sheets or parchment in my kitchen. I wrap leftover veggies (like bell pepper, onion) and fruit (like lemon, grapefruit) in it instead of using a plastic bag. I cover custard/pudding with it instead of plastic wrap. I never let plastic wrap near hot food nor do I let it touch the food (parchment is good for that, too).
Marcella Alldredge

The main purpose for plastic wrap in our household is freezer storage. We use ziptop freezer baggies to store meat. I use plastic wrap to store my pancakes. My husband cooks a large quantity of pancakes on Sunday morning. We wrap them in a long piece of plastic wrap layered in between each pancake. This way I can get one out each day or as needed.

Do you have any alternative suggestions for this?

http://www.liverenewed.com/ Emily @ Live Renewed

I flash freeze waffles or pancakes on a cookie sheet, even overlapping a little bit, and have no problem removing one or two at a time without having any kind of barrier between them. But, I bet wax paper or parchment paper would work too – and you could reuse that from week to week.
http://twitter.com/kitchenstew Katie Kimball

Marcella,
Emily is right – I’ve always used waxed paper for separating pancakes, and I think it might even work better than plastic wrap. How funny that I didn’t even put “waxed paper” on the list, even though it’s a super obvious option to cover things! Katie

Azmrl

I’m pretty sure that the wax on waxed paper is petrolium based. Still not a safe option.

http://www.adventuresinthriftland.blogspot.com Laura’s Last Ditch

One other thing people can do to avoid plastic wrap (or Ziplocs, or waxed paper) is to save other bags. I
reuse bags dried beans come in, the waxed paper bags that tea comes in,
etc. Even if you don’t use much processed food, still, it’s hard to
completely avoid coming across bags. I buy almost everything in bulk,
but still, I’m a magnet for reject food from friends and family, so I
still end up with bags. I’d freeze the pancakes in these reject bags.
Ginab

We just did a flash freeze on a big batch of pancakes then put them right into a freezer container and a ziplock bag (nothing between the layers). If you wanted something between the layers, what about the bags that are in boxes for cereal, crackers, etc? They are food grade and could be split to the right size for dividers.

Ann

Thanks Ginab, these are now my main source of waste – good to find a productive use for them!

Alison BR

Great ideas. I’d love a solution for freezing homemade pizza. I don’t do it often, because I hate using all that plastic wrap! Instead I freeze dough, which isn’t anything like as convenient.

http://twitter.com/kitchenstew Katie Kimball

Alison,
Would there be anything wrong with just using a plastic zippered bag? That’s what we do…maybe waxed paper if you need something to prevent freezer burn, but I would think the pizzas would come back out before that would be a problem anyway. Katie
Sarah Hofhine

I bet you could use freezer paper for the pizzas.

http://www.liverenewed.com/ Emily @ Live Renewed

Great post! I don’t even think we have a roll of plastic wrap in our house! I went to grab some not too long ago and couldn’t find any! Ha! Using containers with lids is definitely my top way to avoid using plastic wrap, and I totally do the plates on tops of bowls thing too.
http://joyceandnorm.wordpress.com Joyce and Norm

Great post! I want to hear more about the foil too.
TLE

As much I try avoid plastic wrap, I had found Lock and Lock containers very effective in keeping veggies fresh (before I learnt the cons of plastic)…. and I also use what I get from the supermarket and market to wrap veggies when neeeded. Yes, baking sheets is taking over foil in our kitchen. another YES, Please for the future article on aluminium foil.

Capa

Did you know that they make glass lock & lock containers? They’re called Boroseal & are available from locknlockplace.com. The lids are plastic with a silicone gasket, but the containers are heat resistant glass, safe for both oven & microwave use. Two other brands that make lock & lock style glass containers are Snapware and Kinetic, both can usually be found in places like Bed, Bath & Beyond or Amazon.com.

Adriana

I can’t remember the last time I bought plastic wrap. I have a slew of pyrex containers with lids for storing anything and everything.

I know most freezer cooking enthuiasts say you should wrap casseroles and the like in plastic wrap and ziploc bags. What would you do in this case? I don’t want freezer burned food, but I’d rather not use plastic wrap or bags.

http://twitter.com/kitchenstew Katie Kimball

Adriana,
I guess I just use the containers with lids for casseroles. You could put a piece of waxed paper or freezer paper touching the food itself to prevent freezer burn, as the air between the lid and food would be a no-no. Katie

Leanne

This is about the only time I use plastic wrap — “molded” to the cooled food and then up the sides of the container to keep air completely out. Does wax paper or freezer paper really mold to it as well as plastic wrap? And does it come of pretty well later, too? Even if the food is quite liquid (like soup or broth)?

http://twitter.com/kitchenstew Katie Kimball

Leanne,
Huh, I’ve never really noticed a freezer burn taste issue with soups, so I’ve never taken this step. I think a piece of wax paper cut in the shape of the soup dish/jar would sit right on top though, don’t you? Best way to find out is to try! Katie

http://alifeinbalance.net/ Barb @ A Life in Balance

We use a lot of glass in our fridge as I’ve increased our collection. However, our main use of plastic is the freezer. We grow a lot of veggies in our garden, and I steam and freeze these using quart and gallon freezer bags. I’m always careful to make sure the veggies have completely cooled before putting them in the freezer.

For baking, I’ve taken to using parchment paper on my cookie sheets when making cookies. Not only does it prevent contact with the sheets, clean up is a breeze. The parchment paper can be reused several times depending upon how messy the cookies are.
http://profiles.google.com/digigirl Valerie Tate Williams

I don’t buy plastic wrap anymore, which forces me to find ways around using it. I never used it for covering dishes much – I have a bunch of pyrex glass dishes with lids (like yours). The places I miss plastic wrap are things like laying it across the top of pudding to prevent a skin, or wrapping things for freezing. I’ve discovered that if you use a large plastic ziploc bag you can lay it across things like pudding to prevent the skin, then just rinse it off afterwards and use it again for something else. And those ARE recyclable (just turn them in at grocery stores in their plastic bag recycling bin). Freezing things like pizza, which is too big for a plastic bag, is a challenge, but my boyfriend just suggested a great way to do it. I have these large plastic round pie keepers that are the perfect size for pizza. I can stack frozen pizza crusts in there with parchment or whatever in between. I’ve managed to do completely without plastic wrap for about 6 months now. Yay me!
http://www.findyourbalancehealth.com/ Michelle Pfennighaus, CHC

Very interesting ideas! I use a ton of storage containers and almost never use plastic or foil, but I do need to upgrade to glass containers.
Localnourishment

I use parchment paper and a rubber band most times. I don’t even remember the last time I had plastic wrap in the kitchen. But I do confess to using aluminum foil from time to time…NOT for food, but in the dryer for static cling.
Capa

I haven’t bought plastic wrap in at least 14 years. When I’m not using my glass containers, I love butcher paper. It will protect foods from freezer burn much better than a plastic freezer bag or even a glass container will & when you are done with it, it can be recycled (if unwaxed) or composted (if waxed or oiled). I think people forget about butcher paper, and that’s a shame, because it is one of the most environmentally friendly options available, plus it’s cheap.
Tiffany

I have a couple of questions. First of all, my biggest use of plastic wrap if for raw chicken breasts. I buy a lot when they are on sale and then wrap them individually with plastic wrap and then place a bunch of them in a large freezer bag that I reuse. That way I can get out the amount of chicken I need for a meal and they aren’t all stuck together.

Also, I really want to start upgrading our plastic storage containers with glass but my husband doesn’t want me too because he takes the plastic ones to work to reheat his food in. (I tell him it isn’t good to put plastic in the microwave but he is a teacher and only has 20-30 minutes for lunch and says that the glass containers get so hot in the microwave that he can’t carry them back to his room.) Is there another option for this circumstance?

Kalista

I flash freeze my chicken breasts on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Then throw them in a ziploc bag, which I wash and reuse, typically for the next round of chicken.
Ani

I use glass pyrex bowl for my lunch at work. I just use 2-3 paper towels to pick up the hot bowl. It’s not a big deal.

SopranoAscends

Wonderful! Now, give cloth napkins a try, maybe? It lends some hominess, especially when you are eating in an office. It’s one small change, and the additional laundry is hardly noticeable
.

Kathleen K

Give your hubby a potholder! If you are crafty or know someone who is, maybe a quilted/knitted cover/cozy for a couple dishes that he will use regularly?
Rebekah

I just use the lid to carry my glass dish back to my desk. Put it on the bottom of the bowl and then you can carry it while hot.
http://twitter.com/kitchenstew Katie Kimball

Tiffany,
I love the idea of just using the lid! My husband will use a nice Thermos thingy for soups and stews and they stay hot enough, too. Katie
Sarah Hofhine

Wrap the chicken breasts in wax paper or freezer paper.

http://www.adventuresinthriftland.blogspot.com Laura’s Last Ditch

I have a roll of plastic wrap I got from an estate sale, and it’s been
sitting in my cupboard for nearly a decade. I can’t think of any good
use for it, other than possibly using it when I bring food to people.
Even for that, though, I can find work-arounds, like choosing to bring
soup or other things that can go into glass jars.
Gaylestorm1958

i save all my bread bags etc. and use them for things that need extra wrap on them. Even if i have to throw them out after only one use (if they can’t be rinsed) i am saving both money and envirionment. The other thing i do is freeze soup broth or any thing needed in small portions in ice cube trays then transfer it to containers.
TheStressedMom

I was never an avid plastic wrap user, I can’t stand the way it sticks when its not supposed to, but when you want it to stick it never does.
So I have used foil a lot through the years, and ziplock bags. We currently have a collection of the gladware in various sizes and try to use those as much as possible as I already have them. I pack servings of snacks, nuts, dressings, as well as leftovers. I figure I am using less plastic bags this way, and I only very rarely use foil.
I have gotten creative as well and do the inverted bowl and the cookie sheet as covers! I do need to consider making the investment to buy some lidded pyrex.
Great ideas here!
Julie Price

I’ve avoided plastic wrap and foil for years with a large Pyrex collection and reusing glass jars (also large ziploc bags for bread). Glass jars are great for freezing and keeping leftovers, esp. soup. Sometimes I select olives or coconut oil or other jarred product based on the size or shape of the jar. Then the challenge is to buy enough bulk food (at lots of places you can bring your jars and weigh them before you fill them) so you don’t get overloaded with jars. Extra bottles get filled with water storage or homemade kombucha.
Heather

Thank you! We are on the GAPS diet now and for whatever reason (even though I store alot of food in quart canning jars too) i seem to be going through TONS of aluminum foil…and I feel guilty every time. Great ideas, will use!

Kristen

When I use aluminum foil, I always make sure to reuse it. Especially when I end up using it to cover a pan of brownies. When I am done with it, it folds back up and goes into a drawer until the next time I need it. My hubby thinks I am crazy, but one box of the stuff last forever around my house.

Jacqueline

We must have different plastic wrap where I live in the Netherlands, because mine is reusable. I don’t have a dishwasher, so I just wash the plastic wrap with my dishes and hang it on my dishrack to dry. I do prefer glass jars and flash freezing, but for taking some things to work, plastic wrap is more convenient. And since I can use it for eons by rewashing it, then recycle it at the end, it doesn’t bother me to use it.

http://twitter.com/kitchenstew Katie Kimball

J, yes, must be different – one COULD reuse ours, but it sticks to itself and is so thin, it would be a big battle to accomplish it. Katie
Ann

J, for lunches I use cloth serviettes/table napkins, furoshiki-style, easily washed, good for sandwiches, rolls, biscuits, toast, anything dry. I never used plastic wrap any more – I find I just don’t need it.
Mira

Would you be able to link to a photo of this reusable product? I’m curious! Thank you… or dank je wel

http://wholenewmom.com/ Adrienne @ Whole New Mom

Love this, Katie. I did a post earlier this year on DIY Plastic Wrap sub and a lot of what you came up w/ was covered in the comments.

My “handy dandy” solution was a reusable bread bad (or whatever bag, really – it’s just what I used) and a rubber band around the top to make it airtight. Of course, if what you are covering is a food or personal item you want a clean bag .
Dreena

I try to limit leftovers so there is less to store. I find glass jars very durable and I love the lids because you can reuse them a million times. For the freezer, I use my vacuum sealer because the bags can be washed and reused many many times. I the pyrex w/ plastic lids but I am trying to increase my collection of glass lidded ones too. Plates are out at my house; my kids are not careful enough!

Sarah Hofhine

I find it interesting that you try to limit leftovers; I always make enough for them (I figure I already spend enough time in the kitchen, I want to cook once and eat twice or three times).

Corelle brand (plates, bowls) really are amazingly resilient if you have little “butterfingers” around. My 11-month-old just found out he can open drawers and spent the morning literally throwing his sister’s Corelle plates all over the kitchen as I cooked (we have them down low so they can unload the dishwasher/set the table themselves). Not a scratch or ding.

smilla

I have beeswax-coated cotton/hemp squares that you can use for covering bowls. The wax coating lets you scrunch them into shape around the rim and they are washable (with soap & cold water) and reusable. Plus they are cute. Not airtight though.

Abeego is the name but I got them as gifts so I don’t know where they are sold.
Goldnrod

I have found that wax paper allows my fruit to dry out & still haven’t found anything to replace plastic wrap for that.

I wanted to buy glass for leftovers, but ds & I are clumsy & dh doesn’t want me to buy anything ‘that will just get broken’ so I compromised on Rubbermaid Premier containers. So far we are really liking them. How dangerous do you think they are? They seem to be better than the cheaper plastic.

Where can I get butcher paper, and how exactly do you use it? (I remember my mother using it in the ’60s & 70s.)

http://twitter.com/kitchenstew Katie Kimball

Goldnrod,
Plastic that doesn’t have BPA in it is usually the safer option; try to let your food cool before storing to reduce leaching of whatever might be in there that we don’t even know about yet. The Pyrex are really hard to break – I break more plastic containers than glass, myself! But I also use a lot of glass jars “for free” that my spag sauce comes in and such.

I am wondering about butcher paper, too – this is different than the “freezer paper” sold in stores? Katie

Capa

I’m pretty sure that “freezer” paper & “butcher” paper are the same thing. “Freezer” paper is not available in our local grocery stores (at least, I’ve never found it on the shelves), so I buy it in bulk in from Sam’s club as “butcher” paper. It’s a huge roll (18″ x 1000′), but it’s the white (vs. being the brown) and is very versatile, being good for all sorts of things, like wrapping paper, as a drop cloth for crafts, for finger painting or drawing on, and more, as well as wrapping up food, so it’s a good value.

Laurie :)

My fridge too is full of pyrex (found at thrift stores/garage sales) covered with plates–I like this because they STACK wonderfully!
Sarah Hofhine

One of my favorite containers for small amounts is baby food jars. I save all of ours and use them in the fridge, for dry goods, homemade bath products, everything.
Christievog

It KILLS me to see my husband use 6 inches of plastic wrap to cover a small half of a lemon, or 20 inches for a small plate etc. I keep asking him to NOT use it for that kind of stuff but alas he will not listen. It makes me cringe, just like it does when he uses PAPER TOWELS as wash cloths! Uggh!

Sometimegreenmom

Just don’t buy it-then he can’t use it!

Mira

I use a clean cotton dishtowel to wrap homemade bread in, or to cover pans of brownies/traybakes. I’m still searching for a good cover or container for iced cakes though – what can I put them in that won’t stick too much to the frosting, but will still allow me easy access to cut into the cake? (I have used cake tins, but cutting can be difficult!)
Katy

your fridge looks like mine – all pyrex containers and mason jars. :)
Amelia

These are great ideas! I am an American ex-pat living in the UK and the biggest challenge we have for food storage is the size of our fridge. European fridges are sooo small (our freezer is a joke) and we are a family of 6 living in University housing. So keeping fresh food and having room for storing our water and dairy kefirs, daily food requirements and other acoutrements is quite a challenge. I’ll have to try and remember these when we either move back to the US or are able to get a more “American style” fridge. Because a casserole dish with a inverted cookie sheet on the top would just not work. Btw, I love your articles Katie and I love your blog! I keep referring it to my other green/real food-minded friends.
LaRue

Thanks for the advice! I don’t use very much foil or plastic wrap and with some of these tips, I can cut down even more. That will be a great savings!
Julnjake

What is a good solution for reheating leftovers without aluminum foil? Like in the oven or toaster oven? Casseroles and such dry out if not covered but I obviously can’t cover my pyrex dishes with their lids when in the oven…..

http://twitter.com/kitchenstew Katie Kimball

J,
I like to look for glass lids, but they’re hard to find. I’ve taken to flipping a cookie sheet over in the oven. Katie

SopranoAscends

I use lots of tea towels.Flat cloth, no fluff. One on the bottom of each produce bin. Leafy greens do well wrapped in them. And wrapping a potato for baking in the microwave is good- use a damp towel. A stack of tea towels adds little to the the laundry volume.
Donnadaycare

wax cloth – folds tight and is re-usable. abeego
http://www.facebook.com/thayerbooks Emily Thayer

“Don’t use aluminum foil” — ? Bite me. Ours is recycled at the end of its useful life. Aluminum is one of the most common elements on earth, it’s 100% recyclable, and you can pay extra to purchase aluminum foil that has 100% recycled aluminum as source material.

Good article, except for that one point.

Joan Jet

be nice! you have an opinion, great, no need to tell a person to get bit! maybe you are unaware that in reality, most foil is not recycled; i hope you are encouraging others you know to recycle it. lots of info about the non-positive results of cooking in foil.
http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

Hi Emily — definitely appreciate you chiming in, although I’m not sure the “Bite me.” was necessary for an open discussion! I’m going to leave your comment because I’d love to see the response since aluminum is a fairly hot topic, but I just wanted to put a note here that ad hominum attacks won’t be tolerated, so if we could move the conversation forward without those, that would be great!
http://twitter.com/kitchenstew Katie Kimball

Emily,
It’s tough to get aluminum foil (or pans) clean enough to be recycled most of the time, whether I’m eating cheesy lasagna or rude commenters. Besides that, there are plenty of health risks to aluminum:
http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/08/03/analyzing-aluminum-in-august-an-introduction/

I maintain that it’s far better to use more easily reusable covering material, although when I do use aluminum foil, I reuse it as often as I can. Many people aren’t so attentive and pitch aluminum all the time, and as a substance from the earth, it is non-renewable.

Thanks, Katie

Jade

I occasionally use wax paper for some food items but always use wide mouth canning jars of various sizes to store my fresh food and leftovers. I never store food in plastic. If I buy food that is contained in plastic I immediately re-store the item in glass. I also use glass pyrex containers. No repulsive food odors from plastic and Food stays fresher and glass is so easy to wash. You can also see what you have stored. No guessing what is inside. I also put the date on top of the jar so that I know what is still safe to eat or use. I also store dry food items such as beans, pasta, coffee, tea, rice, spices, flour, sugar in glass containers. When I make up my shopping list it is so easy when you can open your cupboard or fridge and see what you need to buy.