Thrifting makes great shopping sense

For many single parents, thrift shops are household and wardrobe essentials. According to the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops, the industry is growing at a rate of 5 percent a year. As gas, groceries, rent, and utilities creep higher and higher, saving money on clothes, shoes and household goods is a necessity for solo parents.

The thrift shop association estimates that there are 25,000 such stores in the United States. Surveys reveal that 16 to 18 percent of Americans shop in thrift stores, while 12 to 15 percent visit consignment stores.

16 shopping sense tips for bargain shoppers

1. Set aside expectations: Enjoy the thrill of the hunt to find high-quality or luxury items. It’s not mission shopping: Looking for specific items sets you up for frustration.
2. Persevere. Some stores divide merchandise by furniture, electronics, sporting goods, books, and clothing by style, size, color, adults, kids, and gender. Other disorganized stores warehouse an overwhelming amount of goodies. Dig for hidden treasures.
3. Look for markdowns. To make room for newly donated merchandise, each week stores mark down older stock. Look for 30%, 50% and 75% discounts, fill a bag for $5, or 99 cents sales. I paid $2.50 for a new pair of $120 name brand pants.
4. Determine a no hesitation shopping method. Like rolling through a rolodex, flip through racks scanning for colors, fabrics, styles, and sales tags. See something you love or like? Throw it into the cart. If you wait five minutes, it might disappear. Then evaluate purchases. When limited monetarily, this method prioritizes your most favorite items to buy.
5. Inspect everything carefully. Wear a fanny pack to free hands to inspect for stained armpits, torn hems, broken or sticky zippers, missing buttons, stains, cracks, scratches, wobbly legs, and missing parts. Run your fingers over glass rims to find chips.
6. Recognize potential. Can you sew, clean, paint, polish, sand, stain, or varnish to give repairable items a cosmetic renaissance? Will an item designed for a specific purpose lend itself to another creative, interesting use? Buy a jacket for the buttons, which are cheaper than fabric store prices. Turn pants into shorts, a wool sweater into a felted purse, embroidered clothes or curtains into pillows, and upholster chairs with bedspreads and drapes.
7. Check for recalls. Log on to www.recalls.gov. Call manufacturer toll free number for recalls. Some may send the replacement part to upgrade the item. Even if an item isn’t recalled, purchase age-appropriate toys. Be aware of hazardous lead poisoning or plastics. Make sure car seats, cribs, playpens, child safety gates, bunk beds, beanbag chairs, and halogen floor lamps include all parts, meeting current national safety standards.
8. Test electrical and battery-operated items. Some stores test electrical items. Before buying, ask about the return policy. For battery-powered items, carry a multi-purpose tool with a screwdriver to check for corrosion. Carry batteries to see if the item works.
9. Find replacement parts. Call the manufacturer’s toll free number to see if they replace missing parts for free or a reasonable amount.
10. Check boxes. Has the original item been switched?
11. Try on clothes and shoes. Every brand differs size wise. Measure your bust, waist, hip, shoulder widths, pant, sleeve and hem lengths on clothes that fit you. Take a cloth tape measure to narrow down what fits. If there is no dressing room, try on clothes on over a leotard workout outfit or slacks. Or button, snap or zip waistbands. Wrap it around your neck or stretch the waistband between your belly button and your spine. If it reaches, it may fit. Take knee high stockings. While shopping, wear potential shoe purchases for comfort.
12. Think ‘Pandora’s Box.’ Are you a diehard clotheshorse or fashionista for designer brands, modern trends, funky accessories, or vintage pieces? Thrifting isn’t limited to this year’s colors or styles. Take creative fashion risks. Look for not-at-the-mall, one-of-a-kind clothing. Experiment to find your style or new colors. If you won’t wear it, don’t buy it. If you buy it and hate it, re-donate it.
13. Check laundering instructions. For ‘dry-clean only’ clothing, drop them at a low cost dry cleaners. Test whether they’ll survive washing. Silks and cashmere sweaters often wash well. Use Woolite®, warm or cold water, the gentle cycle, and hang or lay flat to dry. A mixture of water and baking soda eliminates tough stains. To kill bacteria and germs, add a half cup of vinegar.
14. Buy seasonal items. Hit thrift stores for collectable holiday décor or Halloween one-time attire. After trick or treating, re-donate costumes.
15. Haggle: Struggling financially? Tell the manager. Make a reasonable offer. Forget tough negotiating techniques. Many charity-run thrift stores provide shopping vouchers. Is an item already a great price or you can afford it? Don’t ask for discounts, especially at thrift stores supporting charities.
16. Be friendly and helpful. Build relationships with workers who may tell you inside info. Volunteers and disabled, underpaid staff sort, stock, clean, fix, and organize. Rehang clothes on racks. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

For more information:

TheThriftShopper.com features a free national directory of over 7,000 charity-driven thrift stores searchable by either zip code or city and state.

Listed below you will find thrift shops in Colorado Springs.

Arc Thrift Store: Hancock Plaza Shopping Center Hancock & Academy, 2780 South Academy Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 391-7717
Arc Thrift Store: Uintah Gardens Shopping Center 19th & Uintah, 1830 West Uintah, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 473-0502
Arc Thrift Store: Austin Bluffs & Barnes Road, 4402 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 522-1203
Assistance League-Colorado Springs: 211 East Costilla Street, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 475-1029‎
Broadmoor Consignment Store‎: 1515 South 8th Street, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 632-5057‎
Chic Consign: 4689 Centennial Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 268-6895‎
Children's Resale Outlet:  4775 Barnes Road, Colorado Springs, CO‎.  (719) 596-9888 URL: www.childrensresaleoutlet.com
Crossfire Mission Thrift Store: 307 North Union Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 447-1806 URL: www.crossfireministries.com
DAV Thrift Store: 2444 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 636-3397‎
Encore Consignment Shop: 2218 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO‎. (719) 632-9453‎ URL: www.encoreconsigners.com
Extreme Bargains: 4839 Northpark Drive, Colorado Springs, CO‎. (719) 265-1746‎
Fountain Valley Thrift‎: 109 Kiva Road, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 391-3798‎
Full Figure Resale Shop: 1512 North Academy Blvd # B, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 522-1212‎
Goodwill: 2320 West Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 635-4483‎
Goodwill‎: 1070 Kelly Johnson Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO‎. (719) 531-9173‎
Goodwill‎: 17 North Spruce Street, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 444-5000‎
Goodwill‎: 2 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO‎. (719) 381-1712‎
Goodwill‎: 2007 South Circle Drive, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 635-1215‎
Goodwill‎: 2360 Vandenberg Drive, Usaf Academy, CO‎. (719) 472-0848‎
Goodwill‎: 2655 Waynoka Place, Colorado Springs, CO‎. (719) 570-9223‎
Goodwill‎: 6725 Camden Boulevard, Fountain, CO. :(719) 392-5744‎
Gospel Shelters for Women Thrift Store‎: 2441 East Platte Ave, Colorado Springs, CO‎. (719) 475-8508‎
Helping Hands Thrift Store‎: 800 Hackberry Drive, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 392-1816‎
I Saw It First‎: 104 East Cheyenne Rd, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 447-0077‎
Kaya Joy‎: 15 South Wahsatch Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO‎. (719) 328-9298‎
Kidlets‎: 696 North Circle Drive, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 473-5723‎
Lucy's Consignment Paradise: 3373 North Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 570-1770‎
Mango Moon Cottage‎: 118 East Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, CO‎. (719) 667-0056‎
Plato's Closet‎: 925 North Academy Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 622-8933‎
Price Is Right Thrift Store‎: 250 South Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 597-5354‎
Recess Children's Clothing: 1721 West Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 635-9725‎
Repeat Performance‎: 829 North Union Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 633-1325‎
Rummage & Treasures‎: 1839 North Circle Drive, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 633-0099‎
Salvation Army Family Store: 2730 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 634-5506
Salvation Army Family Store:  3955 Tutt Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 574-4335 URL: www.salvationarmyusa.org
Second Impression's‎: 1708 West Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 227-6909‎
Tantrums: 511 North Union Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 630-3271‎
The Leechpit: 708 North Weber Street, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 634-3675‎
This N That‎: 1118 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO.  (719) 571-0731‎
Tri Lakes Thrift Store‎: 755 South Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. (719) 488-3495‎
Two Timers‎: 481 Highway 105 # 202, Monument, CO‎. (719) 484-0300‎