What You Should Buy At Thrift Stores

Today, it’s all about what you should buy at thrift stores. If you’re planning to visit local thrift stores in the coming days or weeks, knowing what to buy while you’re there is a must!

While some items aren’t worth purchasing at the thrift store, such as plastic cups and other cheap things that you can usually get for around the same price brand new, there are many hidden treasures there. One of my granddaughters married a great young man who finds collectibles and designer fashions at his local thrift stores, buys them at a drastic discount, and then sells them on eBay. He does very well!

If you’d like to save money on neat items or even collect items to sell for profit, these are some of the best things to look for while visiting thrift stores.

If you haven’t purchased my book, “Prepare Your Family For Survival’. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And don’t forget Raymond Dean White’s Book, “Buggin In.”

Pyrex Baking Dishes

People love Pyrex! If you can find some of these high-quality glass dishes, buying them at the thrift store is worth it. The brand isn’t cheap, but the quality of the products makes it worth the price you’d pay at a traditional store, such as Target or Wal-Mart.

The brand makes glass food storage containers, casserole dishes, and other quality kitchen items valuable and worth buying. If you spot these items at the thrift store, you can get them for a significantly lower price than retail, meaning you’ll save big on high-quality kitchen supplies designed to last a long time.

Corningware

Did you know that Corningware is a big deal? Some people will pay good money for certain Corningware pieces from different collections made over the years. So, if you can find these casserole dishes and other high-end products, grab them.

Even if you don’t need them, you can make decent money by selling them to others. If you don’t believe it’s possible, look at the going rate for some Corningware collections on sites like eBay. It’s surprising!

Cast Iron Pans

This is where it’s critical to know the prices before you go. The last time I visited my local thrift store, I spotted a Lodge cast-iron 10-inch skillet. The thrift store wanted $49.00; I could see it needed some elbow grease.

The store must have thought it was valuable behind a locked glass door. I’m not afraid of a little scrubbing-it-clean project, but cast iron can be warped and will not cook evenly.

Here again, know your prices before you go. I knew I could get a brand-new, seasoned one for less. Check the pieces for condition by placing them on a countertop to be sure they are flat and not warped. You want quality at a fair “used” price, so you’re there in the first place!

Books

It’s never a bad idea to buy books at the thrift store. Once you read a book, you might not want to save it because you’ve already gone through it. In that case, you can buy affordable books to read at the thrift store and then pass them along to someone else when you’re done.

Sometimes, you may even find educational textbooks at the thrift store that you can use for school! It doesn’t hurt to look around and see what your thrift store has available. 

You may also find some kid-friendly books that are perfect for the children in your home. If you work at a school or provide babysitting services, getting these books cheaply at the thrift store is a significant convenience.

Cookbooks

In some areas, you may find a treasure, a cookbook you remember seeing your mother or grandmother have. Here is where it takes patience: You have to dig through hundreds of cookbooks. Luckily, most stores place them in categories, which helps a lot. My favorite ones are old cookbooks using regular ingredients in our pantries. You know me: I love cooking from scratch and teaching others to do the same.

Designer Clothes

Why pay a lot for designer clothes when you can hunt for them at the thrift store? Sure, there are no guarantees as to what you might find, but many thrift stores have items donated to them that are valuable and still in good condition. You never know what brands you’ll find, but the element of surprise makes everything more exciting and enjoyable. 

If you’re looking for fashionable shirts, bottoms, handbags, and other accessories, scour the thrift stores to see what you can find because you might just come across designer options at deeply discounted rates. It’s always great when someone else’s discarded item becomes your treasure.

Sweaters and Sweatshirts

If you love wearing an oversized sweater or sweatshirt during the colder winter months, why not grab a bunch from the thrift store?

You’ll notice that thrift stores have no shortage of these garments in their establishment. You can find sweatshirts and sweaters in different colors, some of which may have fun designs. Buy what you like and what you think you’ll wear. You may find something in such good shape you’ll buy it as a gift for someone you know will appreciate it.

Finding these accessories at thrift stores is ideal, especially since some department stores charge high fees for sweaters and sweatshirts.

If you get lucky, you can find some good options for a few bucks apiece, a great way to add excitement to your closet without spending too much money.

Costume Jewelry

When you want to add some costume jewelry to your collection, there is no better place to look than the local thrift store. You may find bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and other pieces that you can wear with different clothes to accessorize your outfits.

In addition, costume jewelry at thrift stores is often available at such low prices that it’s worth spending money on, much cheaper than costume jewelry in regular department stores. 

Finding real gold and silver jewelry at the thrift store for lower prices is even possible. These items may cost more than the costume jewelry, but they still cost less than they would if you went to a jewelry store to get them. It could be the staff at the thrift store don’t realize the item’s actual value, and you’ve found a true “treasure.”

Furniture

Buying furniture from a thrift store is not bad, but you must be careful. Some items are convenient to buy and use at home. For example, you may need an office desk for your home office but don’t want to spend too much money. In that case, you could find the perfect desk at the thrift store at a much lower price. 

However, be careful with any furniture you decide to get. It would help if you ensured no rodents or insects were living in the furniture, as you don’t want to bring those problems home.

If you don’t see any issues with the furniture you’d like to get, consider buying it from the thrift store to save cash while getting what you need.

I know the local thrift stores here no longer take box springs or mattresses for fear of bed bugs. The last I heard, they will not take used washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, freezers, and rear projection TVs, which they will not accept. Most of these stores don’t have the trained staff to test them out and perform repairs if necessary. Also, if repair parts are needed to make them functional, the store could spend more than expected to get them up and running.

In case you missed this post, here are the Thrift Store Items To Stock Up On or this one, Prepping Items You Can Find at Thrift Stores.

Final Word 

Do you know what to buy when you go to the thrift store? If you’re unsure which items are worth purchasing and which are best to avoid, consider this list of the best things to get at the thrift store.

You can find many valuable items at the thrift store, including high-quality cookware, designer clothes, and even some furniture that you can use in different parts of your home. However, not everything is in excellent condition when being displayed. Check everything before you buy anything to make sure it’s worth it. If you have other suggestions based on your experience, please let me know so I can share your experiences with my valued readers. May God Bless this world, Linda 

Copyright Images: Clothes Hanging Up Depositphotos_146927861_s-2019, Thrift Store Casual Clothes Depositphotos_31734667_S By Sirylok

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