Places You’ve Never Thrifted … But Should!

Thrift shopping is one of my favorite hobbies, and I would love to encourage everyone to shop secondhand to do their part in consuming sustainably. While it’s impossible to do all your shopping secondhand, you could probably do a little more than you think!

Estate Sales

I use EstateSales.Net to locate local estate sales near me. You pretty much always find great deals, but if you wait til the last day sometimes prices are marked up to 50-75% off! You can find all sorts of home and clothing items at an absolute steal.

Thrift Store Outlets

So everyone knows about regular thrift stores.. but have you heard of thrift store outlets? This is where all of the unsold clothing goes for the last stop before the landfill. At my local outlet, clothing is priced by the item and the price fluctuates by the day. Find out where your local thrift store sends their excess and see if you can make a trip to the outlet for cheaper than dirt prices! See my review of Family Thrift Outlet.

Bulk Trash Removal + Moving Companies

See if there are any bulk trash removal or moving companies near you that allow people to pick up their “trash”. Contact them and let them know you’re interested in what they are throwing out. I actually text a local bulk removal guy he lets me know if they have some good pieces. We go to their junkyard and sift through every once in a while for treasures! I’ve found sooo many good furniture items this way.

Buy Nothing Groups

A lot of people haven’t heard of the Buy Nothing project, but they are flipping amazing! Look up “Buy Nothing [your city]” on Facebook and find your local group. People give away tons of great stuff - and this is a great way for you to get rid of your junk too!

Liquidation/Return Stores

Here is my review of Quicklotz in Fort Worth!

A lot of y’all have asked me about Quicklotz and unfortunately they are not a nationwide chain… but there are HUNDREDS of liquidation stores around the country! They buy Amazon, Target, Walmart, Nordstrom returns (and so many other stores!) and resale at 40-90% off. If you are lucky and they have a bin section, sometimes you can get super expensive items for less than $5! I recently went and was able to score TONS of designer clothing at a dirt cheap cost. Get on their text/mailing list to see what specials they are having, because they often change weekly!

Clothing Swaps

Clothing Swaps are few and far between now, but if you are able to attend (or host!) one, this is a great way to get new clothes while also getting rid of your old stuff. Basically the idea is that everyone brings X amount of clothing and gets a “credit” for the same amount of clothing that they brought. So you bring 10 items, you get to bring home 10 items. Great idea for kids clothes, maternity clothes… really anything!

The Side of the Road

Come on y’all… would I really be Maggie if I didn’t tell you to pick up stuff from the trash?! I know there is a stigma about picking up garbage, but you can seriously find some great items. See all of my furniture flips for proof. Just drive around on trash pickup day (bonus points if it’s a bulk trash day!) and have fun digging for gold!

If you want more tips about where to find furniture, how much to spend and even if a piece is worth buying in your area - check out my furniture flipping eCourse. I cover all of these places to thrift in my guide with tons of tips and tricks to get the best deals possible! You can grab it while it’s on sale here!