It's really very simple! If you've ever had to do some grocery shopping, help pick out furniture, or buy clothes full price, you've got the basic skills to hunt down the thrift finds of your choice.

I personally break down thrifting into two steps. The first step is scouting out a location:

• 1. Choose your stores carefully. Some secondhand stores aren't trendy, while others won't have one-of-a-kind pieces!
• 2. Don't be afraid to drive out to go to a thrift store; different areas have different people supplying the clothes, and can yield different finds.
• 3. Set a budget before you go. When I set limits, I rarely end up spending more than $15 at any given store.
• 4. If you're planning on donating or reselling, take note of the store's policies before you go.
• 5. Keep in mind that thrift stores are very likely to have no return policy. It's the cost of having ridiculously low prices.
• 6. Wherever you go, be prepared to wash your clothes before wearing them (just in case).

The second step is actually doing the thrifting. This part is fairly straightforward as long as you've chosen a suitable store. Everything here is really more of a bonus tip:

• 7. If your chosen store has no changing rooms, wear tight-fitting clothes so you can try things on without having to take anything off.
• 8. Consider bringing a stain remover pen (in case you want to test whether a stain is easily removable or not).
• 9. After you pick out your buys, take the time to be honest with yourself! If you have doubts or feel it looks similar to something you already own, you probably don't want to get it.
• 10. Look over each garment for tears, rips, and stains. Turn the fabric inside out to make sure there are no tears, stains, or loose threads. If the garment has buttons or other metallic bits, make sure none are missing.
• 11. If you're buying furniture, avoid getting appliances, mattresses, or most things marketed for children (hard toys are okay). Those are supposed to be purchased brand-new, for safety's sake!