How to go thrift shopping like a pro

For a beginner, thrifting can be a vast, confusing world. Maybe you’ve tried it a few times, given up and finally settled on buying new clothes or online thrift shopping-which to be honest is much easier.

It’s true that thrifting isn’t for everyone but once you learn the skills, you can score fabulous items every time you shop.

In case you’re wondering how you can become a smart thrift shopper, this is how:

Thrift shopping can come in different forms. You can spot and buy something that’s already hanged at a stall on your way home, then there is the other type of thrifting where you have to put in some work to find what you’re looking for.

In instances where you’ve made plans to go shop on a specific day, the best way to dress is casual. If you know anything about the streets of Nairobi, the price is dependent on how you look. You need to be dressed down in some comfortable shoes too because you will probably do a lot of walking.

It’s wise to skip the flashy accessories, designer perfume and international English during your thrift shopping escapades.

If you’ve picked a day to shop, start the day early. First, it’s better when there is enough day light so you can see what you’re buying properly.

Secondly, you don’t want to deal with the scorching afternoon heat and thirdly, you don’t want to miss out on something you really wanted in case someone else spots it before you get there.

You can still get a few items if you decide to go in the evening but it’s much better do everything early without all the extra hassles.

Patience is key when it comes to pro thrift shopping. Many people usually end up getting tired within the first few minutes of searching when the real gold might be lying underneath the pile or at the back.

It takes time to get the best items so you need to have a lot of patience. You would rather take your time and get one or two great items at a time than settle for something that’s not as nice.

Building rapport with vendors is also a great way of becoming a smart shopper. If you have good connections with sellers, they can be notifying you when they bring in new stock so that you don’t always have to move from shop to shop randomly.

This will save you a lot of time and ensure you’re getting the best items first.

With thrift shopping, there are so many locations and stalls to choose from. It’s great because you have a wide number of options but at the same time, that can be overwhelming.

It’s impossible to visit every single shop but you can still get the most out of your thrifting journey by looking out for recommendations.

You might have friends or family members who know someone that has specific items you’re looking for which will make things easier for you.

You can also get some leads online and take note of the most popular stalls being talked about.