Confession no. 4

How not to: What not to buy at a thrift store 

We all know what it feels like to be in a time crunch and needing to grab something quick but not knowing where to start and where to grab it from. To clarify for you- what did you do that one time you needed a themed outfit for a party, a blazer or blouse for an interview, a pair of heels for a date or even a cute swimsuit for the trip you got invited to go on last minute? 

Thrift stores are great and will save your life 85% of the time, especially when you didn't even know you needed saving. But what about the other 15% of the time? There are certain things you should never buy from a thrift store or used, and I think you will agree with me on most.  

Hack no. 1:

The number one thing I believe doesn't belong in a thrift store or anywhere but your own dresser is undergarments. I understand many thrift stores have been established in order to provide clothing and household items to those who may not be able to buy new, but a fresh pair of briefs or underwear aren't too hard to come by in a Walmart or even a dollar general. Each undergarment on the shelf has a story to tell and let me tell you- they aren't all that pretty. When donating, please leave your undergarments aside or toss them in the trash and save the workers and shoppers their sanity. If you bought a new bra and aren't able to return it so you decide to donate, that's a different story. My best advice to you would be to skip the thrift store for undergarments and to make a v-line straight to the nearest department store. 

Hack no. 2:

One item that tends to be a very a controversial topic is shoes and whether or not they belong in a thrift store. Personally, I've found some great shoes in thrift and consignment shops, but I've also found some not so great shoes before. It's true, shoes often conform to their previous owners foot and may prohibit you from being comfortable if they're used; But if you're shopping for style and not comfort-it's okay to buy used. Just look out for three things when shopping and you will be good. First, check the sole of the shoe and see how much wear and tear there is. If you're looking at a pair of sneakers, it's usually pretty easy to tell how worn they are by the color of the sole. If there is minor damage and the outside looks fly, snag them babies. The next test more so applies to leather shoes like boots or mules or a pair that cannot be washed and refurbished. It's not the most fun, but you have to smell check the shoes. This rule speaks for itself, if they smell awful, just don't buy them. The third thing you should look at is the bottom of the shoe, is it clean? Or is there gum, or even worse things on them? If you check these three things out and each aspect passes the test, congratulations-- you've really snagged yourself a good deal.

Hack no. 3:

These type of items aren't typically sold in thrift or consignment stores, but some places often feature them. I usually pass up the makeup, hair brushes and hair accessories like headbands, clips etc. Clearly if makeup is packaged up and has never been used, you've found yourself a great deal. But if the lipstick is half used and the mascara is opened, these items are not worth the possible sicknesses you could get from using them. Using other people mascara or eye makeup can often lead to pink eye, stye's and even worse. Just like makeup, you could also possess bacteria that you don't want like lice or worse by using other peoples hair brushes and accessories. I know it's gross, but its the truth. Ball caps and hats are usually okay to buy, though, because they're able to be washed. Just another PSA to those who may no be able to afford expensive makeup or hair accessories, the dollar tree has a wonderful selection that is very tasteful and each item is $1-- you can even find particular items in a name brand :) 

Hack no. 4:

Another thing I wouldn't recommend buying used is baby cribs. There have been several studies done and deaths reported from old designs that are proven to be dangerous to infants. Aside from a model being old, a screw or two could be loose and all it takes is for your infant to make one move and next thing you know they could be in danger. It's true, cribs are incredibly expensive and can be a hassle to acquire, but its always better to be safer than sorry in the end and purchase it new-whether its shiny and top of the line or not. Many cribs have also been recalled and you may not even know it. There are always different circumstances for each situation and item, but 9/10 times its not a good idea to buy this item used. 

Hack no. 5: 

Another series of items I don't recommend purchasing used are mattress's, mattress pads/ covers or in some cases- throw pillows and bed pillows. Just like shoes, mattresses tend to conform to a persons body and purchasing a used mattress can often lead to discomfort which you could be paying for in the future years. Mattresses can also acquire nasty things such as dust mites, bed bugs, bacteria and other things from the body as well. It's always been recommended to replace your mattress every 7-10 years, depending on how your body is feeling. When it comes to mattress pads or protectors, they aren't easy to clean and can also harbor nasty bacteria which is completely unwanted and avoidable- buy them new if possible. Pillows are often used to rest your head on and also conform to an owners head, and quick at that. I find myself needing to replace my pillow every six months or so because of how worn out they become. I wouldn't even want to purchase a used pillow because its more than likely flat- but also because of the possible bacterial side effects. Throw pillows are iffy, contingent on the owner. Usually, you can put a new cover on a throw pillow and call it a day or even wash them, deepening on what they're stuffed with. But sometimes, its impossible to get the smoke smell out of them (if the previous owner did smoke) and isn't always worth the hassle. 

There ya have it.

This is all a matter of opinion, of course, but I hope you enjoyed the read. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or email me! I hope I was able to help.

xoxo, Ray<3