How to score the best thrift store deals: Your guide to thrift store coupons, sales, and discounts

Do you feel extra pinched for money these days? I almost wept while picking up a carton of eggs at Save Mart the other day. The inflation struggle is real, and even thrift store treasures can cost a pretty penny if you don’t know how to score the best deals. 

I’ve cut back a bit on work these past few months, which means that my disposable income is a fraction of what it was previously. I’ve also started a vintage reselling side business, so I’m now constantly sourcing for high-quality vintage wares at the best prices. Needless to say, I’ve been on the hunt for good thrift store bargains that will truly give me bang for my buck. 

Since I live in the Central Valley, it’s not terribly difficult to track down decent secondhand deals. Still, I do think that there are general best practices for getting the best prices at the thrift stores, no matter where you live. In fact, being savvy about thrift store sales and coupons can help you get first dibs on fantastic deals if you live in a pricey metro area where stuff is pretty picked over. 

So how do you score the best prices at the thrift store? Here’s my two cents—to help you save a few cents. Well, dollars, really! 

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If you can, go earlier in the day to beat the crowds. 

Morning is my favorite time of day to wander through the thrift store. It’s harder to browse with crowded aisles, and you might get serious buyer’s remorse if you grab stuff willy-nilly and end up with a bunch of defective, overpriced items. Now that I’m flipping stuff as a side hustle, I’m extra wary about defects like chips and cracks. 

If you work a traditional 9 to 5 job, it might be worth it to browse on your lunch break during those afternoon lulls. I find it easiest to get the best thrift store deals when I’m not fighting tooth and nail with other customers. (Well, as combative as one can get in a thrift store anyway!)   

Follow thrift store Facebook accounts.

Facebook isn’t just for sifting through a wasteland of fake news and AI-generated celebrity pictures. Ever since moving to a smaller town, I’ve been reliant on Facebook pages to be in the know about local happenings and small business sales. I seldom use my personal account to share updates, but I do lurk local thrift store pages because they feature weekly deals and sale updates there. 

My theory as to why businesses use Facebook is because it reaches a wider demographic of people, especially older folks who have more money to spend. I also imagine it’s a ton of effort to make an Instagram reel or TikTok video, so a simple text Facebook post is the easiest way to promote coupons. 

Side note: Facebook is also a great place to browse for local estate, garage, and personal sales. Do be discerning, though — there are definitely grifters on Facebook marketplace.

Sign up for text and newsletter updates.

Some thrift stores send out text and newsletter updates with coupons. They might have sign ups at checkout, so, if you’re not too short on time (or feel weird about sharing your personal info), it’s worth spending that extra five to 10 minutes to register for thrift store reward programs. 

Check to see if your local thrift store has any sale days for special groups.

Many thrift stores have discount days for teachers, first responders, and seniors. If you fall into any of those groups, be sure to have your ID ready to get sweet thrift store deals! Stores usually have a sign up front to let you know if you qualify for any bonus discounts. 

Personally, I don’t qualify for any special thrift store discount days, but my dad gets 20% off senior discounts at Goodwill and other local thrift stores. 

Keep an eye out for when your local thrift store restocks their inventory.

Some thrift stores restock a few times a week, certain times of day, or even just throughout the day as inventory is ready to hit the floor. If your store allows it, don’t be afraid to browse the inventory carts or bins to get first dibs. Just don’t be a jerk about it, and definitely allow the thrift store employees to do their jobs without too much disruption. 

Pay attention to sale signs.

Thrift stores usually have a sign by the door or register to let you know what products or color tags to shop for the best deals. One of my local thrift stores, for example, has hat days where anyone who wears a hat receives 25% off their total purchase. Keep your eye out for those signs! But, of course, don’t exclusively seek out a certain color tag. Buy stuff you want—don’t just hoard stuff because it’s cheap. This is good practice for thrifting in general.

Shop off-season.

Products are almost always the priciest when they’re hot commodities, like Halloween stuff in September or Christmas stuff in November. To get rid of excess inventory, thrift stores might throw big end-of-season sales. Think November Halloween sales or January Christmas sales. There are also often great deals for winter gear during the summer, or, on the flip side, summer apparel during the winter. 

If you’re a procrastinator in need of last-minute decor, the thrift gods may also work in your favor. To clear out seasonal products, thrift stores tend to have 50%+ sales during the days leading up to major holidays like Halloween or Christmas, so I’d hit up the thrift store before Party City.  

Don’t be afraid to look at the inventory behind glass cases.

Sometimes, the best deals are behind those intimidating glass cases. Yes, it can be kind of awkward to have an employee waiting for you as you browse those glass cases. But you never know what deals lie behind that layer of glass unless you look! 

Who doesn’t love a good thrift sale? You can pick up a lot of fabulous deals secondhand, but being in the know about thrift store shopping strategies can help you score even greater savings. With these tips in mind, go forth and save big!