Thrifting Dos and Don'ts

Who doesn't love thrifting? Unique, sometimes even vintage items on the cheap? Yes, please. But it's best to exercise caution when thrifting. Believe it or not, there are some things best bought new.

Let's start with the Thrifting Don'ts.

Kitchen Items
Things that need to be sharp, like a vegetable peeler, knife, grater, etc. are best bought new. Because you know what you get when you purchase a .75c vegetable peeler? A weird, crappy letter opener, because it's certainly not going to be peeling any vegetables. Go to Dollar Tree and get a new one for an extra quarter and save yourself the nicked thumbs from trying to peel a thick-skinned sweet potato because you got a good deal on this stupid thing and you're going to use it dammit.

Battery-Operated Items
Sometimes you'll be fine.

Sometimes you'll spend $5 on a rad Fisher Price piano that turns out to be nothing more than an overpriced, dirty step stool.
Unless you have batteries with you that you can test in it, maybe don't risk it. 

Shoes

Five years ago me disagrees. I love a bargain, and I love shoes. But if you're going to be putting any miles at all on them, forego already broken-in shoes. You want them to break into your foot, not someone else's. This is especially true for kids, though they're not putting much weight on the cushioning, they put about twice as many miles on their sweet little squishy feet as you do on your hooves.

Anything that Needs to be Dependable
Need it to comfortably support and keep your child safe? Probably new is best. This applies to anything that would be detrimental to you if it failed.

If you still want to live the thrifty life, visit your local Dollar Tree, where everything is $1. (NOT Dollar General--the devil in disguise.) Pro Tip: Shop here for the bigger items--30 oz hand soap, cookie sheets, can openers. Some comparison shopping might be necessary to ensure you're getting a good deal here rather than at Wally World, but be patient and you'll get some great bargains.

As for the Thrifting Dos:

Pretty Much Everything Else

Clothes? Abso-freakin-lutely. Jewelry? Sterilize your earrings first, then go crazy. Artwork, Books, Furniture, etc. are all great thrifted items. Especially if you have kids and/or dogs and can never have nice things again anyway.

If you don't completely destroy the item, re-donate it once it's run its course and share the love. Recycling makes the world go round!