Items to Avoid When Thrift Shopping

These prices are making me stress y’all. Seriously. It doesn’t matter if I am grocery shopping or clothing shopping, all I know is that I am STRESSED out by the prices I am seeing in stores today. That’s why when I discovered that several members of my family were in need of cold weather clothing, I decided to head to the thrift shop.

I have found some amazing deals over the years at thrift shops, but over my years of thrift shopping I have learned that there are some things that you should just buy new. It just makes more sense.  

Items to Avoid When Thrift Shopping

Looking for what items to avoid when thrift shopping? Look no further than this list:

Shoes

Unless you find some brand new shoes at the thrift shop (it can happen), I typically recommend avoiding buying shoes at thrift shops. While you can disinfect the shoes, the change of fungus and foot diseases is there when buying used. Plus, shoes mold to your feet when you wear them. If you buy shoes used, you are buying shoes that are likely already molded to someone else’s feet. 

Keep an eye on clearance sites and store sales to find some good deals on shoes. 

Electronics

There have been very few occasions when I was happy with my purchase of an electronics item from thrift shops. I have tried! Trust me. My husband loves gadgets and electronics so I have certainly tried to save money by thrift shopping for them, but it never turns out well. 

Hats and Helmets

It’s always a good idea to avoid buying hats and helmets at thrift shops. I know that this is tempting because it’s so easy to spot super cute and fashionable accessories like hats at thrift shops, but this is one of those things that you should just wait and buy new. 

Rain Gear

Rain gear can be a risky thrift purchase. You can’t always spot tiny holes in rain gear, plus many people don’t take proper care of rain gear so the waterproofing may not work as well as new rain gear would.