There was a time a few years back when the thought of walking into a thrift store would send me into a cold sweat. I would look at people who went “thrifting” and think, “So, you’re kind of like Wonder Woman, aren’t you?” Shopping at thrift stores was one of those things I knew I should do (it’s cheaper, right? Save some money?) but could never actually ever really bring myself to do. Those stores are so overwhelming. Some are a bit dirty and smell like a locker room or my great grandma’s closet. I never find anything there when I go. Or, oh crap, I just made an impulse purchase (because it was so cheap) that I will never use and which will just end up back on the same shelf at the thrift store when I donate it a year from now. Etc. Etc. But then I started living less waste and could no longer avoid it which led me to the one secret that changed the game for me.

A thrift store list! Well technically, it’s a thrift store/second-hand/e-bay/craigslist/consignment/antique store list. With this magic piece of paper, I can be in and out of 3-5 thrift stores in a single weekend afternoon.

Here’s how it works for me. I see a need for something in our lives. Instead of jumping immediately to Amazon/Target/HomeGoods to purchase, I write it down. Bizarrely, I find that this step helps with the “immediate need” we all feel to buy stuff. The period between writing it down and purchasing gives me time to get a better idea of what I want the product to look like. The more specific you are, the easier it is when you are hauling tail through the rows of “one man’s trash” to spot it (or an item that closely resembles what you had in mind.) Armed with a pretty good idea of what I’m looking for, I figure out which second-hand stores will be best for this trip and set out. I review my list constantly as I’m walking, with purpose, through the stores. I’m focused. These are not trips that I am casually strolling. I am sans kids for 2 hours so I have got to make good use of it. I don’t make chit chat, I don’t stop to see how an antique farm tool works, I get in and get out. Is there a time and a place for doing those things when shopping at second-hand stores? Yes, but those trips are not what I’m doing right now. Those trips are reserved for leisure and special occasions. What I’m doing now is business.

Thrifting this way has enabled me to acquire awesome finds simply because I’m able to hit up more stores, more often since I have a clear plan. Do I sometimes miss some pretty great items that aren’t on my list by doing it this way? Maybe, but did I need them anyway? Is every store successful? No. Is every trip successful? Not every time but I tell you my thrift store success has increased by at least 500% after I started doing this.

So if you are also paralyzed with thrift store fear, maybe making a list will help you, too. If we do want to make purchases, we should be buying second-hand as much as possible in order to keep more stuff from being produced and out of landfills. Not even to mention the non-ethically produced aspect of mass production. I don’t like preaching at you so I will stop but I sometimes forget to clarify the “whys” we should be doing this so wanted to shoot that out real quick.

Okay, that’s all for now. I’m sure you know more than you ever wanted to about how I conquered my TSF. Thanks for reading!