CREDIT: KERRA SEAY
Thrift shopping can be a great way to get a new look and not completely destroy your wallet; follow these tips to have a successful shopping trip.

For many students, as spring comes, we decide it’s time to revamp our wardrobe. Unfortunately, a fancy new wardrobe can come at quite a cost.

A great way to get a new look on a budget is by heading to your local thrift store and searching the racks for something good. As great as thrift stores can be, there can also be a lot of not-so-great clothes to sift through. It can be a daunting task to search the many racks before you find a few viable pieces. So here are a few tips for the next time you decide to venture in to a thrift store.

First you need to know what you are looking for.

Most thrift stores are packed to the brim with everything from clothing to household items. There may seem to be endless rows of shirts, pants, skirts and everything in between. If you try to look at everything, you are going to get overwhelmed and frustrated quickly.

This is why before you make a trip to the store, make a list of what kinds of things you are actually looking for. Narrow it down to the types of clothes or colours you are looking for.

Most thrift stores organize their items by type of clothing and colour. If you know what you are looking for, you can take more time looking in that particular section rather than just wandering the racks.

Next, once you’ve found something you like, check the original tags. There are lots of high-end items that make their way into the stores, but there are also lots of lower scale items.

There is nothing wrong with items from stores like Walmart or Giant Tiger, but often these items are priced closely to their original sale value. This means that for a few dollars more you could probably purchase the item brand new.

Instead, try and look for the best deal you can by checking the tags.

Before you put an item in your cart make sure to check and recheck the item. Make sure to look the item over from top to bottom, inside and out.

Whenever you are purchasing something that has been previously loved, you want to make sure that it is still in good condition. Not everything that you find in the stores is going to be in the greatest condition. Be sure to check the seams to see if there are any holes or threads coming loose. Also be sure to keep your eye out for stains anywhere on the piece of clothing.

Lastly, as you make your way to the checkout, be sure to know how much everything will cost. An article by the Huffington Post suggests that when you are going to a thrift store you should always have a budget in mind. Sometimes it can be easy to get carried away with all the low priced items. However, all those $5 items can add up quickly and you may be in for a surprise once all your items have been rung through the check out. So figure out your budget, then add up the cost of all your items prior to making a purchase. This way, if you are over your set budget, you can narrow down your items before you check out.

Thrift stores can be a great way to spruce up your wardrobe; it can also be a tiresome and frustrating challenge to look through everything in the store. Remember to have an idea of what you want before going, so that you can narrow down what racks you are going to go through. Check the items over by looking at the original tags, and look for signs of wear, like stains or holes. Lastly, since many students find themselves on a strict budget throughout the year, don’t let the budget fly out the window when you enter the thrift store.

Going to the thrift store can be frustrating, or it can be as much fun as Macklemore makes it look, so give yourself lots of time and bring some friends and make a fun day out of it.