9 Goodwill Shopping Tips & Tricks

9 Tips For Getting The Best Deals When Shopping At Goodwill

When it comes to decorating a home, there’s no doubt that your local Goodwill store is one store you’ll want to visit.  It’s the best place to score one of a-kind items at great prices. 

I find that any local Goodwill store is a great place to come across unique finds for a treasure hunt at a great price, plus there are many great bargains you can find while on the sales floor.

Goodwill industries is a thrift store that always has a wide variety of items to make redecorating your home an enjoyable experience. 

Special Items You Might Find

• Household items / Household goods
• Video games
• A good book
• Home décor
• A wide array of antiques
• Collectible items

But did you know that there are even more ways for you to get serious savings at any Goodwill location?  Here are some tips & tricks for getting the best deals out of your Goodwill shopping trips. 

Be Prepared

Since Goodwill carries a vast number of items, it can be easy to overspend and buy things that you weren’t even looking for, and  you’ll find so many different items that you’ll love it can be hard to resist the thrill of the hunt.

And since these items are at affordable prices, you’ll be tempted to repurpose them.  For those reasons, stay focused and be prepared to see other things you might want, but stick with your mission. 

Use Your Imagination

Sometimes, the best deals can be found in unexpected places.  And at Goodwill, you’ll be sure to find some that will inspire your creativity.  

You can always put your own personal style on it. You might find a piece with a small stain or chip that you can still repurpose into something good. And in some cases, you can find old furniture that you can reupholster into something new. Your options are endless, as long as you keep an open mind.

Shop The Biweekly 50% Off Sale

Goodwill outlet stores often have 50% off on everything in the store or on particular colors of price tags every other week. If you’re lucky, you might find a special sale on more than one color price tag at the same time.  

However, if you shop at Goodwill, it’s important that you know the best time to visit.  You should head to the store early in the day every other Saturday if your store participates. 

Make sure to visit the store the night before, if possible to see all they have, and then plan your shopping trip for early the next day. That gives you the best chance of finding what you want at the best price.

Of course, you always want to call ahead to make sure your store is participating. Some stores may not do it at all, and some may do it on a different day, so always make sure to check with your Goodwill store location to find out their policies.

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Shop Early In The Week

Another day you can score big from Goodwill is on Monday or Tuesday.  Because many people donate what they didn’t sell over the weekend at their garage sale or things they cleaned out over the weekend. 

Goodwill takes them in, prices them and puts them, out for sale in the store, so shopping on Mondays or Tuesdays, you get a first look at the inventory changes.

Visit Often

When you visit the store regularly, you can keep your eye out for new items that would make a fantastic score.  Things at Goodwill go really fast since they are priced to sell.  So if you find something you love, make sure to buy it before it’s too late. 

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Shop High-End Areas

If you’re near a more high end area you might want to check out stores closer to those areas for some fun finds. You’re might even find some designer or high quality items. 

The thing about these items is that they may be flawed with a little paint coming off or a chip here and there.  But remember, a little paint can work wonders. 

Shop Senior/Military Members Discounts (if applicable)

Goodwill offers discounts for senior and military members.  The discount, however, depends on the goodwill outlet location.  

For example, there are Goodwill stores that give a 10% discount for military members.  For seniors 55 and older, the discount goes from 20% to 40%.  So, again check with your local stores to find out when they offer these discounts and take advantage.

Head To The Dressing Room

If you’re shopping for clothes at Goodwill, it’s often a good idea to head to the dressing room.  You’ll find a fitting room rack with clothes people tried on and haven’t been put back on the racks in the main area of the store. 

This is where you’ll be able to spot some of the cutest items that other people have shown interest in but didn’t buy for sizing or fit reasons. 

Shop The Holiday Decor Section

During the holidays, pay a visit to Goodwill and you’ll be able to score some really cheap decorations you can use.  With this trick, you’ll never have to overspend on Christmas or Halloween decor for your home.

Those are our 9 tips for Goodwill shopping and how you can score the best deals. 

Remember every time you go shopping at Goodwill to take a donation of your own. This way, you can clean out some items from your home that you aren’t using anymore, and you get to give a charitable donation to a nonprofit organization plus to help someone else, and it’s tax-deductible, too.

Goodwill Web Site

For those who didn’t know, Goodwill has an online storefront. It is like an eBay store or any online auction site. I prefer going in-store than using online stores, but when you want to shop in the comfort of your own home, this is the way to go.