Best Goodwill Thrift Shopping Secrets According to the Pros

Tips and tricks for shopping the best deals at Goodwill, the best restock times to go, and what to look for in thrifty home decorating. 

This post has been a loooooooooooooong time coming. Actually, there probably aren’t even enough Os in that word.

I walk through those automatic sliding doors of my neighborhood Goodwill and suddenly I’m a straight up boss. Macklemore style. (Did you really think you’d be able to read a thrifting post without that song reference? Mission accomplished, friend.)

How to Find the Best Deals at Goodwill

I sorta kinda maybe most definitely absolutely have an addition to Goodwill stores. But in a good way. Not in the way that you’d catch me on an episode of Hoarders; thank goodness.

In one year, we furnished the majority of our entire house by shopping at Goodwill and Craigslist. I already wrote ways to score on Craigslist a few months ago, but Goodwill can be equally as rewarding, if not more. Really thrift stores in general rock, but I’ve just been very lucky with the Goodwills specifically in my area and have learned the tricks.

So here ya go. Goodwill shopping secrets revealed: (Pardon my low-quality cell phone photos.)

1. Visit regularly

I visit my local Goodwill usually once a week, sometimes twice if I have the time. Ours is literally 5 minutes from our house, so it’s easy to pop in often. Some days I score big with incredible finds. Other days I walk out completely empty handed. But I’ll never know unless I stop in and check out the goods.

After a while, you’ll probably notice a pattern of the best day of the week when new items hit the shelves to find a great deal. You’ll especially notice a pattern if you visit on a daily basis. Not all thrift stores are alike, so the restocking schedule might vary among Goodwill locations.

If you’ve never had any luck at Goodwill before, it might just be because you went on an “off” day when their stock wasn’t so great. 

2. Know when to stop in at the best time

I’m not even kidding in saying I almost don’t want to reveal this little tip. But honestly, what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t? When the yard sales in your area are in full swing, chances are your local Goodwill store will get a spike in merchandise too. (Winter can be a bit of a dud.)

During Spring Cleaning Season

Since most garage sales are on the weekends, I tend to have the most luck on Sunday nights or Monday morning after items have been donated. Most people usually clean out their closets and storage areas over the weekend during spring cleaning.

After Holiday Weekends

If you hit up the store after holiday weekends, you can expect an even bigger selection of great finds since most people have more time to purge their stuff. If Monday is a bank holiday, expect for Tuesday mornings to have new bins filled with good finds.

I visited my store last week the day after Memorial Day and it was packed with all kinds of new inventory with great furniture. Just the week before, there was hardly any furniture at all.

Related: DIY Narnia Wardrobe Reading Nook from a Thrifted Armoire

At Store Opening Hours

Visit early too. Some days I manage to get to Goodwill when they open and there is already a line 5-10 regular shoppers deep at the still locked doors. It doesn’t happen often for me. But when I arrive at opening time on a Monday or Tuesday, I can pretty much guarantee a good deal with a good selection of fresh merchandise.

Fair warning: You’ll most likely be competing with antique store booth and Facebook marketplace resellers during store opening hours, so don’t hesitate to make snap decisions choosing your items.

3. Know what you’re looking for

I keep a list in the notepad of my phone entitled “Thrift Shopping Wish List” of different items I need to be on the lookout for. A little patience often pays off.

Prioritize Departments

I have my route planned out and typically stop in at the furniture section first, followed by the frames/mirrors, home decor, lighting, household goods, and holiday sections. Yes, holiday sections. You wouldn’t believe all of the generous donations of Christmas decor I find smack dab in the middle of summer. I decorated for Christmas last year with tons of it for dirt cheap.

Do you spy what I spy? That ornate scroll mirror is way too pretty to be homeless. But I left it for someone else to enjoy.

Related: Mirror Gallery Wall from Thrifted Frames

4. Think outside the box and get creative

This could probably be a whole ‘nother post all by itself, but just know that so many of the best bargains you find can be repurposed and madeover as DIY projects with a bit of imagination.

I saw this pink cabinet with stickers all over it, but I knew the shape and style was great.

It didn’t look like much, but with a little sanding, paint, and new knobs it turned out like this:

5. Don’t hesitate

If you see something you like on the sales floor, snatch it up. Take that furniture tag and run. (Not literally out the door…you know what I mean.)  

As you shop, you can make the decision if you really want to buy it. You can always put the item back, but you have a better chance of missing out if you don’t make a snap decision. But the best items aren’t on the floor for long, so don’t miss out while you are deciding.

I was actually standing and looking at a beautiful vintage birdcage sitting on a shelf the other day trying to decide if I really wanted one more. And a lady came along and grabbed it right from under my nose. I mean wow. It’s a ruthless jungle in there, people. 

6. Make sure the price is right

Since the thrifting experience has increased in popularity, Goodwill has taken notice. And sometimes they do seem a bit pricey. Don’t buy something just because it’s there. Chances are others won’t buy an item priced too high either and you can come back in a day or two when it’s marked down.

A lot of random price-slapping happens especially on household items when workers try to estimate the market value of each item. Human error happens as a result. 

This coffee table turned ottoman I gave a makeover was originally marked at $50, and I managed to buy it at $20 a few days later. Patience pays off sometimes.

7. Donate something every time you thrift shop

To keep my thrifting/hoarding tencencies at bay, I try to take at least something to donate every time I visit. It keeps the hubby happy. 😉  And makes our house look less like a crazy junk lady lives there.

Related: Free Ultimate Home Printable Declutter Checklist PDF

8. Visit stores in higher-end neighborhoods and/or multiple locations

I’m lucky to live on the outskirts of one of the wealthier neighborhoods in our city, and it has made for the ultimate treasure hunt. Some of my favorite stores are located in upscale communities.

I can’t even believe some of the expensive pieces of furniture I find for total chump change regularly.

This dining table I spotted recently was a looker! Some liming wax could really make that yellowy wood sing. Those chairs had major potential too.

I don’t really find as many great things in the less affluent areas. But I still sometimes get lucky, and it’s interesting to see how much the merchandise can vary. The more rural areas are more likely to have primitive or rustic style home goods, and that can be fun.

9. Only buy items you are truly excited about

If you don’t totally love it in the store or aren’t excited about an item’s potential, leave it. Don’t buy something just for the sake of buying it. Walking out with nothing is okay. You’ll have better luck next time.

I so wanted to take home this china cabinet. That quatrefoil has come back into trend and would come to life with a fresh coat of paint on the piece. It was being sold at $65. Not too shabby.

10. Remember that paint can fix (almost) anything

If you find a beautiful dresser with lots of scratches, chalk paint will fix it right up. Don’t like the color of some pictures frames? Paint those bad boys. Keep an open mind for unique items. 

Transform an old brass light fixture into something that will match the rest of your lighting. I found our stairway light for $17 at Goodwill, luckily ready to hang. Paint would have been an easy fix if I had wanted to change the finish.

Even upholstery can sometimes be painted (just make sure the upholstery is still in good shape and doesn’t have a smell…ew.)  Don’t let the color of something limit you.

11. Look for good quality

If you find a dresser with dovetail drawers, that’s a winner. If a chair is nice and sturdy, it has lots of potential. Brand names are a plus too. Our dining chairs were made by a high end company called American Drew that sold me on them.

I even found a set of 8 Crate & Barrel white coffee mugs for 50 cents each a while back. They’re my favorite!

12. Know the sale days

(Note: Sale days and discount programs vary by region, so check with your local store as it might be different from these.)  

Student / Military Discount Day

Tuesdays are student/military discount days and you can get 20% off your entire purchase with your ID.

Senior Citizens Day

On Wednesdays, seniors 55 and older can get 20% off the entire purchase. Goodwill has a Customer Value Program and Email Club with special discounts and coupons too.

13. Check Goodwill Online

If you can’t stop into Goodwill in person, the good news is there are now new ways to shop Goodwill’s online store!

To be completely honest, the online selection on Goodwill’s website doesn’t have the best prices. But it does allow you to keep an eye out for new stock right from home and get the best chance of scoring some new finds. 

More Thrifted Home Decorating Ideas

• 30 Home Decor Items You Should Always Buy While Thrift Shopping
• How to Find the Best Deals on Facebook Marketplace
• 14 Best Fall Decor Items to Buy in Thrift Stores

Get more ideas to shop for home decor in thrift stores here…

There ya go. I just spilled all my secrets, and now I might have some fierce competition. But I always love passing on what I’ve learned. Happy thrift hunting!