5 Things to Never Buy While Thrifting

Thrifting saves money and keeps stuff out of landfills. But not everything at the thrift store is worth buying. Some finds will cost more to fix than they're worth, and others just add clutter to your house.

Virginia Chamlee, author of Big Thrift Energy, knows what to avoid. She's spotted the red flags that separate smart buys from expensive mistakes.

1. Project Pieces

These are the cheap finds that would be perfect if you fixed them up. Except most people never actually fix them.

The thrill of scoring a great deal fades fast when you realize repairs cost way more than expected. And if the project never happens, that "bargain" just sits around taking up space.

"I also think in general it's easy to want to buy a lot of stuff because the prices are more affordable," Chamlee says. "But that contributes to the endless cycle of consumerism. I try to edit my finds as best I can."

If something really speaks to you and restoration work sounds fun, Chamlee has questions to ask before buying.

"I always try to view an item's cost this way: How long did you spend finding it? How far did you drive to get it? What did you pay for it?" she says. "If it's a project piece, what did you put into it - how much time and how much money? Often, even 'cheap' finds can wind up being quite costly."

Time is money. Gas costs money. Materials cost money. That $15 chair that needs $200 in repairs and supplies isn't actually a deal.

2. Clothing with Stains or Holes

That beautiful blouse that would be perfect except for the stain on the front? Leave it.

Old stains have already set into fabric fibers. Getting them out is extremely difficult, especially when you don't know what caused the stain. Some spots that look like stains could actually be mold, according to Chamlee.

Holes and major damage are also deal-breakers. And always check the fabric quality and materials before you buy.

"Stick to quality materials like silk, leather, and stay away from polyester or polyblends, if you can," Chamlee says.

Makes sense. Polyester blends from 1987 with mystery stains aren't worth bringing home, no matter how cheap.

3. Items with Strong Odors

Some odors can be neutralized with vinegar. Others are permanent residents.

Anything that smells like animals should stay at the thrift store. Pet odors are notoriously difficult to eliminate from fabric and upholstery.

Furniture with strong smells or stains could potentially be fixed if money's no object. But reupholstering gets expensive fast.

"You can always have things reupholstered, though often if it's very old and worn, the reupholsterer will need to build back the cushions, which could be quite costly," Chamlee says.

A $30 chair that needs $400 in professional reupholstering work isn't saving money. It's just spending money with extra steps.

4. Potentially Recalled Items

Almost any product can be recalled. But certain categories get recalled for actually dangerous reasons—children's toys, strollers, baby gear, electronics.

It’s worth doing a quick web search or checking the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission website before buying anything in those categories.

"I always advise people to do a bit of research to ensure an item hasn't been recalled - this is especially true for household electronics or anything that could prove dangerous," Chamlee says.

Nobody wants to bring home a recalled crib or a fire-hazard toaster. It takes two minutes to check. Just do it.

5. Chipped or Cracked Goods

Fragile items that are already broken or barely functional aren't worth it.

"I stay away from anything that's fragile and broken or unusable," Chamlee says.

Examples: marble tables with big chips, vases that leak, cracked ceramics, broken glass items.

Sure, maybe that chipped vintage vase has character. But it also has a crack that's going to get worse and eventually leak water all over the table.

The Bigger Point About Thrifting

Cheap prices make it tempting to buy everything. But affordable doesn't automatically mean worth it.

Thrifting works best when people are selective. Buy quality items in good condition that don't need work. Skip the projects unless restoration is actually a hobby and the math makes sense.

Otherwise, those bargain finds just turn into clutter and wasted money. Which defeats the whole purpose of thrifting in the first place.

Chamlee's advice boils down to being honest about what will actually get used versus what looks good in the moment. Most project pieces never get finished. Most stained clothes never get cleaned. Most smelly furniture stays smelly.

Buy things that are ready to use right now. Leave everything else behind.

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