How to Do Resale in Smart Way

There are some things you just want brand new. But you can find many nearly new goods - from designer clothes to brand-name appliances - for far less at thrift and consignment stores. You can feel good about buying secondhand : It saves dough, it's recycling and you might be helping a charity. A sharp eye is required to get your money's worth, so study the secrets before you shop.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Save money - but feel like you're splurging - at thrift and consignment shops.

1. Plug and Play ---> When looking at a small appliance, check the cords for frays and ask if you can plug it in and let it run for several minutes before purchasing it.
2. Dress for it ---> Not all thrift shops have fitting rooms. Wear clothes that let you work around this, such as a T-shirt and a loose skirt with an elastic waistband that'll allow you to slip pants on underneath.
3. Check measurements ---> To help ensure a good fit, take along a measuring tape and use it to measure pants that don't have measurements in inches on the tag.
4. Try the neck-waist trick ---> To gauge if a skirt or pants will fit your waist, wrap the waistband around your neck as if tying a cape. If it fits your neck, it will probably fit your waist. (This trick doesn't apply to low-rise jeans.)
5. Stick to designer classics ---> Consignment shops are inexpensive compared with typical retail stores, but they're not cheap, so spend wisely. Don't buy an item just because of a designer label if it's likely to be out of style next season.
6. Know bargaining's place
   Thrift and consignment shops are not like yard sales -- you generally can't talk your way to a lower price (unless, of course, the item obviously needs repair.)
7. Resist temptation ---> You might be more prone to making impulse purchases at a thrift or consignment shop because the prices are so much lower than at the mall. Resist! You don't want to clutter your home with toys your children won't play with or shoes you'll never wear simply because they were inexpensive.