Looking to update your wardrobe but finding it tough to do while on a tight budget? Consumer Reports suggests that you consider secondhand stores:

The merchandise is in good condition, and you can’t beat the prices on one-of-a-kind items that can help you freshen up your wardrobe.

Consumer Reports goes on to point out the three types of secondhand shops:

– Vintage shops: They “generally sell top-quality ‘pre-worn’ clothing, as well as some items that have never been worn.”

– Consignment/Resale stores: “People can sell clothing for cash…Prices, which tend to drop every 30 days the items stay on the racks, are 50 to 90 percent off retail.”

– Thrift shops: They accept donations. “The biggest bargains are there, but so too are the items with holes and stains.”

Consumer Reports offers up four tips for finding the best secondhand stores, which include going to the “fancy” zip codes to look for clothes, surfing the web (they list a few sites worth checking out), browsing eBay (though you need to be careful, as always, when buying from others on eBay), and shopping at thrift stores connected to a favorite charity.

The article also provides five “smart shopping tips” (e.g., when you’re in Florida, shop for winter clothes), as well as tailoring tips, advice on when to try to fix something and when to let it go, and a few examples of items they found when shopping at secondhand stores.

If you’re into this sort of thing, we highly recommend reading the full article (it’s actually a two-page PDF document). The link is below.

And please, tell us about your tips for shopping at secondhand stores. We know you have a few up your sleeve, so don’t be shy! Help us all save money!

Recessionista Shopping (Consumer Reports)

Photo credit: empracht