The Vinnies Monster Warehouse sale has been and gone for another season, and as a well-seasoned thrifting veteran I thought I’d put together a list of tips for first-timers.
1. Don’t get overwhelmed
Don’t get overwhelmed by the clothing racks spanning as far as the eye can see! If you don’t want to spend too much time rummaging, decide beforehand what kind of things you’re looking for. Maybe you just want a new denim skirt for Summer? Easy, there’s just one or two racks of skirts to looks through. Or maybe you just like a particular colour, pattern or fabric. If you keep this in mind, you can easily scan all the racks quickly and pull out any item that fit your criteria.
2. Don’t bother with change rooms
Vinnies sales can get mega crowded and ain’t nobody got time for lining up in a huge queue to try things on. Instead, wear a fitted singlet so you can try things on over the top and avoid the lines (thrifting pro-tip!). I also recommend wearing slip on shoes like thongs or ballet flats so you can easily try on shoes. Remember: this is not a fashion show, you are on a mission… and you need to dress in the most practical way possible to fulfil that mission! And also remember the prices are so low that it won’t be the end of the world if you try something on at home and it doesn’t fit. Just donate it back to Vinnies or your chosen organisation and consider it a charitable donation.
3. Check out the kids’ section
If you have kids of your own, know someone with kids or are a small-sized adult, you should find something of value in the kids’ section. Remember, kids come in a wide range of sizes these days so often smaller adults will easily fit into their tshirts, for example. Kids clothes are even cheaper at the sale (yesterday all kids’ items were $1), so it’s a great time to stock up on play clothes and school uniforms for your growing little ones.
4. But leave your kids at home
If at all possible, leave your kids at home. I can’t tell you how many times my ankles were rammed by small people running around under the racks with wheely cars. That gets kind of annoying for other patrons to put up with and also distracts you from your mission. You don’t want to have to keep an eye on the kids while also jugging an armful of coat-hangers and browsing the multitude of different racks.
5. Bring cash
Bring coins for the gold coin donation entry and sausage sizzle. At the checkout you can pay with ether card or cash.
Did anyone else get to the Vinnies Monster Warehouse Sale this weekend? Did you nab any sweet bargains? Let me know in the comments!
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