How To Save More Money At Goodwill

When I began my vintage and antique home goods business, Purple Monkey Manor, I didn’t shop thrift stores much. Garage sales were my thing. Then I started watching JamiRayVintage on youtube and they show their thrift store hauls on live videos on Saturday evenings. After seeing their great finds, I added thrift stores to my shopping possibilities. Shopping at Goodwill is my main thrift store source. Here’s how to save more money at Goodwill.

The only thrift stores within fifteen minutes of my home are Goodwills. I can travel 30 minutes and for a few others, but for shopping on the fly, Goodwill is my store of choice. There are three locations creating a triangle around my locale as well as a Goodwill Outlet. Because I sell in my own shop, I’ve got to get the best price possible to make money at the venture I’ve chosen. Here’s how I do that. My own opinions or strategies are written in purple (for the skimmers of the world.) Everything else was found on their websites or by asking in-store.

Goodwill color of the week:

1. Take note of the color of the week. You can find this on their website, and on signs in the store. Goodwill has different color price tags and one color will be discounted 50%. Say the color is yellow. All items with a yellow price tag are 50% off.
2. FOR CLOTHING ONLY – On Sundays, the items with the color of the previous week are 99 cents. In my example, on Sunday after the yellow week, all of the items with a yellow price tag will be 99 cents.
3. After the Sunday clothing sale, they will take ALL items, housewares and clothing, of that color (yellow in the example) that didn’t sell and ship them off to the Goodwill Outlet.
4. Colors rotate in a five-week cycle so items with the color of the week have been in the stores for four weeks or so.

PRO-TIP

Each item is marked (in permanent marker) with a number and the color of the tag in case it’s fallen off. All prices over $1 end in 99. In the photo of the item with the black tag, you can see 1BL. Even without the tag, you’d know that it was priced at $1.99 on a black sticker.

Goodwill Rewards:

Join their rewards program. From my local Goodwill website. Here are the exclusive benefits of Club Goodwill REwards:

• $5 Club Goodwill REward issued with every 100 points earned
• Earn 1 point for almost every $1 spent. 
• 10% military discount on Tuesdays
• 15% senior discount on Wednesdays, must be 60 or older to qualify
• 10% student discount on Fridays
• Spend more, save more promotions on the 15th of every month
• 25% off birthday discount on one day within your birthday month.
• Discount coupons by e-mail plus advance notification of sales and promotion
• The Goodwill Rewards program also keeps track of your donation receipts. It’s nice to not have to keep up with another piece of paper at tax time.

PRO-TIP

Although I don’t see it on their website unless I’m logged into my account, you also receive a 10% discount on purchases of $20 or more every day with your rewards card. I checked some of my receipts and I’ve been receiving this discount. 

Pros of shopping at Goodwill

PRO: The Goodwill Outlet has some amazing deals. Last time I was there, I picked up two wicker picnic baskets on the cheap.
PRO: You can shop Goodwill Stores and the Goodwill Outlet almost any time. They keep retail hours where garage sales and flea markets require shopping on the weekends which competes with soccer games, family trips and the other myriad of things that pack our weekends.
PRO: With locations all over town, I find different things in different parts of town.
PRO: The Goodwill Rewards program also keeps track of your donation receipts. It’s nice to not have to keep up with another piece of paper at tax time. Just log into your rewards website and print your list.
PRO: The organization has a clear mission and is playing a life-changing role in the lives of those they serve.

Cons of shopping at Goodwill

CON: They write on almost every item with a Sharpie marker. Unless removed, it announces to everyone that your beautiful piece is from Goodwill and also how much you paid for it.
CON: Their websites are different for different areas. My local URL is www.goodwillindy.org. Confusing? Yes! Websites…plural. Very frustrating.
CON: Goodwill prices are higher, sometimes much higher, than at a garage sale or flea market. That makes it REALLY important to think about how much you can sell it for and how much work you need to put into the piece to sell it. If you are only going to be able to mark it up an additional $2 and it will require an hour of repairs and painting, it’s not worth it…PUT IT BACK! Your time is valuable.
CON: Because you shop by the pound at the Goodwill Outlet, be careful of the weight of the items. You could end up paying more for it at the outlet than you would have in the store.
CON: When at the Goodwill Outlet, I saw someone wearing gloves. SOOO smart. Some of the stuff is kinda gross.

NOTE: My experience is with the Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana. Discounts & Rewards may differ in your area. Check this article’s info against the Goodwill in your area by going to Goodwill.org and searching for your local store.