Image Source: Wikipedia
Not only is it fun to pop into your local thrift store to look for those extra special decor pieces that can make your home shine on a budget, but you can save some major cash while improving your home at the same time.
With a little bit of digging and luck, you can thrift pricey home improvement items at a fraction of a cost for what you would pay for them out of the box.
Keep reading for insight into how to thrift for home improvement supplies.
How to Save Money by Thrifting
When you buy a home it’s easy to focus on the bigger costs like down payments, monthly mortgage payments, and property taxes.
But eventually, the hidden costs of homeownership pop up when it comes time to tackle things like home improvement projects, repairs, and ongoing maintenance needs.
To help keep these hidden costs to a minimum, you can turn to your local thrift store or to online marketplaces to buy gently used home improvement items.
You may think that furniture and decor is all thrift stores and digital re-sellers have to offer—and there is plenty of that to be found—but you can also find appliances, building materials, power tools, and even things like sinks for sale.
Yes, the tools of the home improvement trade can also potentially be thrifted.
For example, if you plan to complete a one-off project that needs a specific tool you won’t see yourself using again, thrifting will save you a lot of money.
Let’s say only one room in your house needs new tile floors and you want to tackle that project yourself.
Buying a brand new tile cutter won’t make sense. Instead, try to thrift one and put the savings towards splurging on a tile you really love.
You may even be able to thrift the tile cutter and the tile (people sell supplies leftover from projects) which would be a real win.
You can also rent these tools for day jobs.
On the other hand, when it comes to home improvement tools you know you’ll use time and time again, you may find investing in a new model is the way to go.
When you buy something like a power drill, you can read online reviews, purchase extended warranties, and may even be able to return the tool if something goes wrong. If longevity is your goal, it may very well be worth it to splurge.
Where to Thrift for Home Improvement Items
A quick Google search should lead you to your local thrift stores, The Salvation Army, or a Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Thrift stores are also a good place to pick up accessories like art, vases, and smaller decorative objects that you might not want to pay full price for.
If you’re patient you can fix up and decorate your home with thrifted items and it will look just as good if not better than if you paid for all brand new supplies.
As amazing as thrift stores are, don’t forget that you can find everything you need from the comfort of your one home these days.
Because home improvement tools are often expensive to buy new, there are plenty of consumers who don’t want to donate them and are looking to recoup some of the money they spent.
Online marketplaces like Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace allow you to shop from local buyers, or to buy used items and have them shipped to your house.
For bigger purchases, it’s helpful to pick a local buyer so you can go check out the quality and condition of the home improvement tool before buying it.
Shopping online also makes it easier to comparison shop and to look for the best deals, but don’t write off in-person shopping.
Make it a point to stop by your local garage sales on the weekend. Garage sales are a fun way for neighbors to clear out their homes and to make a little cash and you can usually negotiate a pretty good deal if you take a bulky item like an unwanted steam cleaner or leaf blower off their hands.
To snag the best deals, it helps to visit your local thrift stores and to check out online marketplaces often to see what new arrivals could suit your current or upcoming home improvement project needs.
Why the Work Is Worth the Effort
Thrifting does take a lot more time and effort than just popping down to your local home improvement store and picking up the latest style on the shelf.
That work can lead to some big savings, however — savings that will stretch your home improvement budget much further.
Once you’re done with any major projects you can shift your focus to decorating your home.
Don’t overlook furniture with small scuffs or upholstered furniture that isn’t a color you like, you can always use some of your new home improvement tools to help you give furniture items a DIY refresh.
Who wants a cookie-cutter home that anyone can pick up at their local home decor store anyways?
