12 Months of Thrifting Challenge: July Prompt — Thrift Something Off-Season

Want to know how to find some of the best items at Goodwill year-round?

Shopping off-season!

Welcome back to the 12 Months of Thrifting Challenge where we invite you to share your thrifted finds using the tag #12MonthsofThrifting on Instagram. This month’s prompt is to thrift something you need off-season.

Goodwill Akron locations carry seasonal items all year round, meaning you can easily find a coat in July and a swimsuit in December. Thrifting off-season is one my favorite ways to find items on my thrift wish list all year round. Best part? Not many other shoppers are shopping for a coat in the middle of the summer so you might get the entire aisle to yourself!

Here are my off-season shopping tips:

• Plan ahead: think about upcoming events, holidays, electronics, home décor, clothes, supplies, or furniture items you need and put them on a running thrift wish list. For example, my four-year-old grows out of clothes very quickly so I’m already thrifting for fall and winter play clothes for her next size at Goodwill.

• Make it a part of your thrift routine. It can be tough to get in the right headspace to shop for holiday décor or winter clothes in July. I try to make a point to at least walk through the seasonal sections about once a month at Goodwill to see if there’s anything I need on my list.

• Look for the deals. Since most shoppers are shopping for their current needs, much of the seasonal items will stay on the sales floor until they get marked down. So be sure to check the half off color tag for the day and save on seasonal items.

• Items to look for off-season. These are some of the items I always shop for year-round: outerwear, Christmas décor, children’s clothes, snowsuits, swimwear, formal dresses, gifts, garden supplies, and bakeware.

Remember, buying something you don’t really need is never a bargain, no matter the price.

Have something to share? We’d love to see it. Use the hashtag #12MonthsofThrifting and tag @dinasdays and @goodwillakron on social media.