Thrifting is all the rage these days, but it can be difficult to get good finds! Not everything you find will be high-quality gems, but with a plan and a little bit of determination, you can definitely score some unique items you're sure to love.Here are some of our tips and tricks to thrifting. Plus our favorite local thrift stores!

Do research on what thrift stores are the best in your area

Ask your friends, do some googling, you can even follow local thrifters on social media! There are probably thrifts stores you haven't seen yet, go check them out! There are even apps and websites where you can easily locate thrift stores in your area, like Thrift Shoppers.

Some of our favorite local thrift stores:

• Get Thrifty
• Pak Rats
• Deseret Industries
• Thrifthood
• Plato's Closet
• Savers
• Moby Thrift
• Vantage

Get some inspiration beforehand

Pinterest is going to be your best friend here. Put together a board of outfits you love. Save pictures of fashion inspiration for reference while you're looking for those coveted items.Find a color palette you like, as well as fits and styles. Doing this will make it much easier to find what you're looking for.

Make a plan and have specific items in mind

Now that you have a Pinterest board ready to go, find similarities between the outfits you chose. Do they all have something in common? Maybe it's wide leg pants, maybe an oversized layering piece. Whatever the similarities may be, take note of specific items you think you would like to find. Write them down and bring that list with you to the thrift store. Manifest yourself finding these items! It's important to go to the thrift store with items in mind, otherwise you may start to feel overwhelmed or start impulse buying! Keep your list in mind and dive in.

Give yourself a lot of time

While it can be fun to pop over to the thrift store for a quick look, the key to a successful thrifting trip is to take your time.Make a day out of it! Maybe visit multiple shops. If having company makes you feel rushed, consider going by yourself. Spend as long as you need sifting through each and every item in the store. I know it sounds daunting, but that is how you find the gems! Don't feel bad if you don't find anything. There is nothing wrong with checking back again if nothing catches your eye.

Go thrifting often

Some thrifting days are just better than others. Maybe you spent an entire day thrifting and didn't find a single thing. That's okay! It happens. Try again the next week, or even the next day! Some thrift stores rotate their inventory usually about once a week. The more you go, you'll start to get a better idea of when you have the most luck! Some people say that early Monday or Tuesday morning is the best time to go, because stores usually restock after busy weekends. You'll start to get the hang of it the more you do it!

If you can, try everything on before purchasing

We know this one isn't an option during the pandemic. Try going to stores that allow returns or exchanges, that way if it doesn't end up working out, you can bring it back! If the shop does not allow returns or exchanges, be very mindful before making a purchase. Will you wear it? Will it fit? Are you willing to upcycle it if it doesn't work out?

Be open minded

One of the joys of thrifting is finding super unique pieces that no one else has. There are so many different ways to style unique clothing. Be open minded with the things you find! Before purchasing, try to visualize how you would wear it, and take it one step further by actually wearing it.

Look for basics that you can personalize

The thrift store is full of cheap, unique fabrics! Be creative and make cool new clothes for yourself with items found at the thrift store! This is such a great way to reuse items and reduce waste! This doesn't just apply to clothes. You can also buy unique vases and paint them to use as decor, or find cool paintings to hang up!

Try buying from second-hand clothing apps!

Thrifting has been made so easy (and social distancing friendly) with re-selling apps! You can type in specific brands or items that you're looking for and second-hand items will pop right up! Not only are they previously loved (the earth will thank you!), but it's a great way to find designer and name brands items for so much less than they would be new! You can also take it a step further and sell your own used clothing!

Some of our favorite re-selling apps:

• Depop
• Poshmark
• Mercari
• ThredUP
• Facebook Marketplace

We hope these tips help you find those hidden gems on your next thrifting trip.

Tell us in the comments what your favorite thrifted finds are!