The Best Things to Thrift in January, According to a Professional Thrift Shopper

Like many families, ours consumes more in the month of December in the way of gifts, décor, and travel than any other time of the year. We do try really hard to be mindful when it comes to maintaining a balance throughout the year, staying on top of handing down clothes and toys we've outgrown or no longer need, but once January rolls around, I do a major purge.

Many households opt to start the year off fresh instead of waiting until spring to do the deep cleaning and paring down. This means that most thrift shops are full to the brim with new inventory and are ripe for the picking. With that in mind, here are a few things to look out for in January when shopping secondhand in the new year. 

Holiday Décor

As nostalgic décor seems to be less and less important to folks, I'm finding thrift stores packed with the latest styles immediately after the holidays. Keep an eye out for holiday china and complete dish sets, including glasses and barware. Holiday theme linens and blankets seem to make their way out of the Christmas aisle with the regular stock, but can be found if you’re looking for them. Vintage brass items, such as deer statues and candlesticks, are definite treasures and harder to come across, but they can be found. Larger thrift store chains keep a Christmas aisle in most of their stores year-round, so be on the lookout for these items in early January. 

Clothing

The new year is the perfect time to check the racks for kids clothes. It's usually the older kids and teens who get new clothes for Christmas, but parents everywhere are taking the time over the holidays to go through closets and purge the fall clothes that no longer fit. Look specifically for holiday dresses and suits, pajamas, and snow gear. For adults, check out the coat and shoe collections; there are so many treasures to be found.

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Storage Bins and Totes

Sometimes, all you need to get motivated is the right tool, and I look at storage bins as the best tool for organization. As people are putting away their holiday décor, they’re being marketed new and improved storage options, which means their trusty old storage bins end up at the thrift store. While thrift stores are guilty of pricing some things absurdly high, storage bins still seem to be a good deal. I pick these up whenever I see them priced under $5.

Kids Toys

As new toys are gifted during the holiday season, parents everywhere are sneaking into their children's rooms, removing forgotten toys to keep the room from imploding. It’s a great time for grandparents and caretakers to find secondhand toys in excellent condition to keep at their houses without spending a fortune on new toys.