I arrived at my hometown Goodwill a few minutes before opening on a first Saturday of the month. I was there the night before, scoping out furniture to use for my daughter’s play kitchen. Since I had things to do, I figured I’d just swing by Goodwill the very first thing in the morning.

I was astounded as I pulled up. The parking lot was nearly full, and there was a line of at least 20 people deep from the still-locked front door. I had no idea Goodwill’s 50 percent off discount on the first Saturday of the month would be this big a deal!

Since that first trip (where I paid only $4 for the table that is now my daughter’s play kitchen), I’ve been back to Goodwill on first Saturdays many times. In fact, when I started a new job, most of my wardrobe came from two Goodwill half-off day shopping sprees.

In spite of its reputation as a place to get funky clothes to wear to 80s night at the bowling alley, Goodwill can actually be an excellent place for savvy shoppers to pick up everything from dress pants to dish pans.

But since half off days are a little like Black Friday for thrifters, you have to know how to take advantage of these shopping days. Here are my top eight tips:

1. Know when the sales happen.

Here in Central Indiana, Goodwill has a half-off day on the first Saturday of every month. And there are other deals at other times, including tag color specials where just some of the store’s stock is on sale. First Saturday sales are common, but check with your local Goodwill stores to figure out when the best sales happen in your area.

2. Scope it out.

If you’ve never shopped at your local Goodwill stores, take some time before your first trip to scope out the stores in your area. In general, areas where wealthier people live and shop tend to have higher-end name brand items. But this isn’t always the case. I’ve scored Eddie Bauer sweaters at Goodwill stores in relatively low-income areas.

Still, if you know you’ll only have time to hit up one or two stores, it’s a good idea to know which ones will suit you best.

3. Make a list.

Making a list when you’re shopping at a thrift store is not the same thing as making a list when you’re shopping at a department store. At a department store, you basically know what’s in stock and that everything will mostly come in your size. At Goodwill, all bets are off.

Still, you don’t want to shop with no idea of what you’re shopping for. So, for instance, when I’m shopping for new work clothes, I have a general idea what I’m looking for. I’ll keep a mental list of the outfits already in my closet, so I don’t double up unnecessarily. And I might have a few vague specifics in mind — like some sort of neutral sweater or a pair of dress pants.

When I shop for my daughter at Goodwill, I’m even more general. Usually, half-off days are for shopping for things she’ll need the next season or even years down the road. Right now, my “list” for kids’ clothes is basically any adorable, must-have girls’ clothing item in size 8 or smaller. And the further the size is from her current size — 4T — the more I have to love an item to buy it.

You could also have a general idea of things you need for your kitchen or accessories you’ve been looking for. Don’t be afraid to deviate from the list if you find a great deal, but having a list gives you some direction during your trip.

4. Try things on.

It’s tempting to buy a sweater for $4 without trying it on, just because it looks like it’ll fit. But if you get it home and it doesn’t fit right, you’ll have wasted $4. And you’ll be stuck with a sweater that you need to find time to re-donate to Goodwill.

Trying on clothes can be frustrating and time-consuming. But most Goodwills have at least a few fitting rooms. So load up on the things that look like they might work, and then take time to try things on.

5. Don’t buy it unless you love it.

The first time I did a Goodwill half-off day, I bought a top that I was a little ambivalent about. Again, you fall into the it’s-only-$4 trap. And, again, I wound up with a top I would never wear that I had to take back to Goodwill on my next trip.

If you’re a crafter, the temptation to buy things you don’t really love is even stronger. I’m always thinking, “Well, I could take it in here or add some ruffles there, and then I’d wear it.” It’s great to shop for bargain-basement deals that you can upcycle yourself. But if you only buy articles of clothing or housewares or toys to upcycle, you’ll wind up with an overflowing sewing basket and an underwhelming closet. Only buy items for upcycling projects you’ll actually have time for — preferably before the next half-off shopping day.

6. Start early.

The key to getting the best stuff from a half-off day, especially if you’re looking for bigger-ticket items like furniture, is to go early. It’s like Black Friday. Get to Goodwill just before opening, and get in line. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get a cart.

7. Plan your route.

With my girlfriends, Goodwill’s first Saturday sale is an event. We typically block out most of the morning and early afternoon, and we go to several stores in a row. If you need to stock your wardrobe or your kids’ wardrobes ASAP, this is the way to do it. I gathered most of my current work clothing in one epic Goodwill day involving six stores.

If you’re just browsing to see what you might like for a good price, you don’t have to go to multiple stores. But if you do choose to shop multiple stores, know that they’ll probably be out of carts by the second store, though things usually slow down later in the afternoon. Plan which stores you’ll go to in which order to make the most of your Goodwill shopping day.

8. Shop often.

The thing about thrift shopping — whether you’re just Goodwilling on half-off days or are a frequent buyer at local thrift shops — is that the stock always changes. The best way to piece together a fabulous wardrobe, decorated home or kitchen on a shoestring budget, is to visit thrift stores early and often.

In my circle of friends, Goodwill’s first Saturday is fast becoming a standing monthly appointment. And we always find a few treasures on each trip.

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8 Ways to Score Deals on Goodwill Half-Off Days originally appeared on usnews.com