Experts reveal the biggest mistakes we make when second-hand shopping

Shopping for clothes at a thrift store can be equally exciting and overwhelming. 

There's a special thrill that comes with finding a one-of-a-kind or vintage piece at a discounted price — but it's not always easy to know what's worth buying and what should be kept on the rack.

Insider spoke to experienced thrift-shoppers, bloggers, and influencers about common mistakes people make when shopping for secondhand clothes — and what they should be doing instead.

Going thrifting during busy days, like Saturday and Sunday, means there's more competition for the best finds.

Jillian Owens, the founder of the thrifting blog Refashionista, said that thrift-shoppers should always try to beat the crowds. 

For example, if you can only thrift on the weekends, Owens suggests going early in the morning.

If you have more flexibility, Owens said, Tuesdays are a good time to shop because at many stores, that's the day when most of the items that were donated over the weekend are put on display.

It's best to stay away from buying thrifted pieces from fast-fashion brands.

Caitlin Trantham is a self-taught seamstress who's been shopping at thrift stores for more than 12 years. She shares transformations of her thrifted clothes on TikTok.

Trantham told Insider that she avoids paying more than $10 for every piece of thrifted clothing she buys.

Because of that, when she's at a thrift store, she rarely buys garments from fast-fashion brands, such as Forever 21, H&M, Zara, Fashion Nova, and others. Trantham said that she can't justify spending $10 on something from one of those places when she could get a vintage or one-of-a-kind piece for the same price. 

Trantham said that she occasionally breaks her own rule — but when she does, she sticks to paying $4 or less for thrifted fast-fashion clothes. 

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