How to Avoid Over-Buying When You Thrift for Poshmark for a Living

Cathy Vandewater

Aug 16, 2022 • 5 min read

Just one more... faux... succulent!

It's a little too easy to come home with piles of stuff from the thrift store if you go there as part of your job, but these a few rules (basically all from Marie Kondo's brilliant The Magic Art of Tidying Up) have never led me astray.

When Buying for Yourself, Set Ground Rules:

First, read The Magic Art of Tidying Up, and like, do the tidying. Because once your house is in order, you know what you have, and you enjoy having breathing room in your closets, etc, it's a lot easier to resist buying crap you don't need. THEN: when you shop, ask yourself the following questions when you see something that catches your eye.

Does this spark joy?
Do I have a use for it?
Do I have a place for it?

Following these rules has really helped me resist buying things that are useful, but that I don't absolutely love, or that are adorable, but will end up just laying around and taking up space. The result has been a curated collection of useful, gorgeous items I've acquired slowly over the years, one of a kind interiors, and zero cheap garbage bought on impulse. Or ya know, realisitically, like 1% cheap garbage. It's a balance!

Clean and Put Away New Items Immediately to Prevent Future Overbuying

Another fantastic tip from MK: clean and put things away as soon as you get home. Nothing kills the thrift-trip vibe like a pile of dirty stuff in a bag in the corner. I take everything out and set up a space with a few rags and some vinegar/dish soap/water spray to give everything a quick wipe, then assign it a home. This also helps you learn quickly what you're at risk of impulse buying, but don't really have space or a use for. This can happen over and over if you're not taking stuff out of bags when you get home! Personally, I'm guilty of over-buying plant pots. Walking all over my house with a new one that I couldn't find a single window sill for was eye-opening.

Know Your Wish List

I have a running tally of a few things I'm on the look out for, which helps me feel confident in pouncing on items I like when I find them, and also helps with resisting stuff that's not really on the list. A few examples: a glass tray for displaying perfumes, a travel jewelry box, glass/metal shaker jars, shell tops I can wear with my under-used collection of skirts, mule shoes for my new cropped pants, record storage, and a bookcase. I recommend literally writing this out to help keep it in your memory! It's also easier to walk out of a store with nothing because "nothing on my list was there" vs. when you're feeling a vague urge to just buy something without knowing what or why.

Channel Your Purchasing Itch Into Money Saving Birthday and Holiday Hunting

Now generally, it's always more fun for the thrifty among us to find things ourselves. But certain items area always appreciated if you check with folks about what they are first. I've scouted good condition maternity and baby clothes for my sister, suction handle bar for the shower for my mom with a broken leg, and XXS cashmere sweaters for my very petite mom in law. Christmas last year was basically all carefully curated items found throughout the year--so yes, get the wish lists early and make holiday shopping a fun scavenger hunt!

Remember That It's Okay to Change and It's Okay to Let Go

A sometimes tricky part of reselling for a while is exposure to great brands--and then ruining yourself for your Target faves. I still love Universal Thread, don't get me wrong, but after slowly building a collection of high quality workout clothes, I have to admit to myself that it's time to release my once exciting Old Navy Active finds back into the world because I'm 1. not wearing them, and 2. my drawers are bursting. You don't want to be having a hard time even finding your favorite pieces because they're buried in crap. Let go, and choose discerningly in the future.

The same goes for decor, tools you don't use, hobbies you didn't really get into--it's okay! Thank your items, as Marie Kondo would suggest, and give somebody else the gift of excitedly discovering them at the thrift store.

Any tips for keeping your buying and clutter under control while living that #thriftlife?

Drop 'em below!

-Cathy @ ClosetWitch

When Buying for Yourself, Set Ground Rules:

Clean and Put Away New Items Immediately to Prevent Future Overbuying

Know Your Wish List

Channel Your Purchasing Itch Into Money Saving Birthday and Holiday Hunting

Remember That It's Okay to Change and It's Okay to Let Go

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