Bargain Ladies Reveal Secondhand Shopping Tricks

Marilyn Mance and Mary Ferro have turned thrift shopping into a money-saving mission.

Marilyn started bargain shopping with her mom at flea markets, and now the consignment queen uses her skills to make money.

"We have many properties that we furnish. I come to the Goodwill, I buy curtains, bedding, things like that for when you stage a property," said Mance.

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One of the great parts about shopping at thrift stores is that you can find expensive items for next to nothing. Channel 11 News Anchor Jennifer Abney found a brand new sweater with the tag still on it -- original price $128 -- for just -- $3.99.

Goodwill representative David Tobiczyk says the thrift business is booming.

"The past year we have seen a lot of new faces in our stores. Our sales have been up quite a bit in the last few months, especially with the downturn in the economy," said Tobiczyk.

Here's the best advice from the consignment ladies:

First, check your favorite thrift store more than once each week. Going back at least twice a week will give you a huge advantage because new items are added every day.

Another must for the bargain ladies is trying on clothes. Not everything looks as appetizing on thrift store racks, and an item may look better once you try it on.

The third piece of advice is important. Make sure to ask about sales -- even thrift stores have them.

Some Goodwills have senior citizen day sales or clearances where yellow-tagged items are reduced.

Tobiczyk says if you haven't been in a Goodwill store recently, you will find big changes on your next trip.

Items are now sized and put on the floor hourly.