When it comes to clothes shopping, I prefer bargain hunting to retail. It is much more exciting to uncover a treasure in a thrift store than to be waited on by an attentive sales person in an overly lit mall. I love to hunt on Ebay, in antique and “junque” shops, in thrift stores, vintage stores and at discount retailers.

Some of my best discoveries have been a Sonia Rykiel coat for $8, brand new Prada boots for $44, an Escada sweater for $4 and a Douglas Stannard necklace for $29.

Thrifty shopping requires a mix of luck and skill. Luck I can’t help you with; but I can help with the skill. Here are my top ten tips for thrifting.

1) Shop frequently: Merchandise moves fast in thrift stores. The best strategy is to visit your favorite shops weekly. It doesn’t pay to go more often than that as most stores only bring in new stock once a week. Find out when the new inventory arrives and try to make that your day to visit.

2) Be willing to leave empty handed: The goal is not to end up with a closet full of junk that was really inexpensive but that you’ll never wear. Only buy items you will use. An acrylic sweater with a Christmas motif is hideous whether you pay $2 or $20 for it.

3) If it’s under $3, don’t hesitate: That being said, if you are on the fence about whether or not you “need” an item, ask yourself two questions: Can I think of a place to wear this? Is it $3 or less? If the answer two both questions is yes, than buy it. I still can’t forget the $1 silver Patricia Field bag I didn’t buy. I sent my mother back to the store two days later to get it for me, but it was already gone.

4) Spend the time: You don’t need to spend a lot of money when you thrift, but you do need to spend some time. Thrift stores don’t employ merchandisers. There are no well-lit displays that show you what top goes with what pants. Often times these stores are very large and the racks are packed tighter than my closet. To find a treasure you need to take the time to dig through the junk. Thrift shopping is like kissing frogs. You’ll go through a lot of frogs until you find your prince.

5) Shop for what you need and what you love: I can’t caution you enough, when you thrift you run the risk of falling for items that have incredible price tags but that you probably wouldn’t even look at in a department store. To avoid being sucked in by these “deals,” only shop for things you need or things you love. I keep stock of what items I already own and what items I need to complete my wardrobe or a specific outfit. That list is on my Blackberry so I can access it when I’m shopping. The only things I buy that are not on that list are things I absolutely, positively love. Even though the only things on my list right now are a black cashmere sweater, black wool pants and gray boots, I didn’t hesitate last weekend when I found a black suede skirt from one of my favorite designers for only $10. I already own the skirt in crème and gray, so I know the style flatters my shape and looks great with boots. I only wish I bought that silver bag….

6) Know what things cost: It’s helpful to know the going rate for items before you shop at discount stores. Otherwise, you might think you’re getting a deal just because the retailer is known for its markdowns. I used to buy all of my kids clothes at TJ Maxx and Marshalls until I realized I could get the same items for less when they went on sale at major department stores.

Knowing what things cost is especially helpful when bidding on Ebay. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to “win” against anonymous bidding opponents. Unless you know the going rate for an item and decide ahead of time what you are willing to pay, you can easily end up bidding $400 for a pair of Uggs despite the fact they retail for $199.

7) Have a good dry cleaner: If you buy previously worn clothes, you should dry clean or wash your clothes before you put them in your closet. My drycleaner does a great job. As a bonus, he doesn’t tell my husband about all the Goodwill bags I drop off. He just mixes my “new” items in with all my others when my husband swings by to pick up my order.

8) Don’t skimp on quality: Thrift doesn’t mean cheap. It means inexpensive. Always keep the same standards whether you’re shopping at Salvation Army or Neiman Marcus. Look for quality fabric and construction and always check for a good fit.

9) Cultivate an individual style: Many people think thrift and vintage are synonymous with bohemian and eccentric. That doesn’t have to be the case. Sure you can find bohemian styles in vintage shops, but you can also find classic items as well. If you want to remain true to your style, than only buy what works for you.

10) Learn to accept a compliment graciously: When someone says I love your outfit, try to say “thank you” and nothing else. Bargains should be your own secret. For me, this is the hardest part of thrifting. I can never stop at thank you. Somehow I always blurt out, “Thanks. It was only $5 at Savers!”