Yesterday, I blogged about a particularly thrifty, yet fabulous, outfit put together from various secondhand purchases. Still not convinced that you should start shopping consignment? Here’s an old receipt from one of my excursions at Boston consignment chain Second Time Around:

• Ralph Lauren sandals: $7
• Stuart Weitzman heels: $14
• John Galliano shirt: $16
• 1921 jeans: $15
• Escada belt: $22

Even if I only get around to wearing one of the above, the entire purchase was still way cheaper than the retail price of any one item when purchased brand-new. The fact that the goods also happen to be awesome is just icing on the cake.

Consignment stores aren’t just thrift stores (though the latter have their charms as well). Unlike the Salvation Army, consignment shops have buyers and specific standards (dry cleaned merchandise, recent fashions, no holes/weird smells/etc.) And as the above receipt demonstrates, they manage to make a profit by providing a storefront for consignors’ inventory, while customers are attracted by designer labels that don’t break the bank. So as a newbie, how do you navigate the world of secondhand shopping wisely? Here are some tips:

1. Try on everything. Something that looks like crap on a hanger might just need a hot bod to bring it to life. I own some ridiculous things (sequin vest, anyone?) which seemed highly questionable upon first sight, but turned out looking quite chic in the fitting room. Don’t judge a book by its cover, and don’t judge a garment by its limpy appearance on the rack.

2. Haggle wisely. Missing button? Busted seam? Any “as is” items have already been noted as damaged, but if you catch a flaw that hasn’t been noticed, that makes the item fair game for negotiating a further markdown. Even if there’s nothing wrong with the clothes, consignors are eager to push merchandise anyway. Ask for a discount if it’ll make the difference between you buying it and leaving it (they’ll likely say yes if you’re reasonable and a regular) or if you purchase multiple items, ask for them to take 10 percent off the total.

3. Watch out for sales. Even secondhand clothes go on clearance. Check Twitter and online postings in addition to storefront signs. Local trade secret: I never walk out of Second Time Around without scoring an additional, unadvertised discount. Here’s how: If you have a specific designer or item you’re looking for, you can search the inventory on the Second Time Around website. Print out the list and bring it to the store to get 10 percent off any item on it. (Usually, I get a discount just by asking, even if I haven’t actually bought anything from the list.)

4. Do the math. I don’t know how I managed to shop before my iPhone. Nowadays, I can whip it out in-store to figure out the retail price of anything I’m interested in buying. I figure out if I’m getting a bargain based on the typical prices of the brand and the type of item. Since I’m a short gal, I also have to factor in additional costs like tailoring and alterations when I buy clothes not specifically made for petites. If I pay retail costs in shiny department stores, then those services are sometimes complimentary, but since I haven’t bought non-secondhand jeans in literally years, that’s the route less traveled.

My advice: get your hands on a reliable, affordable seamstress and figure out ahead of time how much altering clothes will cost you. If the price of a clothing item is going to double after alterations, then that’s something to keep in mind when deciding what to purchase. More often than not, it still makes for a great steal and rings in for way under the original price. Big plus side: if you find something awesome that’s just a size off, you can still make it fit your body like a glove.

5. Make some extra shopping money. Last but not least, consigning your clothes is a great way to make money from things you don’t fit/like anymore. Usually, consignment stores split 40-50% of the profits with their consignors, but you could get as much as 60% if you take payment in store credit. Just keep in mind that a designer dress might only fetch you $50 when all is said and done — but the money adds up if you have a substantial closet that you’re looking to empty.

Don’t do thrift shops? If you are one of those people who just can’t stand the thought of wearing a secondhand garment, then head online to one of the designer sample sale sites (and put some money in my shopping budget via one of these referral codes): Hautelook, Gilt Groupe, Billion Dollar Babes, and many, many others.

Either way, just don’t pay retail. Happy shopping!