Last week, we included thrifting in our 5 home habits that save money. Although thrift store shopping can save you some serious cash compared to buying retail, it can also cause a lot of headaches, so we linked to a few tips and tricks for those heading out into the wide world of scavenging. One tip we forgot to include: start now. January is one of the best times of the year to go thrifting. Click below to find out why...

• Post-Holiday Donations: After the holidays, many people find themselves with brand new gifts that they can't return. Those gifts end up in the donation pile and make their way to thrift stores, where you can find unopened toys, new books, and never-worn clothes for a bargain. To keep yourself from overspending, make a list beforehand of things you need, and don't buy something if it's not on your list.


• Tax Deductions: Thrift stores bring in large hauls in December, since people are trying to make all their tax-deductible donations by the end of the year. By January, those big-ticket items (including furniture) are out on the floor, just waiting for someone to snatch them up.


• New Year's Decluttering: Many people resolve to declutter their homes and make a fresh start in the New Year. Their trash could be your treasure.


• Sticking to the One-In-One-Out Rule: Maybe you've made your own resolution to keep a clean, organized home this year. Thrift store shopping makes it very easy to adhere to the one-in-one-out rule. Just donate something old before you pick up something new.


• The Cold: This may seem like a reason not to go out on the hunt, but the cold means less competition from other thrifters. Like all shops, thrift stores slow down after Christmas, leaving more opportunities to stumble across that great find.

• The Ark


• The Brown Elephant


• Goodwill Industries


• Jubilee Furniture


• The Salvation Army


• West Chicagoland Resale and Thrift Map