🛍️ Thrift Savings Calculator
Tally a haul against what the same pieces would cost new to see exactly how much thrifting saved you — total spent, retail value, dollars saved, savings percentage, and a projection across a year of trips.
🛍️ Savings summary
At 12 trips a year like this one, that is about $2880.00 saved annually versus buying the same items new.
Retail values are your own estimates, so treat this as an indicative comparison, not an appraisal.
See what secondhand really saves
A few dollars here and there at the thrift store never feels like much — until you line the prices up against what those same jackets, sweaters, and boots cost new. Totting up a single haul often reveals a savings rate north of 80%, and projecting it across a year of regular trips turns pocket change into a genuinely large number.
Keeping a piece for the long haul? Check its value with the Cost Per Wear Calculator. Reselling instead? The Thrift Flip Profit Calculator shows what you'll clear after fees.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How does the savings calculation work?
For each item you enter the thrift price you paid and an estimated retail price to buy it new, and the tool sums both columns: total spent, total retail value, total saved (retail minus spent), and savings percentage (saved ÷ retail value × 100). Multiply a line by quantity for duplicates. It's a simple, transparent sum and percentage engine.
What is the annual projection?
It takes the amount you saved on this trip and multiplies it by how many thrifting trips you make in a year, giving a rough estimate of yearly savings if your trips look similar. It assumes each trip is comparable, so treat it as a ballpark rather than a forecast.
How should I estimate the retail price?
Use what the same or a very similar item would cost new at a typical retailer — check a brand's site or a general price for that category. Be honest and consistent: comparing a thrifted coat to a designer flagship price inflates the saving, while comparing to a fast-fashion price is more realistic for an everyday piece.
Are these figures exact?
No — retail values are your own estimates, so the result is an indicative comparison, not an appraisal or a valuation. It's designed to show the scale of what thrifting saves and to motivate secondhand-first shopping, not to serve as an accounting record.