Charity shop tips

I'm an avid charity shopper, especially for books, clothes and bric a brac. I thought I'd share some tips:

1. Go to shops in wealthy areas, as they tend to have the best stuff.

2. Some of the larger charities nowadays seem to be very expensive, and they also have experts on hand to value antiques etc, so seek out the smaller local charities that have more to rummage through and usually have lower prices.

3. Nowadays shops usually only stock decent items, but check clothes VERY carefully for staining, motholes, etc - really look over every inch of an item before buying it, especially ties - these sometimes have stains you don't even notice until you've bought them.

4. Keep an eye open for rare books, records or good quality bric a brac that can be sold on for a profit on Amazon, Ebay or the car boot.

5. Don't think 'I need a jumper, I'll look in the charity shop'. It's sods law that you never find what you need at the time - BUT it pays to buy stuff that you will need later, say summer clothes in the winter, or something you know you'll need eventually.

6. Some shops have specialist branches eg bookshops or furniture shops so keep an eye open for these.

Do any other readers have any tips?
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Comments

  • Quick tip for students, either trying to save money on cheaper clothes or looking for fancy dress costumes. If you show any Salvation Army your NUS card they will give you a 10% card! Charity shops are also a great place to by a cheap (£20-30) Dinner jackets from as renting costs about £50 a time, and you don't even get yo keep anything!! ;D ;D

    Keep saving

    Scholesy
  • Good point Scholesy.

    For dinner jackets, a good place is hire shops, which often have ex-hire sales. I got my DJ at a shop in Oxford for £30, a perfect fit and near mint condition.
  • sanfly
    sanfly Posts: 431 Forumite
    [glow=red,2,300][move]thank you AA[/move][/glow]

    like you I absolutely love looking around charity shops and love the feeling of grabbing a bargain ... they are my winter substitute to the car boot ... and I have got many bargains in my local shops ... and also you do actually feel like you are doing something to help the charities ...

    a little tip from Sally (my soon to be ) daugher in law if you actually get a bargain - put something in a charity bag when you get home as well and deliver it the next day

    kind regards

    sandy
    sanfly
  • tin
    tin Posts: 502 Forumite
    Good point Scholesy.

    For dinner jackets, a good place is hire shops, which often have ex-hire sales. I got my DJ at a shop in Oxford for £30, a perfect fit and near mint condition.

    If we're going on about DJs. I just went to hire one from Slater Menswear (https://www.slatermenswear.com for list of stores), and instead they managed to flog me a brand new one for 45 notes! Including fitting!!! Bargain basement!!!!!!
  • Foxy
    Foxy Posts: 10,840
    Combo Breaker First Post
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    i am a volunteer cook 4 days a week so i have access to upstairs in our charity shop so get to b one of the first to have a nose a lot of the time so get some brill bargains ;D
    It is not what you give your friend, but what you are willing to give him that determines the quality of friendship. -- Mary Dixon Thayer
  • Jay-Jay_4
    Jay-Jay_4 Posts: 7,351 Forumite
    Ok so this isn't about charity shops, it's about dinner jackets

    Asda have DJs for £40, pants for £15 and shirts with bow ties for about £9

    Not bad at all :)
    Just run, run and keep on running!

  • Does anyone know of the official policy on volunteers in charity shops, ie are they allowed to have 'first do's' on things in most shops?

    If so, it might be worth volunteering for a few hours a week just to get the bargains!

    Of course you'd be doing good work for the charity as well! ;D
  • Foxy
    Foxy Posts: 10,840
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    Does anyone know of the official policy on volunteers in charity shops, ie are they allowed to have 'first do's' on things in most shops?

    If so, it might be worth volunteering for a few hours a week just to get the bargains!

    Of course you'd be doing good work for the charity as well!  ;D
    i know every1 in ours does i think it is prob standard policy cos u give up your time n dont get paid so it is a fringe benefit ;D ;D
    It is not what you give your friend, but what you are willing to give him that determines the quality of friendship. -- Mary Dixon Thayer
  • Foxy
    Foxy Posts: 10,840
    Combo Breaker First Post
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    [glow=red,2,300][move]thank you AA[/move][/glow]


    a little tip from Sally (my soon to be ) daugher in law if you actually get a bargain - put something in a charity bag when you get home as well and deliver it the next day

    kind regards

    sandy
    another tip is it does not matter if you think the clothes are dated as wot does not get sold goes to the rag man and they get paid for them too so just goes to show every little bit helps
    It is not what you give your friend, but what you are willing to give him that determines the quality of friendship. -- Mary Dixon Thayer
  • hilstep2000
    hilstep2000 Posts: 3,089 Forumite
    Talking about volunteers, I run a Guide Company, and whenever the Brownies or we run a jumble sale, we always get first pick! Perk of the job, we're not paid after all! :)
    I Believe in saving money!!!:T
    A Bargain is only a bargain if you need it!



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