Charity Shops..

wishingonastar_3

i love charity shops, quite lucky where we are some very cheap ones, like oxfam (all tops, trousers, dresses are £1.99 to save pricing them individually). I agree you need to have a root to find the good stuff, but its well worth it. my dd whoi is 10 loves them too, as she has a shall we say individualistic approach to clothing, the more different the better.
best buys? well, nothing in my wardrobe is primark or whatever, loads of M & S stuff, next stuff, got a gorgeous suit i saw in Next for £180 all told(jacket and dress) for a £5 a couple of months later in a charity shop. its had loads of wear. also a couple of skirt suits from M & S i bought last summer for £3.99 each, stll going strong for work.

Contains_Mild_Peril

I love charity shops, and loads of young people go to them where I am - "vintage" clothes are really trendy, as well as modern stuff that's maybe only a few months old (a few items are even brand new, with their original tags attached). A lot of stuff currently on sale in shops like New Look is inspired by retro designs, and you can get the original versions for peanuts. My local Red Cross shop gets some lovely stuff in - my hubby bought a good Armani jacket for £2.50, I've bought loads of clothes there for myself, and I also once bought a dinner suit there for £3 which I sold on ebay for £62. There's a total of 9 charity shops in my town. I buy most of my own clothes and my son's from them, and some of my hubby's, and I also buy stuff from charity shops, boot sales etc. to sell on eBay at a profit.
I've been going to charity shops since I was a kid, and never felt self-conscious about it. I carry my Oxfam carrier bags with pride, instead of hiding them inside posh bags like some people do! If you don't want people to know you shop in charity shops, you'll probably get over it, but if it bothers you, you could volunteer to work in one, then if someone sees you there they'll assume you're working.

Sharra

I've found that in my town the charity shops have almost become too trendy - prices in them have shot up - like someone else said, you find stuff priced for more than it costs new. I haven't found a real bargain for ages, boot fairs are my favourite now

gooismeid

I'm lucky to work within walking distance of 7 charity shops, in a reasonably posh area, which are always full of hardly-worn M&S and Next stuff. Best bargain to date though (today in fact) - a DKNY silk jersey wrap dress for FOUR QUID! Second best bargains, bought on the same day - black velvet dress jacket for no.1 son (age 7) - three quid, and a floor length hand made white fake fur coat with hat and muff for no. 1 daughter (age 4) - a fiver. I love charity shops! Think of it as recycling and helping to reduce landfill as well as being stylish and moneysaving, and you're helping charities too. Can't see a downside, personally.

annie-c

My mum always used to say - If you bump into anyone in a charity shop then it means they shop there too - you wouldn't think badly of them for it, why expect them to feel badly about you?

I used to be paralysed with embarassment when I popped in occasionally in my student days. Now I am in my 30s and can afford to buy new, but choose not to waste money on things like paperback books - and I think of it as recycling and something to be proud of!

terrierlady

get a job in one for an odd morning, get to see the lovely people who pop in guess what they are all like YOU eager to find bargains and all age groups, remember to speak to the oldies you maybe the only person they speak to that day.

bedshaped

My best bargains were 2 pairs of brand new shoes.

A pair of wranglers shoes last august for my son to go back to school in for £6and they lasted him until may this year and a pair of Ikon shoes for DP which cost £9. Both were unworn, no dirt on them & no wear on the soles.

A Jane Norman Skirt for DD for £2.50 and quite a few virtually new hardback books for my DS - Mainly cricketers/umpires autobiogs for prices ranging between £2 & £3 each book but they would have cost me over £10 each brand new!!

I used to be embarrassed, I soon got over it when I realised how much money I can save!! My DD practically drags me into her favourite charity shop.

I also see it as doing an extra bit of recycling.

Dave_the_Ginger_Cat

Best bargain - pair of new TODs black leather loafers for £4.50.

Also genuine Gucci bag for £6, Fendi bag for £6 (think this one's real, but looks the part anyway!)

Here in Harrogate, the assistants are mostly pretty good with clothes but are not so with shoe and bag brands. Saying that, this is rare - most is top end high street with reasonable wear.

wishingonastar_3

latest bargain (sorry i had to tell someone) m & s dressing gown, terry type material, labels still on for £30 new, £1.99 in oxfam on saturday. almost can't wiat for winter to wear it.

cmj, have you braved any yet?

cmjohnson_86

Nah not yet, went to a rave on sat night so still recovering and have no money til Friday anyway