Charity shops

Ballymackeonan

Another addict here... I think it's the hunter-gatherer in me, but I trawl the charity shops, wherever I visit as well as around home. I've collcted vintage clothes for years, and that's what got me started... but also for clothes for me, for the OH, antiques and collectables, original pictures, books, knitting wool and vintage patterns....

I've gone to several posh "do's" in CS clothes - like the gorgeous black evening dress with appliqued white lace and seed pearls, worn to a ball, with a mink stole from the same CS. And the addiction is getting worse as I'm now looking for things for friends, like the one who has a wedding next month and needs an outfit.

One of the latest buys was a vintage (1929) Singer sewing machine, so I'm now looking for material as well. So far, 2 lengths of tweed and a lovely piece of velvet!

Sassers

oooh I'm glad I'm not the only one....! I've been charity shopping and carbooting for finds for years. There's a little charity shop in the next village - Pentre - that sells clothes for 75p - £1. Got OH six pairs of Blue harbour and Next jeans for 75p each last week. And a pair of ballet shoe daps for £1. I have a charity shop warehouse (!) at the end of my village and last Friday I bought a 1950's table cloth with blue parrots and green leaves and cheeseplant design for £1.50.
It will be turned into either a dress or a skirt once I get my sewing head on.
I work near the centre of Cardiff and when I pass the shops I sometimes can't help wondering if I'd spent £50 on a skirt how much and how many`bargains' that equates to charity shops and booties. And if I can make it - which means the quality will be better and last longer.
If I want books, I go to a shop outside of Cardiff in Whitchurch that sells 5 for £1.
If I go to Ikea, I walk `backwards' through the shop via the tills and straight into the bargain corner. They also dump scrap wood for free in a bin in the car park, so the chipboard from that became the underlay for my wood flooring in my livingroom as opposed to the £200 quote for chipboard from B&Q!
If anyone lives in south Wales I hope these tips help and if you like carboots, Gelli Gaer near Nelson starts at 7.30am on Sundays and there's another cracker in the undercover multi-storey car park in Bridgend. Great especially if it's raining and you need a car boot bargain fix!
Love Sassers x

lola34

I love CS!!!!! though I know a lot of people are quite snobby about them but like others have said they are quite green eyed at my bargains, I am currently wearing trousers, top and vest that cost me all of £2.35 from M&S sales, car boot and ebay. I only tend to buy my stuff there though I have bought DS's bits like swimshorts. We have a CS just a few miles away that has turned into a 'everything £1' charity shop- I'm loving it. If I go out shopping its normally to the CS more than anything else!!!!!!!

starsandmoon

Nearly all my clothes are from charity shops or car boots. 75% of my work clothes are second hand and Im always being complimented by other people. I carnt justify £25 for a top for work. I have a lovely one from Next which cost me £2. A colleague said they have the same one and it was £28 :eek:. I get a lot of stuff for my DD too. She loves charity shops and has a good root. She got 2 new Matalan tops and a new Avon nail polish for £3.50.

I go to a car boot in St Helens which is in a multi storey car park so can still visit in the rain. Got my DD loads of Zara clothes last time for the winter. All washed and put away ready.

caitybabes

Yep, me too!

I love the feeling of being out and about, looking great in an outfit that I know only cost me about £4! I love looking around charity shops and finding a bargain. We also got our kitchen chairs and bedframe from a local charity furniture shop much better quality than we'd get first hand for the same price.

elaine373

I read your post and then looked around my living room.The sofa and stool is from ebay,fireplace from ebay,oak dresser from Barnardo`s,tub chair from ebay,4 leather dining chairs from a flea market.Oak table from car boot sale.curtains from ebay.various knick knacks on the dresser from car boot and cs.Thats just one room.I love looking around car boot sales and charity shops.I was brought up to look for bargains as we were quite poor.You would think that i would hate it but i dont, i love it.Yes I am addicted.:rotfl:

Doingmybest2bgoodhurrah

Hey,

I generally buy second hand if at all possible & get resentful & grumpy if I have to go to the shops & buy brand new. Recently, though, I've noticed quite a few of my favourite haunts have put their prices up so much that I don't visit them as much as I did. Its not that I begrudge the charity the money, I just can't afford to buy as much any more now that everything else is getting dearer.

We went to a good car boot sale this weekend & got a groovy Habitat shower curtain for £2, a wet suit for our niece for £3, a Simply Be top for me for £1, some fab 70's orange Tupperware for £1, a set of Dorma bed linen for parents, and a Christmas Disney store Winnie the Pooh cookie jar for our niece for Christmas for (ouch quite a lot actually but it was in perfect condition & long since discontinued & she will love it). Also, its another present to cross off the list. OH couldn't find anything for himself so he got a burger! Any excuse.

Fortunately we are a family which doesn't mind receiving second hand presents. I bought my Mum a really great pair of Rocket Dog trainers last Christmas from a Charity Shop for £2.49 & she adores them. Also got MIL a pair of Office pumps a couple of Crimboes ago for about £2 I think.

Other things I've bought second hand over the last few months include a carpet sweeper, a foldaway shopping trolley (this fits in my shopping bag and I take it on the bus with me & is great for heavier things from the supermarket. People do stare a bit sometimes but I don't care & generally give them a big smile! Also, a couple of nice bonsai pots, a bonsai turntable / revolving platform, curtains, assorted Tupperware, boots, shoes, bed linen, a Judge roasting tin, a psychedelic 70's umbrella, a few crochet blankets for the collie bed & on & on & on.

I get a kick out of finding something nobody else will have, especially vintage stuff, but them I'm in a 70's time warp.

DMB x

Doingmybest2bgoodhurrah

Forgot to add, I got a great garden sun bed / chair from a car boot last summer. Its a wooden steamer type one, but is a bit 50's utility-ish. The cushions are covered in what seems like 50s /60s material & I adore it. Although it cost me £15, I think it was worth every penny. It folds away & the back & footrest are adjustable. I wish there'd been more but the man only had one. Definitely one of my best ever finds.

DMB x

maman

Doingmybest2bgoodhurrah wrote: »

Recently, though, I've noticed quite a few of my favourite haunts have put their prices up so much that I don't visit them as much as I did. Its not that I begrudge the charity the money, I just can't afford to buy as much any more now that everything else is getting dearer.

I wanted to make that point too. I noticed in one shop recently that they had a list near the storeroom of all the 'labels' like Monsoon, Laura Ashley etc etc to make sure the helpers made those items even more expensive. It's getting to the point where some of the Primark stuff is the same price as it was new! Like you, I don't begrudge them the money but they won't do themselves any favours if they can't shift stock.

More buying this morning (:o). I got a Fat Face top, a Benetton all wool cardigan and a real pashmina.

I also took two big bags of things to donate. I was a bit cross as woman just barked at me 'nothing electrical is there?' and when I said no she just took the stuff with no smile or thank you. I know they're volunteers but haven't they heard of customer service? I won't be donating there again. My shopping was in another CS.

Hobsons_Choice

It also makes you feel a bit "smug", knowing that - as well as buying "Monsoon" and labels that you couldn't afford to buy new - you're donating to charity! And all the stuff I buy from the chazzers that's still in good condition, go back to an animal welfare shop that don't send out bags through the door.
I do think some of the charity shops are getting a bit expensive though. As Maman says, some of the Primark stuff is the same price (or higher) than the original price - and paperback books are £2.50 at one of our stores. Considering everything's been donated, I think that's a bit much!
Don't forget to take your old M&S stuff to Oxfam and get money off new clothes in M&S! (I think they're still doing this)? Then I can afford to buy it!!!!!