Make Do and Mend

moggins

I agree, the charity shops have got horrendous for prices now, I do still buy my jeans in charity shops as I can usually get those for under a fiver for really nice styles.

The Salvation Army one in Gloucester does have a pound department upstairs which I raid regularly

Queenie

MATH wrote:

.... George can be a bit hit 'n' miss IMO When it's good it's very, very good and when it's bad it shrinks!:mad:

:rotfl: :T :rotfl: OMG!! I've got the wrong head on tonight ... that one sentence has completely tipped me over the edge!!!!!!! MATH, I thought you were a married man, if G is into S&M and can't hold up without it ... ditch him

Austin_Allegro

Math, I completely agree with you about charity shops. I was reading that charity shops are being hard hit because people on tight budgets are buying at Primark etc.

This is hardly surprising when charity shops round my way are charging £4-£8 for shirts which are frayed at the collar and have dirt rings round the cuffs, when a brand new shirt at Primark is £4.

Yet at the same time we hear that charity shops have more stuff than they know what to do with. I can't see why they can't lower prices to say £1-2 a shirt, to compete with the likes of Primark and increase turnover.

I now tend to only use charity shops in posh areas for books, bric a brac and the occasional luxury purchase I couldn't afford new, eg I got a Highland Covert Coat for £10, recently, which are about £200-£400 new.

For stuff like underwear, socks and tee shirts I just make the occasional trek to Primark and buy loads of stuff.

moggins

I'm the same, I'd rather shop at Primark than pay stupid prices at a charity shop, I tend to only use them for videos for the kids etc.

Although I did buy my daughter a beautiful pure wool coat for a tenner, she said she loved it but has never worn it yet. If I lose any more weight I will be pinching it off her (she's a size 10).

I do tend to buy jeans at a particular charity shop, women's jeans are still about £10 in my local Primark (which is a joke when the mens are £5) and I can choose from loads of lovely styles for £4 in the charity shop.

Sarahsaver

There is a second hand stall on Leicester market, everything is 50p, and i have had gap jeans, fcuk jeans, killah jeans, an angora cardigan, a next jacket, and a liz claiborne dress among other things. If I want to go to primark it is a train ride to another town:(

Austin_Allegro

Yes, there's not that many Primarks around are there? I live in a posh area so have to 'slum it' if I want to go there. I must say I'm always impressed by the quality of their stuff. It's much better than Matalan which I didn't think much of.

ET03

primark is in trouble at the moment as its been copying designs from monsoon and selling them for quarter price

Mrs_Thrift

I have a confession to make.......

After almost a month of avoiding clothes shops as much as possible, I lapsed yesterday and ended up buying a dress. In my defence, it is the most perfect dress ever and looks like it was made for me, and it was only £20 from H & M. It was a guilty treat to make up for a stressful time I'm going through at the moment, and hubby insisted that I should have it, so it's not really my fault........am I convincing anyone?!

Anyway, I do love it, it was well worth it, we can afford it without any trouble, and I will wear it, so I'm just going to try and enjoy it.

But this thread HAS been fantastic for making me think a bit more about what clothes I've already got, and I've been making much more of an effort to dig them out and wear things I've rarely (or never!) worn since buying them or being given them, and I've been more confident about wearing things I love, especially vintage things I've been given (or nicked from my mum, hehe!)

How are other folks doing?

elona

Mrs Thrift

Enjoy your dress - you deserve it - moneysaving is not about not spending but about spending wisely - that is exactly what you did.:j

needmoney

Bottom line is charity shops have become GREEDY and over-managed.
I luv Primark and they've given the big boys a run for their money we have been overcharged for years. I love nice things but am rarely prepared to pay the price these days I treat Primark stuff as throw away but am often surprised at how good they are and how well they last.

Don't like George or Matalan and I agree New Look have steadily increased their prices without upping the quality.
I like to mix and match good with cheap etc. Recently I have made a knecklace from a pendant and a boot lace that everyone says looks really expensive and yesterday added some dangly beads from an old knecklace to a plain ring and they loved that and so do I it's the gypsy in me:D

Great thread lets give each other more tips.