Charity shop goods for Christmas

MRSMCAWBER

Id much sooner have a pressie that cost a couple of pounds, but that someone has put lots of thought into than an expensive item that has been chosen because of the price or the designer tag....

dianadors

My friend and I have a set £5 budget for christmas gifts for each other. I grab her loads of freebies (from the freeby site, magazines, Boots etc) and she gets me loads of stuff from Charity shops. We always get each other tons of stuff and yes, I would say that hers are definatley the most interesting pressies I get - Go for it!

DUKE

Due to lack of funds and things spiralling completely out of control (certain family members were buying expensive gifts) I had the idea that we would just buy silly fun things. It backfired on us though as they still bought expensive gadgety type things whilst I went to Poundland ...... Then the idea was that once we'd had a jolly good laugh we would then donate the items to the charity shop. I have posted this before - I would rather someone gave me a copy of The Big Issue or got me a voucher from The Save The Children site

hilstep2000

I've done it before, and I'll do it again. What's wrong with it? I gave my goddaughter a couple of books about ballet from our local shop that had never been opened, she was thrilled with them!
Also, Ebay is great. My DD wanted "Dream date" when she was 10 and we couldn't afford it then. Last year (when she was 20) we got one from ebay. Her face was a picture! She said it was the best present she got that christmas! LOL!

[Deleted User]

Thank you all so much for your responses, I really appreciate any help you lot can offer.

Since posting this thread, I've bought three presents from my local charity shop all unopened and in excellent condition. I got two for Christmas and one for birthday and I am still firmly well within mybudget

looneyleo

definately go for it. I've had no end of stuff from charity shops and one of my aunts has a rule that I'm not allowed to spend anything on her presents at all! It's hard but I manage it everytime with Boots Advantage points, freebies, pigsback vouchers etc. I love charity shops and I'm on the look out all year for presents for birthdays and chrimbo. As another person has mentioned your being environmentally friendly and charitable by shopping in this way so go for it as long as the recipient likes it, what will they know!

Sallys_Savings

Something I've always done and will always do.
The charity is benefiting and so are you by spending less.
I also buy pressies from car boots and save hundreds ..yes hundreds of pounds each year by doing this.
The majority of the presents that I buy are under £2 yet would cost from £10 upwards if brought new. I've managed to get some great bargains over the years.

Go for it!!

arthur_dent_2

I always shop in charity shops and car boots for my presents. You can pick up some real bargains. I have often bought 'brand new' items for a fraction of their cost in the shops.

Mrs_Dawn

I usually work weekends so when I was off on Saturday and Sunday then my mission was to trawl as many car boots and charity shops as possible.
The best bargains we got were a pair of large red velvet curtains which will be cut up and made into cushion covers for only £2:D . Also found two pairs of jeans for DD1 for only a pound each and they were from Next and Top Shop so big savings. I couldn't believe some fo the things I saw at the boot sales a lot of the stuff still had shop labels on. Do people not know about money saving?

kate682

A couple of years ago we all decided that we could only give second hand presents or consumables...ie wine/chocolate. Better for the environment, more personal, cheaper and fun... My parents, sisters and I are at a stage in our live when mostly if we want something...we buy it ourselves anyway... we are going to do it this year as well....