Charity Shop Shopping

PasturesNew

The secret to charity shop shopping is to go to the posher areas because the stuff in a shop comes from people that know of it.

I really missed having any good charity shops when I lived in a poor/rural area because everything was cheap/shoddy/worn and from large old ladies

Came to a city and sourced 2 pairs of unworn good quality leather shoes at £4/pair, although you do have to find a good shop and keep going in, going in, going in. I find just going in once is rarely enough for a good haul.

champys

The other advantage of the charity shop (as opposed to Primark!) is that buying second hand is good for the planet. No energy is wasted and carbon produced in manufacturing a brand new item. Apart from the charity aspect, I find that a very important incentive in buying there.
Sadly we don't have them in France and I sorely miss them! Now mostly making my own clothes.
Back in (SW) England we had a charity shop located close to a very good dress agency - a lot of the unsold stuff ended up there for a fraction of the price!

nuttywoman

One of our local charity shops is directly opposite Peacocks. Guess what its cheaper to buy NEW clothes in Peacocks than Peacocks second hand clothes in the charity shop!
I`m all for re-cycling to save the planet etc but not getting ripped off!

Ms_Sparkle

I do agree that some charity shops are expensive, but still I love them and only a few days ago I brought a pair of jeans from Next for £3.40 that look brand new - BARGAIN!

Lily-Lu

mary43 wrote: »

Don't worry about the cleanliness part of it Lily...........most of them now have steam cleaners out in the back room and everything is cleaned before it goes on the racks.

That's very reassuring. Thank you:D

dolly_day_dream

I shop in charity shops as a political act. I would love to be able to source all of my good via fair trade, unfortunately I simply cannot afford to. By buying from a charity shop - and I am very lucky having so many where I live - I am helping the environment and I am not giving my money to some large global company. I am not getting my cheap clothing at the expense of someone working ridiculous hours for very low wages. Yes some do charge silly prices and I don't buy from them.

I totally agree with the spending part though. I have to decide before I go out just what I 'need' and stick to looking for that. When I started buying from them I had a very limited wardrobe and I was just pleased to build up a collection of clothes. Now I have set limits on the numbers of each type of clothing and I have to absolutely love an item before I buy it because when I take it home it will be on the basis of 'one in - one out' I have been very lucky and have not bought anything new in the past four years. Everything apart from underwear is from the charity shop. I

moanymoany

Please post a photo of you wearing the sheet - can't wait!!!!!

mary43

Like everywhere you do have to watch the prices sometimes but I''d still rather buy from a charity shop. When I've been to the shopping centre 20 miles away all the clothes are the same style, colour, whatever is 'in the fashion' at the time. With charity shops you never quite know what you;ll find. Not being 'young' a lot of the plunging neckline new clothes just aren't me but nor do I want to turn into an 'old lady' too soon (though I might be one I don;t want to look it...........lol)
The clothes have also passed the 'wash'n wear' test in my book. They won't shrink.........they've already been washed by someone and kept their shape/size so no worries about that.

Just wish we had more to chose from. We've four but one;s very small and the other doesn;t have much choice. With no other clothes shops in our little market town they do a good trade too. Nearest shopping centre is 20 miles away

Help the Aged do new underwear/socks etc, so I get mine from there and did you know oxfam are online now for fair trade goods and used items.

Penelope_Penguin

Well done :T :j I set myself the challenge of buying no new clothes this year. Apart from a dress for a wedding (bought in the sale) and a warm jacket, I've succeeded. This is mainly shopping in charity shops, and I love them. Great place for bargains, and I've been more adventurous. I'm happy to spend £3 on a top I'm not sure about - it can always go back if I change my mind

penny. x

Horace

The most expensive charity shops are located in Pimlico - even Oxfam there takes Amex:eek:

I regularly shop in my local village charity shop - buying glassware, books and christmas baubles (7 for £1). I haven't bought any clothes yet although I have donated some, plus I give them my excess carrier bags (apparently Morrisons bags are the strongest). If I go to my local town, then I will go into the Heart Foundation shop and buy furniture (an antique set of drawers for £20 and a Goodman video recorder/player for £10). My mum once bought me a Gerry Weber blouse from her local charity shop and it cost her 50p - it is fab and always irons well. When I am in London I go into the Gerry Weber shop just to look as cannot afford to buy.:o