Charity Shop Shopping

chickadee

For those of you that still have a bit of a mental block about wearing charity shop or any second-hand clothing for that matter, I always think about Amy Dacyczyn's comments from the Tightwad Gazette.

She asks "What is the difference between a new item and a used item?"

The answer? ONE WASH!

After one wash, any new item looks used, and it is ready for another wear again. After all, we don't know what happens to our clothes before they get to us do we? They could have been on the floor in the factory or have been stored anywhere at all. Why feel squeamish about one wash?

arkonite_babe

My other best buys have been versace jeans for £5 and I have also manged to find amani jeans for £5.

I wouldn't buy shoes either mind :eek:

LearningToSave.

i get most of my clothes in charity shops...my kids too,the only reason i dont get dh's there too is that he's 6ft 7ins and well built sio theres never anything to fit him!!
the only things i buy new are as others mentioned underwear,swimwear etc.

best bargains are my current winter coat for £8.....its a dorothy perkins one and an almost identical one is £80 in the shop!!
also a very glam dress for dh's work party for just £4

i love charity shops!!! every saturday our local one does clothes half price and 4 books for £2.50 so guess which day i go.

Mr_Proctalgia

I use charity shops all the time (except for my keks and socks) it is all fair game to me, I go to the expensive side of town and use their shops!. I now have a complete quality wardrobe, doir, sea Island, liberty,hermes, balmain etc etc.

It does take a bit of time to get over the "will anyone see me" factor but now I think stuff them - its my money and I'm getting gear that no way could I afford, also it wears so well too.

Best buy so far - A Burberry trenchcoat for a fiver (belt missing) new with tags - I phoned Burberry in Whitby (as was then) they sent me one for free!

moggins

I can't remember the last time I bought anything new, I think it might have been when I saw a whole rack of fleece jumpers in Primark for £1 each, I bought 5 and they are still going strong.

Everything else comes from charity shops especially our local Salvation Army shop which is huge. I am a complete sucker for coats though and could fill another wardrobe with all the great finds I've got. I think the best is a floor length black wool cape with a liberty print lining made by Windsmoor, I can never find enough times to wear it

amazon_spice

I love charity shops and have had oodles of bargains over the years.
Not only does it save money for us / give money to charity - it's green too 'cos we're recycling

coffeeandfags

There is another thread similar to this in the shop but dont drop board, but im gonna repeat myself on here!

Have any of you charity shoppers considered giving up a bit of free time to volunteer in these shops? You can go in for as little as an hour a week, most shops are desperate for volunteers and every little helps!!

The pluses are :
You get to meet loads of new (and like-minded) people
Free tea and coffee (saves boiling your own kettle, OMG am i a skinflint or wot!!!)
Discounts on what you buy (yep staff discount in a charity shop :cool: )
First dibs on all the new stuff coming in

I have recently had to cut back my hours as i am now in paid employment, but i still do around 9 hours per week. If you are looking for a job, it looks great on your CV that you are prepared to give up your time for free!

BTW, my best "find" so far was a Helly Hansen snowboard jacket for DD, like new and cost £4!

coffeeandfags

choccyface2006

I volunteer in a charity shop twice a week and its amazing how many clothes are donated with all the tags on. I have had loads of bargains! We also have a substantial amount of new clothing and bedding donated by two very well know high street stores, they are mostly items that didn't get sold after the season ended (6 weeks) Last week I kitted my daughter out for summer for £7.00!

Books are also amazing value, I got 5 fab books for £2.50.

If you volunteer you often get a staff discount (20% for me) and your travel expences paid as long as you work 3 hours or more so I make the most out of that as arrange anything I need to do in town on those days!

Sarah x

verynewmoneysaver

I am seriously considering voluntering at a charity shop. I am addicted to clothes unfortunately, and this would keep me away from the other shops. Whenever I feel down, bored or lonely I tend to buy clothes (usually only from cheaper shops, sales or charity shops nowadays). I only work part-time so could fit in a shift. Trouble is I work different shifts every week at my job, so would they be able to work around this?

wishingonastar_3

verynewmoneysaver wrote:

I am seriously considering voluntering at a charity shop. I am addicted to clothes unfortunately, and this would keep me away from the other shops. Whenever I feel down, bored or lonely I tend to buy clothes (usually only from cheaper shops, sales or charity shops nowadays). I only work part-time so could fit in a shift. Trouble is I work different shifts every week at my job, so would they be able to work around this?

yes they would!!! they are just grateful for help whenever you can give them time, they'll appreciate it. i'm known as the occaisional girl, i'm there when i have time, and not when i don't. but they appreciate me greatly i know, cos i work hard for them (i tend to stick to sorting, and i love finding bargains, so i get through bags of stuff fairly quick!!!!)

sat here from head to toe in charity shop finds, long swishy pink skirt, £1, white vest t shirt (river island washes fab every time) 50p, cropped wrap around dark pink cardigan, £1, and knee high black boots, suede, £1.50 (new, they still had tags on) pink socks under my boots 10p (again still had label on), pink crochet hat with sequins on, 10p again, paddington bear style black duffle coat, £3.50 (had it 4 years though and its still going strong!!!!), pink scarf, 25p, matching gloves 25p too. only undies were new. i love charity shops, apart from undies all clothes i own and prob 90% (not school uniform or undies) of dd stuff is charity shop finds. plus lots of stuff in house is charity shop finds, books esp, ornaments, even my mothers day pressies came from charity shops!!!!