Do You Shop in Charity Shops?

melbury

Agree with other posters; I used to buy loads of stuff in charity shops, but they have got a bit OTT with their pricing now.

Still find the odd bargain now and then though and it is a great feeling when you get one:)

Hermia

I enjoy looking in them, but rarely buy anything because you can often get the stuff cheaper new elsewhere. I used to buy books, but I can usually get the same books cheaper new. I wish we had those huge thrift stores (like Goodwill) they have in the US. A lot of big companies donate clothes to those stores. I watch several US YouTubers who post Goodwill hauls every week and they are constantly buying high-end clothes for a few dollars.

rach_k

If we go past a charity shop and I have time, I'll take the kids in to choose some books. We've had some great ones that haven't been available new and some good sets like loads of older Disney books for 30p each. I don't buy clothes there because they do usually smell and with the kids always hanging around my legs I don't have time to root through for things.

Among the people I know, upcycling is quite popular, not just as a money-saving thing but also because it's more environmentally friendly and you get unique things, so if I did buy clothes in a charity shop I wouldn't be embarrassed at all.

Mrs_Ryan

I've had some fab stuff from charity shops. Two Hollister tops that I do wear quite a lot, ditto with a Pineapple Dance top that I wear all the time - when I bought it it was still in Debenhams for £20 and I paid £1.99 for it. Just bought a Superdry rugby shirt - rrp £50 for £1.99. Yes the smell does put me off a bit but I always wash the stuff when I get it home.

wookie_2

No, we don't shop in them any more as the pricing in most our way is ridiculous, so we tend to go to car boot sales now, much better value for money.

monis

You use to able to find some good bargains, but now they are run far more commercially and stuff always seems too expensive. I think if I spend more than £5 in a charity shop then it is too much. I remember the days when you get leather jackets at them for under a fiver!

JuzaMum

Yesterday I splashed out 25p on a top and 20p on a dress for my 3 year old daughter. I did have to wash them to get rid of the fabric softner smell though! Like Cattie I think the big name charity shops charge too much so don't tend not to bother with them.

JuzaMum

Viberduo

monis wrote: »

You use to able to find some good bargains, but now they are run far more commercially and stuff always seems too expensive. I think if I spend more than £5 in a charity shop then it is too much. I remember the days when you get leather jackets at them for under a fiver!

Agree, I remember up till like 10 years ago I could go in and get things for cheap such as a shirt for a quid or 2 that I would use for emergencies, or a brand name belt, or even a book for like 20p 50p etc

Now I go in and see things like shoes for like £6 quid or as much as £20 used which are cheaper NEW, or they want a cheap shirt to sell for £8 quid.

There is one or two cheap ones left normally local things like hospices as I got a recliner for £2 , a fold up bed for £8, a sofa for a £5, wardrobe a fiver its just the rip off delivery companies they use i.e they used to do it themselves like a tenner up to 6 items then they increased it to £15 then £20 then it went private and £35 for 3 items and the man with van just dumps it at door.

System

Oxfam have a thing of charging stupidly high amounts for things in their shops in posh towns like Harrogate, Winchester etc. I saw a t-shirt from Tesco in Oxfam still with the original tag on it for £4 and Oxfam wanted £4.50 for it.

I have bought two pairs of Hotter shoes in a charity shop in Dorset last year for £12. They were new and never been worn. They would retail at £135-150.

I am skeptical with clothing as some clothes charity shops sell are too far gone - faded in the wash, fabric gone bobbly, with an impossible to shift stain etc.

My parents have bought their 3 display cabinets in charity shops for £70 each. Two of them are Gplan which when new got little change from £1000. Also bought a suite for their conservatory for £50.

EndlessStruggle

We have a £1.99 charity shop and a few small independent ones, we regularly go to the seaside and the ones at the coast seem to be cheaper and have hidden gems. I buy most of my clothes from charity shops. We also have recently moved into our first house and a lot of our furniture came out of a charity shop. The prices were excellent as was the condition of the furniture.