Did anyone watch 'Shop Well for Less'?

MallyGirl

It does depend on which charity shops you look in. I found a lovely silk ball dress in one in Henley when I was visiting there. Definitely a better standard of cast offs in posh towns

lisa110rry

EstherH wrote: »

However, I did feel uncomfortable with the things that were said about Barbour. I think there is a difference between the 'designer' fashion of having lots of shoes and handbags that cost a fortune, and something of quality that is meant to last a lifetime. Also, Barbour is 'made in Britain' and I like the idea of repairing a faulty zip rather than throwing the item away. Old fashioned, I know!
Esther x

Completely agree Esther. Some of my friends have teased me about my Sealand wellies that cost £160, however, I've worn them - often - for five years, two dog walks a day. Five years ago I bought a pair for £12.99 in the local garden centre, split after six months, the replacement (I took the first pair back) split after three months. My Sealands will see me out...

My Jaeger black wool coat (£25 from the Charity Shop) may also last another 20 years as it's a classic cut and well made, though no longer made in the UK I think?

ScotinLondon

I didn't bother with it last night. It was going to annoy me like the last programme.

I unfortunately never find anything my size in charity shops, would like to but can't. So I shop in the sales - however as I am on budget for clothes this year - it is making me think about what I buy and how.

I agree with the Barbour - it all depends on what you buy. I know Barbour will last as will some other brands, whilst other high end brands don't. It is swings and roundabouts.

Have a good day all.

SIL

lessonlearned

My thoughts.........

I totally agree about the Barbour segment Of the programme. The blonde presenter was trying to compare her cheap. £20 fashion jacket with what is essentially practical workwear.....beloved of country folk for generations - farmers, vets, horsey types, dog walkers. They often share them round the family and keep them for decades. There's just no comparison, she wasn't comparing like for like.

And - as others have pointed out.....Barbour are British so also good for our clothing industry.

(Living in the heart of what was once the textile industry the loss of British clothing manufacture is a particular bug bear of mine).

The other point......is that the two men so far appear to have been exceptionally vain and shallow. Or am I hopelessly out of touch.......:rotfl:

Is this insistence on expensive designer clothes, fragrances and toiletries common in younger men nowadays. Am I missing something.

Now I like a man to smell and look good - I don't find slobs attractive ........:rotfl: but I find this obsession with their appearance totally off putting.

The phrase "all style and no substance" - definitely springs to mind.

I have two sons of similar ages to the men on these programmes and although they can and do "scrub up well" thankfully neither of them are as stupidly vain and as self centred as the two specimens on this programme.

Charity shops.....I love 'em. It's like going on a treasure hunt. Sometimes it's all dross but sometimes you do get lucky.

dreaming

lessonlearned wrote: »

My thoughts.........

I totally agree about the Barbour segment Of the programme. The blonde presenter was trying to compare her cheap. £20 fashion jacket with what is essentially practical workwear.....beloved of country folk for generations - farmers, vets, horsey types, dog walkers. They often share them round the family and keep them for decades. There's just no comparison, she wasn't comparing like for like.

I think the presenter did actually say something along the lines of making the choice between something cheaper which will do for a few months, or spending more and keeping items for longer. I tend to buy more expensive, good quality things and keep them for years but I know many younger people like to have the latest fashion so for those buying cheaper would be better. I don't think any one way is right or wrong - but I do think people should be aware of how they do spend their money, and why. I think there is an element of staging in these programmes but I do know people who go on a spending spree every payday then moan for the rest of the month that they have no cash. I worked with someone once who was in a "round" of 4 people who each used to buy their round of Starbucks coffee every day. When she was saying she didn't know how to save I pointed out that she could cut out the coffee buying and she said, in all seriousness, that she only bought 1 a day, obviously forgetting that she was also paying for the other 3 at the same time (I think it was about £11 each time). I then pointed out that it was still over £50 per week and she thought I had my sums wrong. We both worked in finance by the way.:rotfl:

lessonlearned

Ah I must I have missed her saying that.....

I think many of us have been guilty of squandering money when we were younger. I know I was a shocker.:rotfl:

When I first started work ........nearly 50 years ago :eek: I did the same. I would blow all my wages at Chelsea Girl.....remember them, they were fab:D

Luckily that kind of crazy spending didn't last long.

Actually I should have kept Some. Many of my clothes would have been worth a fair bit now. I had a lovely pink and navy coat, similar to the famous suit that Jackie Kennedy wore when JFK as shot. I loved that coat. I also had a white trouser suit similar to Bianca Jagger's wedding suit. Both would be collectors items now.

I was also a dab hand with the sewing machine and fancied myself as something of a fashion designer. Let's just say I wore some interesting outfits:rotfl:

I still love clothes and have a well stocked wardrobe. These days I go for better quality, buying mainly from charity shops and some of the outlet stores.

Lisa - You mentioned Jaegar.......they still have a concession in one of our local outlet stores. Sadly they now too outsource manufacture and I have to say Jaegar quality is not what it was.

Hang onto your lovely Jaegar coat, with a bit of TLC it will last a lifetime.

I recently found a beautiful cream mohair winter coat in a local chazza. The label said "Soveriegn of London" - must google it. Another label said Made in England (not even Britain so goodness knows how old it is). The lady at the cash desk stroked it fondly and said "ah they don't make them like this any more". It cost me just £8 and it looks like new.

The chazza bargains are still out there but I'm noticing that they seem to be few and far between these days. I think more people try to sell rather than donate.

As for ethical toiletries etc. I tend to make a lot of my lotions and potions, dead easy, cheap as chips, no nasty chemicals, no animal testing and just as effective as anything that is shop bought.

The thing is making your own, browsing the charity shops and shopping around for the best deals does take up time and not all young people who are working and caring for families have much time so maybe we shouldn't be too hard on them.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I treated myself with a Christmas bonus and bought msyelf a classic Barbour, which I expect to last for many years. I haven't yet worn it in its natural environmental, stables, though as it's so nice and crisp and new I don't want to get it all mucky!

I also have a "proper" winter coat bought when I first lived in Poland, 17 years ago, that is still far warmer than anything from a High St store here. Quality sees you through bad weather.

Remember, all these idiots buying rubbish are paying VAT that funds useful things like schools and hospitals...

dreaming

lessonlearned wrote: »

When I first started work ........nearly 50 years ago :eek: I did the same. I would blow all my wages at Chelsea Girl.....remember them, they were fab:D
The thing is making your own, browsing the charity shops and shopping around for the best deals does take up time and not all young people who are working and caring for families have much time so maybe we shouldn't be too hard on them.

I certainly do remember Chelsea Girl but the best thing I ever had as a teenager was a purple, pvc, midi-length trenchcoat!:eek::rotfl: Just to put it in context this was 1970.
Personally I don't think we should be hard on anyone who spends their money in the way they see fit. Yes it can become a spiralling debt problem for some people, and a bit annoying when some (who should know better as my ex-colleague mentioned previously) won't do anything about it, but I would hate to be judged on what I choose to spend my money on (books, wool, books). As I said, there is an element of "staging" in these shows but they still serve a purpose of educating people who have fallen into the spend now, pay later mindset. I am extremely good with money (comes from many years of not having much) and can still gain some knowledge from them (I actually thought it was very interesting about the Barbour jackets) but as my daughter always says - they are not aimed at people like me (or probably most people on these forums). If someone asks me for advice on money problems I do my best to point them in the direction of all the help available but it is not up to me to tell anyone how to live their life.

PasturesNew

MallyGirl wrote: »

Definitely a better standard of cast offs in posh towns

This is something that's often brushed under the carpet. If you happen to live/work in a posh area with charity shops then you've a chance of spotting something nice if you go in regularly. After 1-2 years you'll have accumulated quite a lot of "lucky finds".

But, you can't just rock up to a street with charity shops and a shopping list! It takes lots of visits, time to wait and some luck to get anything really "good".

For me, I'd have to, say, drive to a place where there are charity shops and there might be pickings - say 2-3x a week as you really have to keep looking/be exceedingly lucky with when stuff's put out. That'd be £5/week or more on fuel alone, so £250/year to try to find something that saved a few bob.

catkins

The family last night annoyed me quite a bit.


It was interesting that the cheapest loo roll they showed was Aldi's which they said is 35p a roll. I only ever buy the 18 pack of Nicky and they work out at 22p a roll. I think it is easily as good as the dearest loo roo