Charity shopping

[Rafting2022]

Any fellow charity shop lovers on here want to share tips, favourite tips and top finds?

One of my recent bargains was a Tommy Hilfiger man’s blazer for €8 in a charity shop in France.

Ooh me!
The blazer sounds like a bargain, I was in France a year ago and couldn't find any charity shops .

I'm not sure I have any tips I just love charity shops but this is a recent thing in an effort to live more sustainably. I am lucky in that I live in an area where charity shops are decently priced.

I look for real wool esp hand knits. In the last couple of weeks I've found a vintage handmade Arran cardigan -£8 and 2 Shetland isles fair-isle hand knits total £17 . They are for me to wear in the unheated shop I work at this winter.

Charity shops are super expensive where I live in SW London but I did find a leopard print top last week for £9 - so quite pleased with the new ones are pricey and I didn't like anything but this fits so well and is not in your face leopard.

I follow Charity Shop Girl on Instagram - she’s great, highly recommend.

Charity shop pricing can be a real mixed bag - there’s shops near me (south Manchester) where you can get things for a few pounds - recently got some Primark chinos for £2.50 and a Zara coat for £8. Then if I venture into Cheshire the prices are the other end of the scale - £30 for a blazer, £12.50 for shoes.

Still cheaper than shops though and I love never knowing what you might find.

We're moving this thread to our Chat topic for the OP.

@Rafting2022 thanks for the recommendation I've just added her to follow.

I know charity shops have to make money for their charity which fuels the high prices , I wonder if they could be lobbied to go cheaper to encourage more shoppers away from fast fashion .

I find charity shops mindful, I love to rummage and it's true you never know what you're going to find.

Are you on the face book page charity shop not so shit page ? That's a good one to follow OP

I love a good charity shop bargain but also trying to be more selective in what I get these days. I'm in our local ones so often that there's a few volunteers who I almost consider friends though- sometimes I pop in just to have a wee chat! I've had so many bargains over the years that it's hard to pick - possibly my almost new winter jacket that's lasted 3 years, so far, or maybe some of the more expensive knitting needle brands that I've found!

I'm a big charity shop fan & about 70% is sourced from these.
The independent, slightly disorganised looking shops are often worthy of a rummage as they're often cheaper than the chains.

Love a good rummage in a charity shop! Currently looking for cocktail glasses and accessories.

Have a look & see if there is a charity shop warehouse near you. One of the hospice shops in our county, that has quite a few shops, has a massive warehouse open to the public. They sell things there that other stores don't manage to shift. So can be lots of rubbish but also some gems.

Bargains I have had there include our sofa & armchair for £50 delivered, including taking away the old one! And a mini pool table with 2 sets of balls for £5. Helly Hansen ski suits for the kids for £5. Clothes mostly £1-2 each or 3 for £1 on eg hats.

As it is a bit of a drive, a friend & I go there once each season & make a day of it, have lunch when we're out. We always come back with full bags but never spend more than maybe £20 each.

My son's girlfriend at the time found a genuine Mulberry purse. Sold it for £130. This was a few years ago now. I think shops are wiser now.

Near me is a charity warehouse where all the kids clothes are 50p. Sometimes they get a whole new wardrobe for £10

I love charity shops and the rummaging about.
One thing I do is buy a size or 2 bigger then alter it to fit.
Picked up some walking trousers for £4.00 last week - bargain!

Whilst i love a charity shop bargain, I often searching for decent clothes time consuming & disappointing. I've had much better luck with home ware. In the bigger shops that have more space for bulky items I've found expensive pet carriers, beautiful antique mirrors and crystal glasses at bargain prices. Worth calling in often for a browse

I found some Armani silk trousers for I think about £5-6? They were a bit big but I moved the button over, room to eat in them still!

Bagged a new with tags long falmer cardigan for a tenner today, was £25 new. 90% of my clothes and house stuff comes from charity shops.

Where are any of the charity shop warehouses? I don't know of any near me but would definitely make a day trip! 😊

CRUK superstores often on retail parks: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/ways-to-shop/superstores
Lots of independent charities have their own too

@moretea Thanks for the tip about the CRUK superstores, there's one a reasonable distance from us so I think I might just have to pop down there.