to wonder how the heck this guy manages to afford all this stuff?!

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

I know a guy who posts a lot on FB.

He often posts about the things he has bought, and there are a lot of things! Such as:

He is a bit of a movie buff so often buys expensive blu ray movie memorabilia/collectable box sets of films and TV series', as well as movie props, signed photos etc.

Super huge swanky TVs and sound systems to watch them on (he has a 50in in the living room and has just bought another for his bedroom - in a 1 bed flat).

Lots of new clothes/shoes.

He goes out quite a lot too, trips to the cinema, out drinking, dinners out etc.

Thing is..the works part time as a cleaner in a school! He can't be earning much above MW, how the bloody hell does he afford it all and can he give me some tips on how to make my money go further

I know its none of my business and he can spend his money on what he likes but AIBU to just be curious how he does it? Any suggestions?

Fwiw he is single at lives in his own flat.

[CerseiHeartsJaime4ever]

I sort of agree with lovescake on this one. It does seem a bit dodgy to scan stuff in a charity shop so you can sell on for your own profit The profit should be the charity's. However, back to the thread.

I have one word.... Credit!!!

[YaySirNaySir]

He has a hobby- big TV, films and memorbillia. Goes out for meals, drink etc and buys clothes and shoes. Hardly last of the big spenders!
He's just normal guy enjoying himself surely?
I seem to be missing something.

[Bluebird79]

In a word, credit.

[TheNaze73]

If he's a single, childless bloke you have your answer. They'd not be draining his income

[ToucheShay]

Charity shops could sell on E-Bay if they wanted too but they don't. They sell items cheaply so they sell quickly and have a high turnover.

[GingerCuddleMonsterThe2nd]

Maybe he donates his sperm. I'm pretty sure they get paid for it still.

[Buzzardbird]

Do you think he might be knicking the kids dinner money?

[Pipbin]

I don't think they do anymore. And I think they only take so many 'donation' from one person.
Some lads at uni used to do that though.

[Buzzardbird]

Or has got a racket selling lost school jumpers and cardigans, which I greatly suspect someone at our school has?

[Pipbin]

The funny thing is Buzzard that we had about a zillion school jumpers 'lost' at the end of the school year, all unnamed. Any that had the school logo on and were in a decent state were washed and sold after school for 50p. Not one was sold.

[Buzzardbird]

I know Pip, I can never understand why the bin full of cardigans and jumpers (some with names on) are not reclaimed! Those cardigans are expensive! DD's get 'lost' even though her name is on them in several places.

I will check out what the school caretaker's living standards are I think?

[Doinmummy]

He's probably up to his eyes in credit cards .

[GingerCuddleMonsterThe2nd]

My dear old mam would make me tell the school receptionist I had lost my jumper towards the end of term and I would choose the next size up in good condition for the following year and take it home to be washed

[bettyberry]

meh. It may seem dodgy but it's perfectly legal and there is nothing immoral about it. The tools I use are available freely to anyone if they are willing to put in the time and effort.

Charity shops can do it to but they don't. They just want it out the door as quickly as possible to make space for the next round of donated stuff. Most of the managers I know want to make as much as they can so if that means selling me a box of DVD's and games for £30 that I'll then turn into £45-£50 in instore vouchers ( just to make it clear if I asked for cash I would get £30 sometimes less back!) is anyone actually losing out?

[Clarathemagnificent]

YaySir - I don't get it either.

He's a single man with cheap rent who has a hobby he likes to spend some of his money on. There is no big mystery to solve.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

It's far more usual to wander into a charity shop and find things for sale at a higher price than they cost brand new, at least it is around here.

Tesco vests for 4.99 when they only cost £2 new

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

Needs, its the same round here, all the 'big' name charity shops, Oxfam, BHF etc but overpriced and not particularly special goods. Can get cheaper going to Primark not that we have one of those either

He has cheap rent Clara but also a low income. We live in a low wage area of the country so even though its a lot cheaper than, say, London, your money doesn't go that far. For example, on a part time cleaner's wage you might earn £800 a month. Rent on a 1 bed flat would be at least £400, add bills, Council tax etc and you're easily looking at £500 a month not including food, transport costs etc. Ok, as a council place the rent is probably less than that but it still doesn't seem the kind of money that enables you to buy £500+ TVs and collectable blu rays at £50 each.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

I walked past the BHF the other day and in the window you could see two sofas at £225 each both were filthy, those same sofas currently sell brand new for £99 (I know this because it's the standard grant sofa we purchase for our half way houses)

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

Oh and I'm not criticising it if they can make 225 for a shitty filthy sofa that I wouldn't let my cat use fair play to them.

But it works both ways

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

There was a charity shop near where I used to live that did all furniture, same sort of thing! £150 for a cheap formica dining table, when you could go to argos and get a brand new one for £50! If you had £150 for a table you probably wouldn't be buying from a charity shop in the first place