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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it's ok to buy stuff in charity shops?

115 replies

leweekend · 17/03/2008 08:11

I think it's fine, but a couple of people I know really sneer at this.

We're ok financially, but would rather spend money on holidays, going out etc than on everday clothes. And sometimes you can get really great stuff secondhand, which can be better than new stuff.

We do buy new things as well!

Have changed name because a few people/family members know me on here...

OP posts:
pagwatch · 17/03/2008 12:21

Thank you fedup
I have always shopped in charity shops. At one time it was out of necessity - and back then it wasn't even trendy

My mum always used to do the jumble sales and with eight children she could spot a bargain at 100 meters. I used to love buying clothes and changingthem - cutting down dresses into skirts etc. I had a treadle sewing machine from the jumble too. I was quite the enviromentalist in my day

cheesesarnie · 17/03/2008 12:27

tinylady

belgo · 17/03/2008 12:30

tinylady - maybe that's why people are 'minted' - because they hunt down the bargains?

PersephoneSnape · 17/03/2008 12:33

i do feel a little precious about my favorite charity shop sometimes and don't like telling anyone else where it is, etc because it's my charity shop, so i can almost see where tinylady is coming from. I also get narked at people rummaging through the huge pile of kids clothes, atthe same time as me, because I have a system to make sure i don't miss anything - and my heart has a little leap of happiness when the guy brings out another armful of bargains and I'm already at the kids bit and no-one else is nearby - but there are plenty of things to go round - theres so much waste and I'm not going to begrudge someone else getting a bargain when i get loads of fabulous things for such a small outlay.

rookiemater · 17/03/2008 12:36

Good point belgo. I love the NCT sales.

Chock full of solicitors and doctors and otherwise fairly welll off professionals who could easily afford to buy everything new but love a bargain.

Somehow the people that probably don't have as much disposable income don't seem to come, I don't know why that is.

cheesesarnie · 17/03/2008 12:43

round here theres not many clothes shops-youve either got to travel or use asda or tecos or surf shops(still got to travel atleast 30 minutes though!)so part of the fun of charity shops or ebay is finding something different.something thats not in tescos or asda!

tinylady · 17/03/2008 13:01

I am sorry if my remark offended anyone, but I just responded as I would in real life if someone told me they were minted-sounds crass.
I am sure lots of people with a small disposable income use charity shops.

pagwatch · 17/03/2008 13:15

tinylady
I don't make a habit of discussing my finances - and absoloutely never do in rl.

I only raised it , and it was only relevent in this context to argue the point that being sniffy about using charity shops is silly. they should be used by everyone without any embaressment.

VinegarTitsSucksEggs · 17/03/2008 13:17

Course its ok, people who sneer are snobs

only read the op so sorry if im being a parrot

anniemac · 17/03/2008 13:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

pagwatch · 17/03/2008 13:23

Persephonesnape
my DS2 loves, just loves the local charity shops and the lovely ladies in there know him by name.
He has SN and is very 'protective' of the DVD's/videos and has a great technique for ensuring no one goes there. Whenever we go in he lays a quite spectacular fart in the general area of the DVD's. I can't honestly recommend it as a technique but it is really effective as people move away very quickly.

Actually I have just realised that is why all the staff know his name

"Blimey xxx !"

PersephoneSnape · 17/03/2008 13:36

i generally go to my secret shop on a monday afternoon with my ds's to fill a gap between school and ballet. I shall, of course now have beans on toast for lunch

chickytwotimes · 17/03/2008 13:38

I got a Maclaren Quest for £4 in our local charity shop.

lucyellensmum · 17/03/2008 14:02

I don't mind how much money you have, and whether you buy in charity shops or not, but would you mind please waiting until i have had a look, get the bargains and everyone else can have whats left!!

pagwatch · 17/03/2008 14:04

oi - get to the back!
there's a queue you know....

lucyellensmum · 17/03/2008 14:10

has anyone here ever been to a jumble sale? Then you will understand the viciousness of the bargain hunter. Its a phenomenon worth missing out on afternoon tea to observe

EasterBunnylicious · 17/03/2008 14:25

I've taken to volunteering at the NCT sales as you get first pick of the bargains without the bun fight (well, you don't think I'd volunteer out of the kindness of my own heart?)

why is it ok (especially on MN) to say you are poor, but not ok to say you are rich?

Just wondering, as someone who most certainly uses charity shops out of necessity!

newgirl · 17/03/2008 14:34

i love nct sales

ours is full of great clothes and toys - they are very fussy and reject anything bobbled/marked etc - any designer things that my girls have had have been from there - i love them because you can buy a scak full of things and only spend 20-30 quid - sooo satisfying!

i had a friend who complimented me on a cashmere jumper i was wearing - she asked where from - i said oxfam and she looked horrified!!! i love it because i can wear it as an everyday item and not worry about toddler goo

hattyyellow · 17/03/2008 14:38

I think they're great too - have some lovely stuff from charity shops. I hate buying new stuff for my girls, it's seriously expensive (especially when you have twins and can't pass stuff down from one DC to another).

DD's are kitted out in friends hand me downs, ebay and NCT sale stuff although I do admit to buying some stuff new - their shoes and winter coats etc things that get worn every day.

Just to hijack - I was talking to the suppliers of this new concept a few weeks ago and I think it's great - a new alternative to ebay/freecycle/charity shops where you can actually nominate the charity you want your donated goods to go to, including clothes etc.

www.jumbleaid.com/

quarkee · 17/03/2008 14:38

I too volunteer and thus get first pick - did the NNS a week or so ago and got DS some great gear, Monsoon lovlies for 50p a go...

On charity shops in general I buy lots of stuff and also drop off other stuff (books and clothes i no longer fit into sadly) too so i like to think of it all balancing out. I have noticed that it is often those of an older generation who can be sniffy about using second hand stuff (or is that just my experience here?) personally i'd rather 'spend' my money on not having to work as much so i can spend more time with DS instead of doing 50 hours a week...

ExtraFancy · 17/03/2008 14:39

DrNorthener I would be up for the £10 charity shop challenge! Just had a look round this morning as I need some new work clothes for when I go back in 5 weeks...

Shitemum · 17/03/2008 14:45

I live abroad and stock up on clothes and books for the DDs at charity shops when in the UK. Why on earth would I want to spend 30 quid on a handful of new kids books when I could get 30 or more second-hand?

I buy underwear, tights, pyjamas and shoes new. We have some lovely (many BNWL) charity shop things waiting to be grown into.
I love the thrill of the chase too.

Frankly i can't understand why anyone would turn their noses up at charity shop stuff, or is it only 'the done thing' to donate, not buy?

Bloody snobs.

EasterBunnylicious · 17/03/2008 14:49

Oooh, dr northerner I missed that - would be well up for it. Why don't you start a new thread in Ethical Living? Or would that be Style and beauty?

MoreSpamThanGlam · 17/03/2008 14:53

I am a convert.

After losing my home and business, I had to do bootfairs every weekend and Ebay every week.

I am appalled by how much a pair of jeans in Next cost. Its a joke.

I have bought some fantastic good quality toys from boot fairs and stuck them in the bath with a bit of milton. Good as new.

The only thing I buy new is shoes.

kitbit · 17/03/2008 15:07

Absolutely - also buy clothing on ebay for ds, he is 3, I can buy a pair of Gap jeans on ebay for a fiver including postage, and 3 year olds rarely trash their jeans so they are as good as new. I pass them on afterwards too, one pair I know of has done 5 little boys altogether and are still going strong, not tatty, frayed, faded, holey etc. The difference is that that's not supporting a charity which I would rather be doing, but charity shops are fab for similar reasons! You'd think people would be pleased to have the chance to recycle.