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

[leweekend]

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...

i have bought and sold in MN and ebay - love it got some real bargains too

the 2nd hand shops near me are VG eg gap, monsoon, whistles.so wahey why not. a good leather bag is a find anywhere imo

its all about spin some other shops near me sell VG condition second hand and call it vintage

Although I love them, I sometimes think prices are a little ridiculous.

I needed a red/white stripy T for DD's drama exam. I'd got one from Zara and one from PPatch and taken them back as dd is a little, erm..., sturdy and they were thin and clingy.

Went into a few charity shops, lo and behold and ancient M&S 3/4 sleeved red and white top all bobbly and a bit mis-shappen £6.25! I pointed out the pull and fraying collar and they let me have it for £5!

Luuurvvve Charity shops !

Not only for some nice clothes but I am always finding some fantastic kids reference books which I always buy - lost count of how many childrens atlas I have [ blush ]

CU that reminds me for 50p the other day I got a fab children's book

'Britannia, 100 great stories from British history' from the Romans to Live Aid (my Dd was that I was old enough to remember that one) much better than some dry old reference book (imho).

Charity shops are fab. Now that we're paying school fees, everything I wear comes from the charity shop - as do most of the children's jigsaws, games and videos. At nearly 4 and nearly 6, they haven't yet worked out that other people get "new" stuff (fortunately for me). I hope they never do cotton on to that one!!

The great thing about charity shops is that you can afford to buy stuff - and you can also afford to give it back when you've had enough of it, so someone else can enjoy it. That way, everyone benefits!

Gosh! Lads of us!

And the general consensus is he snotty relatives are snobby and insecure.
Yes

What about when the kids start to object as they get older?
One of mine does. But I don't force her, just say she's got less choice of clothes...
She'''l come round when she starts going vintage...

Yeah, wait till she is a teenage indie chick or goth and charity shops will be all the rage!

Our charity shops are sooo expensive. Some things in there are actually cheaper brand new! I was at an Oxfam childrens clothes sale recently and my friend came out with a huge bag of tat clothes for her dd, most of it was very well worn and she actually paid £3 for a NEXT school uniform polo shirt and yet they are only £5 for a pack of 3 brand new!

It is much cheaper to buy from cheap stores like Primark, Wilkos etc but it is all for a good cause and obviously much greener to recycle. It does seem that you now need to be well off to shop ethically .

It's genuinely never occurred to me that anyone would sneer at charity shops. I am SO PROUD when I get a good charity shop purchase. Everything about shopping in charity shops is good, isn't it?

There are people I wouldn't give charity shop presents too, though, and people I would.

Easter- we're waiting...

Scamp- I get all proud and excited when get a really good buy.
I got daughter a white stuff top, and me some toast trousers the other day. Pathetically excited.....

Then if mil or sil say "Ooh is that new," and I , it's a say it's a charity shop buy, you can almost hear the snicker...
But it's a double edged sword, @cos i bet they'ed bitch if i bought them for the full price "OOh- that's a bit posh, expensive " etc...

DSD1 and DSD2 are mortified if i tell them that i got them stuff from a charity shop so i don't tell them in fact DSD2's fav coat only cost £3... the only time DS and DD get new stuff is if it's a present from someone. i don't see what the big deal is. kids grow out of stuff so quickly it's mostly a waste of money. DS is going through a growth spurt at the moment and i don't even think what it would cost if i had to fork out full price.

my brother loves sickening his friends with his buys. he once bought a gucci shirt brand new for £8. his friend had bought a very similar one for £85.... dunce!

oops meant don't even want to think

saw a gorgeous top in the charity shop today but it was too big so had to leave it. Bit upset it wasn't my size because it was so unusual and I'm no good at altering things. I just get mad at charity shops when they overprice items because they're run like businesses now and don't seem that grateful for donations or custom!!

For ethical and environmental reasons, I took The Compact nearly a year ago, so I only buy secondhand! No new things at ALL apart from food, medicines and a handful of justified violations.

I think you are most certainly not being unreasonable.

Charity shops are ace! I always look at the books, toys and baby clothes - DD (5mo) is growing out of her clothes so fast and one of the charity shops where I live sells baby stuff for 40,50 or 60p an item. Seems mad not to buy stuff from there. I'd rather do spend less and be helping out a charity than spend £10 - £15 on an outfit that'll fit her for a matter of weeks.