Charity Shops - Aren't they fab?!

[Sparkler]

DD is going on a school trip next week and has to dress up as a Victorian child. I've just browsed our local charity shop and found a beautiful long black skirt for 50p!!
Fan-blinkin'-tastic!

They are soooo not my place, but well done you! Fantastic bargain!!

I've never really been much of a charity shopper but I found a plain black T shirt in one for a costume for DS1 for £1. Will look again after that success - especially for fancy dress!

yes yes yes they are!!!

I have just bought DD a toy hoover, i know its barbie and i know its pink BUT it actually works and it cost me £2.50.

That is not to mention the Thomas train set, that i bought, complete with 20 metal trains for £1!!!!!

oh and the lead crystal photo frame we bought for inlaws, new, in the box £3.50!

Oh yes I just found two red scarves with sparkly bits in and right now have 2 small pirates running round the flat.

I love them i got ds a masiy mouse apron from one yesterday for £1 he hasen't taken it off and has wanted to cook all day : )

they are truly excellent. Most of my clothes come from charity shops (there are some VERY good ones local to me), ditto the boys' clothes. I heart charity shops - and they assuage some of the fritterguilt I get when buying not-entirely-functional clothes.

hello, you are luck! the charity shops round here cost more then the other shops sometimes! Its a joke what some of them charge!!! - I used to frequent them but don't bother anymore

they can be fab but I'm not very good at finding stuff - my best friend on the other hand has a real knack !

my mum does! she finds loads!

although i am sure a bundle of toys I should have given her anyway - went via shop to her home didn't think when I took them in that they would be good for her house! lol

shhh!!

I found a beautiful East top in my lcal one what still had the tag on it. It was originally 45, biut I got it for 2.50!!! Also got a nice french connection top for 1.75. I love charity shops. I live in Bath, and they are genreally full of good quality crap

ooo bath, hi

I am near taunton!

yeovil has the best charity shops!

L love them and have some favourte clothes from them.I dressed ds completelt from them and car boots as a child Pity he became a teenager really although he has no problem with the idea of second hand just has more specific taste now mores the pity.Great for books too

Hi Milsna!

I do love a good charidee shop.

Never really go right into Somerste, I will havr to check it out!

Ours are mostly awful. It's changed - there used to be some brilliant ones, but now they are all sort of 'corporate' round here, and the prices take the piss - usually.

I have pretty much given up, though I used to be in them all the time before it got so ridiculous.

Where do you all live!!!

my dp works in bath!

love em!

DP and I both work in the centre of Bath too, for a publishing house. (The same one- -we never get away from one another!)

i love them i used to be a bit of a snob when at work and earning money wouldnt even look through a window

now i'm proudly popping out showing off all my bargains

i got brand new designer tops skirts jeans for no more than 50p each

i got my ds all sorts brand new elc games for 20 p each books videos always in them now its not just tat

and i'm not to proud to go in one now we only have 1 income i can find better stuff in there for ds that i can afford and its not tat as they are not allowed to sell tat

i would recommend it to anyone i know lots of people even with money that go in as its surprising what you can pick up

my wardrobe has never looked better and to thin k i got 50 pound pair of jeans for 50p lol

aw thats great! I doubt I would find designer stuff in these!! - the staff pinch it all!!

What bugs me is the stuff they can't sell they but out for the dustman! - I overheard 2 people talking about it!

I thought stuff that was not good enough to sell would go to a third world country - say a tshirt with a little mark on etc..

I absolutely adore charity shops, and cannot walk past one without going in!!! You never know what you might find! Granted some of them are overpriced or just plain full of crap..but you never know until you look! Most of my clothes come from charity shops and I have also picked up some great buys for DS.

I don't understand the mentally of not shopping in them, you are contributing to charity, helping to recycle and often getting a great bargain! Who's the mug when I get something great for a couple of quid and you have spent full price in some overpriced shop?

Boot sales are also a great day out where you can get fresh air and also pick up a bargain!

It doesn't go to the dustmen, it goes to the rag men, and to be honest, it costs more in fuel to get unsalable items to third world countries than they are actually worth bought new in the third world country.

I love them for books, especially for DD.

yes books are great! All children books at my local oxfam are 20p - no matter the size!!

but you get those that are in there grabbing anything that is reasnoable enough condition to sell on - fair enough charity shops are getting their money for it but I don't go in there very often anymore as the ones that are left are in poor condition!!

I do love having a peek, been a while since I saw a good bargain though. Our local cancer research shop is getting a bit carried away! A torn, cheap faux fur jacket for £12? A designer skirt with a £90 tag on it so they ask for £45? Nobody in my local area can afford that!! Maybe it's just me but I think this is a tad expensive when they get it all for nowt, surely a few quid is better than nothing?
Dps gran works in a local hospice charity shop and always picks up lovely little things for dd, and at a much better price!