Charity Shop Chic

[Flutterbye]

I'm a bit obsessed, and tend to do the rounds once every two weeks, or i'll get withdrawal symptoms. I buy clothes for me, kids, books, toys, averaging £30 a trip every two weeks. It's not even that we're hard up I just love the idea of a bargain (often give the shop more than they're charging) and get something a bit out of sync with the shops. I'm also not bad at altering and repairing clothes so can see the potential in something that is the right colour but needs taking in a bit.

The best shops around here (south bucks) are British Heart Foundation and Helen & Douglas House (Hospice).

Anyone else the same or just me??

my friend is always picking up lovely things for herself and her boys. Whenever I go in there I walk out emptyhanded, she's probably taken all the good stuff

She even picked up a pair of Ugg Classics for £3.50 the other day.

She goes in Banardos

I find British Heart Foundation ridiculously overpriced tbh. Same for Oxfam. The ones where I get the best bargains are the local based charities rather than the big chains. I dress myself and my dc very well from charity shops, most recent bargain was a gorgeous purple felt coat for myself, clearly never worn, for 3 quid. My wardrobe is packed with great clothes that cost next to nothing. My dc like to go in with a few pounds and come out with piles of stuff too, espscially good for my dd who is into Polly Pockets and Littlest Pet Shop, and ds who is addicted to jigsaws.

Me too. It's a bit of an obsession/hobby for me ! The prices tend to be a bit silly for things like t-shirts (e.g. £4 for a t-shirt you could pick up in the H&M sale for £3) but I tend to buy things like dresses and shoes from higher-end brands. I buy things from normal shops too, but my charity shop bargains give me the most pleasure !!

Yes, me too. I rarely walk out of the shop without something. I also prefer our local shops to the larger ones. I managed to completely refresh my wardrobe last year buying good-label bits and pieces from charity shops.

Then I got pregnant and have only found one top since then. Ah well!

Yes, I love charity shops. Although they are not as good as they used to be since people started selling their good offcasts on ebay and just giving the stuff that's not worth the time at the post office to charity shops.

My best bargains recently have been, a brand new Bobbi Brown shimmer brick that also comes with a quality blusher brush for £3, a silk chiffon Brora blouse for £6 and a brand new pair of Merrel walking boots for £7. I do get annoyed with some of the charity shops though as some of them seem to sell stuff from Primark, New Look & H&M for close to what you'd pay in those shops for a new garment.

I also like buying records as we still collect vinyl and a lot of people get rid of it so it's nice and cheap.

My local Scope (Trowbridge, Wiltshire - yes, where this weeks Big Fat Gypsy Wedding was filmed - rolls eyes) seems to stock loads of 70's style stuff and ex theatre costumes. Gorgeous.

One of my favorite tops came from there.

It's a fabulous shop!

love em

80% of my wardrobe is from there

BHF deffo over priced , also local hospice type shops tend to be cheaper

regularly donate stuff too and have nearly bought back stuff on several occasions

Me too, love a bargain. Found a Boden dress I'd lusted over in the catalogue, in my size, the other day for £6. Was so chuffed. It's the small thrills isn't it?

also obsessed! In the last week I've bought:

• Lk Bennett green wrap dress BNWT ?20, perfect for a wedding I'm going to in May.

• 1960's light wool camel coat label = "Weinbeg, Paris" ?15.

• Wedgewood Everyday range lasagne dish ?2

• Vintage Plate marked "Grindley of England, Peach Petal" ?2

• Petit Bateau Stripy Hoody for DS ?1.50

Oh God, that's quite a lot but I would buy most of my clothes in Charity Shops or Primark.

Top tip would be to ONLY buy designer-esque items. The "local" smaller shops yield better bargains. Boxes of Kitchenware / Plates also worth a look often ridiculously cheap - have got le creuset gratin dishes for ?1. Kid's stuff in a "posh" area can be good. Good for Art Books / ref. books. If I come across unwanted gifts still in packaging for v.cheap, I'll buy them and put away for Xmas gift for MIl or SIL!