A Lego Millennium Falcon, a red Armani dress and a family organiser are all items I’ve bought recently in charity shops.

Charity shops are a British thing; the first modern-style charity shop was set up by Oxfam in 1948 to raise money for the organisation’s relief work in post-war Greece and is still trading at 17 Broad Street, Oxford (in fact, I’ve been there!). Charity shops in the UK raise £270m each year for charitable causes: my recent purchases have funded:

• palliative care
• support for people who are homeless
• services for people with a learning disability
• emergency and development work for some of the world’s poorest communities
• animal welfare
• support for pregnancy-related challenges, including post-natal depression.

I sought advice from the Journey to Zero Waste UK Facebook group about how to buy clothes in charity shops. The hive’s tips included:

• shop without Small Boy and Little Miss – ha!
• go frequently
• check the material labels
• try on
• choose a base colour and then look for items in that colour or that co-ordinate well

I also asked my mum, who is always picking up great items, for her charity shop tips. She asks herself the following questions:

• Does it appeal to me?
• Is it a good fit?
• Is it a good name?
• Do I need it?
• Is it under £10? (I have set myself a limit of £5 for clothes)

I’ve had some successes: 

• An apron for Little Miss (which both Small Boy and I thought would be good for when she is a little bit bigger and able to join in with our baking).
• Tops from Phrase Eight and John Lewis, and some dresses from Next for work.
• A kite – every family needs a kite!
• A Lego Millennium Falcon and Lego race car (Small Boy is getting into Lego and had previously said he wanted a spaceship).
• Little Red Train books which were on my wishlist for Small Boy.
• There have been several times when I’ve chosen not to buy something and I’ve not regretted this.

I’ve purchased some new items (bought in goods sold for profit), such as birthday cards and a 2018 family organiser – items I would have bought anyway.

And some mistakes:

• A wool cardigan that is too itchy to wear.
• A £3.25 Armani dress which is too small but I’m optimistically keeping it.
• A race car – Small Boy said he wanted it and I said yes in a moment of weakness and stress but in reality it’s just a large piece of ugly plastic junk.

What have I learnt?

• It’s so much easier when I can go on my own. It also means I can buy items for Small Boy which can be given as bribes presents.
• It’s really hard not being a consumer. I like buying and having new things!
• If I don’t have time to try something on, then stick with sizes and brands that I know.
• Most shops take cards (and some even do contactless) but there are still one or two which only take cash.
• Shopping in charity shops is a lot of fun!

Further reading

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/knickers-models-own – Caroline Jones wore a different pre-loved outfit (all from Cancer Research shops) for an entire year proving you can be frugal and fashionable.