I've heard people say that they never find anything good in charity shops and that its mainly old ladies clothing . This of course isn't at all true. Yes you are going to most likely see clothing that are for the older generation but you can find some great gems and often if lucky clothing that still has the tags on. Let's be honest alot of us have clothing in our wardrobe that we don't wear or regret buying and its these clothing items and accessories that end up in charity shops.
So how do I make the most out of our local charity shops? Well read below some of my tips on how to charity shop like a pro.
Have a list
Having an idea on what you are looking for whether it's a denim jacket or an occasion dress can help you save money,rather than just jumping in and buying whatever looks nice. In the past I've purchased items and regretted them as I didn't have other items in my wardrobe that they would go with. It's also handy if you are in a rush and can just scan the rails.
Pick your time
Weekdays tend to be the best time.
Pick your location
If you are able to travel a bit outside of your local area it's a great way broaden your search. More affluent areas mean you may find designer items and more higher end high street pieces, however the downside is prices tend to be higher. For example a primark dress could be priced up for more than it would be in store. I think it's worth visiting charity shops in a mixture of affluent and less affluent areas.
Visit regularly
You most likely wont strike gold on every occasion. Popping in regularly for example once a week means you are likely to find items from your list. This is due to charity shops getting new stock out everyday.
Be prepared to rummage
Most charity shops have clothing organised into sizing and/or colour. However not everyone puts items back in the right places. It's a good idea to take your time and have a good rummage.
Try on items and examine them carefully
The last thing you want is to buy a top for example to find out when you get home it doesn't fit or worse has a broken zip, is stained, wripped or smelly.
Have an idea of repair and alteration costs
If a zip is broken I tend to leave the item as I dont have the time to sort it and also it could be an expensive job. If an item just needs a bit of sewing or can be upcycled into something better than if I love it and it fits than I'll most likely purchase the item.
Check labels
If you've not heard of a brand than Google them. I tend to do this to get an idea how much an item would cost new. Also check lables incase they are dry clean only or hand wash only.
Try online charity shops
I only recently was aware that charity shops these days tend to also have an online shop. This is handy as you can shop from the comfort of your own home and it's great for those of you that cant get out.
Give Back
It's important to give back to charity as they rely on donations to survive. So when you next have a wardrobe clear out think of donating any unwanted items.
For more tips check out this handy post on Charity shopping tips and tricks from somone who used to run one.
