Written by Jo Smyth aka @Jo_joblogs this post is the second of a two part series which looks at how self-confessed shopaholics can be that little bit thriftier. Earlier in the week Jo wrote about shopping at charity shops. Today’s post focuses on buying clothes on eBay. Over to Jo…
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Written by Jo Smyth aka @Jo_joblogs this post is the first of a two part series which looks at how self-confessed shopaholics can be that little bit thriftier. Today’s post focuses on charity shops but keep your eyes peeled for a post about eBay in the next few days!
Last night Jake and I went out with a bunch of his friends from work for his leaving do. He’s saying goodbye to the world of retail and starting his first graduate job on Monday. Having had very little of a social life recently, I decided I’d make an effort and wear something nice. It’s not often I get an excuse to dress up fancy these days! A few weeks ago, after landing two new jobs, I treated myself to a pretty white blouse with bunnies on it from H&M, but as I finished work yesterday I realised I’d need a black skirt to go with it. So back I wandered to H&M, my go-to place when I urgently need something simple and don’t have time to rummage through a charity shop and pray for a lucky find.
A few months ago I was in the paper talking about the benefits of fantastic voucher code websites. But, since I created this blog to help my readers save money, I decided to write a post about the importance of maintaining a sense of self control when using such websites and looking for a great deal.
Voucher codes, coupons, and deals are great tools for anyone on a money-saving mission. If you use them wisely they can save you tons of money. However, something that I think far too many people overlook is the fact that if you’re going to use a coupon or voucher code to purchase something that you don’t need, don’t actually want, or weren’t really thinking of buying anyway, you have not saved money. Instead, you have spent money and the brand has made money.
Life & Style Making Money Money Thrifty
You Win Some, You Lose Some. When Car Boots Don’t Go So Well
Doing a car boot can be a bit of a gamble. Sometimes you can drive away with an empty ride and a few hundred quid in cash, other times you find yourself struggling to fit everything back in your car despite having driven it to the venue with no problems at all.
Last Sunday, my dad and I did a car boot that was a bit of a flop. We didn’t walk away completely empty handed; I made £75 toward my house deposit, but I did have to sell a lot of stuff for far less than I’d originally hoped. I also had to get up at 5am. That was pretty rubbish.
The day before the car boot we had everything priced up. Some of my brother’s shirts were £4 each, I had dresses for £3 and my mum had a selection of tops for £2 to £3 too. My dad, who has somewhat of a minimalist wardrobe, contributed CDs, DVDs and books instead.
But despite having everything clearly labelled, nearly every person who showed an interest in the things we were selling offered us a ridiculous amount of money that was FAR less than what we’d asked for. “Will you take 50p for this t-shirt?” What? That barely worn one from Superdry. No pal.
After a few hours went by, with very few sales, we decided to reduce our prices. But then another hour went by and we had to reduce them even more. It got to a stage where I put a huge “EVERYTHING £1!” sign on the clothes rails. I figured that if everything went for a quid, I’d walk away happy and we’d have little to take home. Problem is…more of the potentially eBay worthy stuff (not pictured) got snapped up and tons of other bits remained.
It was then, in a moment of pure madness that I reduced it all to 50p each. I don’t really know what I was thinking to be honest. I still actually like the crazy green dress in the picture below. I’d only put it on the car boot because I wanted to exchange it for a bit of money that would buy a tiny piece of my future house.
If I hadn’t reduced things so drastically, I would have made a lot less than I did, but in hindsight I probably should have saved them for another day. Luckily, I did remove a few of my brother’s more valuable items of clothing in the last hour or so after deciding to give them a go on eBay, so there’s still more money to be made. It just takes so much time though!
If you want to have a big clear out and get rid of lots of stuff cheaply, car boots can be ideal but there’s always a risk that you won’t do as well as you planned. If you’re concerned about getting the best price for individual items you may be best trying eBay…though it does require a considerable amount more time and effort.
It’s common knowledge that you can find out exactly where a dress was from and how much it costs simply by complimenting a woman’s outfit. I don’t know why us women so often feel the need to share all this information as soon as someone says “nice coat” but we just do. And “Thanks! £5. Charity Shop!” is the type of phrase I’ve found myself uttering on numerous occasions recently, having picked up some absolutely amazing second hand bargains.
Far too many people seem to be under the impression that charity shops are filled with junk that no one wants to buy, but this simply isn’t the case. With trends changing on a regular basis and many dedicated fashion-lovers replacing their wardrobes every season, charity shops are often bursting at the seams with both high street and designer garments. Here are just three charity shop items that I’ve picked up recently…
1. The Cream Dress
At £14.99 the dress below was a bit pricier than I’d usually pay in a charity shop, but considering it is brand new with tags and was originally a whopping £169, I decided I’d hit the jackpot! Big thanks to whoever donated this beauty to Oxfam in Withington.
2. The Black Dress
I’m currently on a bit of a mission to smarten up my wardrobe (without spending a ton of money on brand new items) so as soon as I spotted this gorgeous long sleeved lil number in The British Heart Foundation, I knew I had to try it on. I’ve worn it several times in the last few weeks, so already feel like I’m well on my way to getting my money’s worth.
3. The Henry Holland Dress
Another British Heart Foundation treat, it really was love at first sight with this Henry Holland dress. I love how it’s casual enough to wear with leggings and trainers, but could easily be smartened up with tights, shoes and a blazer.
Snapped up any gorgeous second hand bargains lately? Whether its from a charity shop, car boot sale or eBay, I’d love to see your finds.
Charity Shops Home Life & Style Thrifty Upcycling
An Upcycler’s Paradise: My First Visit To Emmaus Salford
It was only a few weeks ago that I first heard about the homelessness charity Emmaus. I spotted them on Twitter and found myself spending ages looking through their tweets. Bursting with photos of donations, charity shop displays, and stories of the people they help, these guys really are experts when it comes to promoting their charity on social media. As soon as I spotted the photo below, I knew I’d have to start paying their shops a visit.
Calling all #fashionistas, #fashionbloggers & #vintage lovers - visit our shops: http://t.co/YGk2OHYvvA pic.twitter.com/kbqLPvYIAw
— Emmaus UK (@EmmausUK) July 5, 2015
I soon realised that their Fitzwarren Street store in Salford isn’t too far from Jake’s house, so popped over for a visit yesterday. Although there’s one room overflowing with clothes and several bookcases filled with great titles, this shop’s best feature is definitely the amount of affordable furniture it has on offer.
As soon as I spotted the two bedside cabinets below for just £5 each, I instantly knew that I’d be returning another day with my Dad and his car. These babies might be gone by the time we can nip back, but I’ve got my fingers crossed that there’ll be some other bargains for us.
Everything in the building (and in the car park outside) was so well priced and I found myself wishing I could buy almost everything and take it home for some TLC. It really is the perfect place for upcyclers looking for an easy project! Although everything is cheap, it’s also in decent condition and nothing seems like too much hard work. A quick paint job should ought to do the trick, but the vast majority of pieces would also be perfectly fine as they are, particularly if you’re a first time buyer or someone who has just moved into an unfurnished flat.
Can you believe this table and chairs below is just £65 for the set? There’s nothing wrong with it! If I had a van big enough to drive these home, I’d probably paint it all white and recover the cushions with a different fabric, but it’d certainly be perfectly fine left as it is if you couldn’t be bothered with the mither.
I think my next upcycling project might involve a little something like this nest of tables. Since I’m living at my parents’ house at the moment, I’ve been firmly warned not to bring anything hefty home as the house is already bursting at the seems. So something like this would be perfect to do up and stash in the garage until it’s time for me to move out.
So much furniture…just a shame I don’t have my own van to take it all home in!
If you’d like to know more about this fantastic charity, take a look at the Emmaus website or follow them on Twitter.
Have you got a favourite place you turn to when looking for your next upcycling project? Or perhaps you’ve just moved into a new home and you’re in the process of filling it with second hand treasures? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
Fur has long been thought of as the baddie of the fashion world and as a result, as soon as Autumn comes around our high street shops are filled with faux alternatives.
However, these alternatives can be extremely bad for the environment for a number of reasons:
- If we throw them away once we’re done with them they’re unlikely to ever biodegrade
- Made from non-renewable petroleum based products such as nylon, acrylic and polyester, fake fur is also treated with chemicals to improve its appearance and texture
- Not only are faux-fur clothes bad for the environment once they’ve been disposed of, the actual process of creating the coat in the first place uses three times as much non-renewable energy than real fur
- Apparently, washing fake fur is bad too. During each machine wash tiny particles of plastic are released before eventually being released into rivers, lakes and the sea
- People are more likely to throw away their faux-fur coats after just one season
The impact these alternatives have on the environment is only half the problem. Although we’re doing what we can to save animals we’re inadvertently showing a complete disregard for humans. We already know that many of the clothes that we wear have been created by small, poverty-stricken children in developing parts of the world but does that stop us from buying and wearing them? Not really.
As a result, some campaigners are saying that we SHOULD be wearing fur after all, because not only does its production rarely involve sweatshops, it’s also a sustainable alternative to the fast fashion that we’ve grown so accustomed to.
Besides, what use is saving animals if we’re gradually working towards destroying the whole planet?
But HANG FIRE! Before we choose to add a fur coat to our wardrobes once summer is over, let’s take the pro-fur propaganda with a pinch of salt. While fur does actually seem like a more natural alternative to wearing plastic that’s been made to look and feel like an cuddly animal, the idea of animals being slaughtered for fashion still doesn’t seem quite right.
The good news is we have other options. What can we do to minimise the impact that our purchases have on the environment, animals, and people around the world?
Well, let’s use Meat Free Mondays as a source of inspiration. The initiative was introduced to encourage people to reduce their meat consumption. With meat production having a detrimental effect on the environment, giving up everything from burgers to chicken breasts for just one day a week can make a significant difference. Maybe we need to do this with fashion too?
So I’m not saying we have to give up shopping on the high street, buying fast fashion, or even…wearing fur if that’s what you want to do. What I’m saying is that if we all did our bit to REDUCE the amount of the stuff we buy brand new (because constantly buying new stuff is a large part of the problem) we will be helping to implement change.
Here are a few ideas for shopping more sustainably:
- Celebrate #CharityShopChuesdays. I just made that up right now. I wonder whether it will catch on? 😉
- Visit a car boot sale every once in a while
- Buy second hand clothes off eBay
- Throw a clothes swap party
- Accept hand-me-downs from friends and family members
Although the above suggestions may help many of us to reduce the impact on the environment and animals, unfortunately so much more needs to be done to fully tackle the issue of poor working conditions in sweatshops. It’s disgraceful that so many people in developing countries are being so cruelly taken advantage of in the name of fashion.
I’d like to think that by doing what we can to reduce the number of new purchases that we make, we can at least prevent the demand for this type of clothing from increasing. We need to show retailers that we care about ethically sourced garments. If you want to know more about the the effects of sweatshops, I’d definitely recommend having a look at the Who Made My Clothes? campaign.
What do you think? Do you wear fur, faux, or neither of them? Have you got any other ideas to help people be more sustainable without completely turning their back on the world of fashion?
I’ve said it myself many times in the past, the way to grab the best second hand finds involves shopping in posh areas. With so many wealthy residents nearby, many of whom probably don’t have the time to faff about on eBay for very little profit, an overwhelming number of quality - and often designer - items are handed into these charity shops.
However, during a recent trip to Salford Shopping City, I’ve realised that, thanks to great charity shop managers and devoted volunteers, fantastic charity bargains can be found anywhere.
The city of Salford
Every city in the world has its good parts and bad parts and far too often the negative overshadows the positive. The city of Salford is no different. As a whole, Salford has been gaining an increasing amount of good press in recent years due to the BBC’s move to Media City, but there’s no denying that there are still some areas that unfortunately still have a bit of a reputation.
The 2011 riots which saw the shopping centre being looted, smashed up and set on fire probably didn’t help….nor did this interview with a local resident. However, having spent 5 years living in Salford myself with no trouble, I can honestly say the place is alright.
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Bye Fallowfield, hello Salford!
Having recently finished his degree, Jake has now said goodbye to his student house in Fallowfield and has moved into a rented room in Salford. Although he’s not in the poshest part of town, the house is great, the landlord is a top bloke, and most importantly, it’s far more affordable than it would be to rent a room in the centre of Manchester which is just a short 10 minute bus ride away.
After moving his stuff in, the two of us wandered over to the shopping centre to buy some bits and pieces for the house. We soon spotted a British Heart Foundation and decided to pop in. I thought we’d only be there for a few minutes but I found myself spending ages looking through all the gorgeous clothes. It was clearly well managed and is easily the best charity shop I’ve ever been in.
Kissing a lot of frogs before you find your prince
Since I started helping out at a charity shop myself I’ve learned just how many donations they get each day. Many of which are unfortunately not fit for sale but sometimes I do find charity shops bursting at the seams with items which really don’t deserve a place on the hanger.
Of course, if a charity is only receiving poor quality donations, I guess they have little choice, but I think it’s really important to be as ruthless as possible when deciding what to sell. Perhaps it’s better to have a tidy and minimalist shop than one cluttered with absolute rubbish? Besides, the clothes that don’t go on sale don’t actually goes to waste. Clothes that aren’t fit for sale in the shop can still make money for the charity if bagged up and sold to the rag collectors .
In this British Heart Foundation, however, every single item had earned its place in the shop but I suspect the volunteers have to recycle the vast majority of the donations they are given.
I guess it’s like kissing a lot of frogs before you find your prince. Charity shop volunteers have to sift through a lot of rubbish before they find their hidden gems.
By ensuring that the right items are on sale, the team at the British Heart Foundation have created a really great shop that I’m sure keeps customers returning to time and time again.
Generally, charity shops tend to rotate stock on a regular basis, recycling items that have been on display for a set period of time but haven’t sold. However, if those items are good quality, I think it’s far more effective to keep them out there and reduce them in price than it is to replace them with something that is perhaps not as appealing. So what if that gorgeous dress hasn’t sold after 4 months? It might just be the case that the right person hasn’t been in yet.
Don’t overlook the humble charity shop
While posher areas may still be the best for those looking to bag designer goods, I think the British Heart Foundation in Salford proves that with great management and ruthless volunteers who aren’t afraid to recycle some donations, charities in any area can create a great store and put an end to the misconception that their shops are too often filled with rubbish.
So what’s the moral of the story? If you’re looking to pick up some great bargains or revamp your wardrobe with thrifted finds, keep an open mind and don’t rule any charity shops out purely because they aren’t in a posh part of town. You might end up missing out on some hidden gems!
If you’ve spotted a crackin’ charity shop in a not-posh place, I’d love to hear from you. Let us know your favourite ‘chazzers’ in the comments below.
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Photo credits:
All photos taken inside the charity shop are by me. You may use them if you wish, but please link back to me. Thanks
British Heart Foundation exterior. Mikey
Salford Shopping City tower. Mikey