IT’S reasonable to state that charity stores have actually had something of a revival over the previous couple of years, as children captured on that there’s some jaw-dropping offers to be had if you want to have an excellent rummage.
What’s more, more people than ever are utilizing pre-owned shopping websites like eBay, Vinted and Depop to bag outright deals.
It comes as eBay saw a 6 percent boost in site traffic over July 2023, along with a 7.3 percent rise in app downloads within the last month – according to statistics from Alt Index
And one smart buyer, Jen Graham, has actually shared her pointers for top-tier thrifting, sharing how she handled to bag a massive ₤ 1.9 k of designer goodies for simply ₤ 38.
The 38-year-old has actually acquired a combined 140k fans on her TikTok and Instagram accounts, both with the manage @charityshopgirlcsg, where she shares the luxe pieces she’s scavenged from thrift shops.
The Cheshire-based influencer started publishing material after being made redundant throughout Covid, when her 13-year-old child recommended she must begin shooting her regular pre-owned clothes hauls.


” I began charity shopping due to the fact that I constantly wished to dress a bit in a different way,” Jen describes.
” I believed I might do that by shopping used due to the fact that every product was private and distinct.”
According to Jen, her videos have actually seen a current rise in appeal as individuals fight with the cost-of-living crisis, and look for low-cost methods to keep looking stylish on a budget plan.
” Everybody is fretting about cash and attempting to cut expenses, however still wish to look great,” she describes.
” I likewise believe the preconception has actually been eliminated and individuals feel okay to use something that’s used.”
The shopping whizz states that resale websites like eBay and Depop are simply as excellent as physical shops, letting you bag offers “from the convenience of your own house”.
And in her years of thrifting, the cash-saving whizz has actually handled to bag some definitely eye-watering cost savings.
” I desired a Ralph Lauren bag,” she states, “which was ₤ 287, and I got it for ₤ 90, brand name brand-new in the dust bag on Vinted.
” I’m likewise going to Goodwood and I purchased the most stunning Jaeger pink shift gown for ₤ 8. It came totally steamed, it was brand name brand-new. That would have been around ₤ 80.”
The penny-pinching influencer likewise just recently got a Yves Saint Lauren sports jacket for simply ₤ 20– regardless of the truth it would have cost around ₤ 1k when it initially offered in the 1990s.
” I discovered it wedged in the tee shirts area, so It wasn’t even with the sports jackets. I constantly check out each and every single product in a charity store due to the fact that they’re not constantly arranged. You do need to have an excellent rummage.”
Remarkably, Jen reckons that for every single 10 charity stores you check out, if you hunt hard enough, there’ll be a designer purchase in a minimum of 8 of them.
And after years of discovering the very best offers, she’s developed some sure-fire methods to make the thrifting procedure as problem-free as possible.
Her very first pointer is that “you have actually got to be continuously on these apps to get a bargain”, due to the fact that the excellent things goes instantly.
” You have actually got to be either continuously searching in the stores or taking a look online, particularly if you’re searching for a particular product.”
With this in mind, you wish to prepare when you search successfully to ensure that competitors is just possible.
” Searching at lunch time or the middle of the day is a fantastic pointer due to the fact that not a great deal of individuals are going to be on the website bidding. They’re great times to get a little deal,” she includes.
Another canny technique is to think about errors individuals make when noting their items, so you can discover mislisted products that less-informed consumers may miss out on.
” Often individuals can spell ‘Gucci’ as ‘Ducci’,” Jen describes, “then it would not offer and you would not discover that by browsing ‘Gucci’.”
The prudent fashionista likewise advises that you’re much better off checking out charity stores in smaller sized towns instead of larger cities, “due to the fact that they’re simpler for parking” and for that reason individuals are most likely to contribute.
In the areas, “individuals will not take contributions there due to the fact that they do not wish to bring the bags. I understand that remaining in and out of stores myself. Individuals will neglect the ones in the area centres due to the fact that they wish to be carrying it around.”
And if you’re searching for the very best location to thrift in the UK, Jen advises Leamington Health club in Warwickshire.
” Leamington benefits each and every single age, even from teenagers right as much as 70 and 80 years of ages. You will discover something for everybody,” she gushes.


” If you go there, I ensure you will not be dissatisfied.”
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