I buy all my clothes from charity shops.
I've spent the past ten years buying almost my entire wardrobe, apart from underwear and shoes, from charity shops. The grand total of what I've spent on clothes outside charity shops in the past decade amounts to less than a hundred quid.

I know there's a fair amount of stigma attached to charity shops, but I'm bloody proud of my wardrobe. I manage to buy brand names, designer wear (rarely, by choice) and funky outfits at very reasonable prices. I've saved myself thousands by shopping regularly and selectively from the stuff you all throw away. I get a bargain and contribute to charity at the same time.

I'm no tightwad though really. I've just never had much spare cash. But I've been called all sorts in the past because of this.

What do you think?
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 17:53, 3 replies)

I buy all my books from charity shops
unless there is something particular I'm after

and I always root through the clothes to see if there is anything stylish enough for me to wear.

most of the stuff is junk though, so I shop at H&M which is almost as cheap.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 18:16, closed)

Yup, most of my books too.
I've taken to giving the books I've read back when I buy another one, which always gives the old dears in Help the Aged a smile.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 20:02, closed)

i'm on an ongoing mission
to buy a complete set of Agatha Christie novels (about 90 of the fuckers) from second hand and charity bookshops.

I've also been brought up to believe that charity shops are fab. I too own many charity shop tops. though not many trousers as they tend to be too short for me.
( catness, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 20:37, closed)

I also buy my clothes from charity shops
which my wife thinks is skanky but she is quite happy to buy clothes off Ebay which I don't think is any different except that I get to see them first.
( Peej, Fri 24 Oct 2008, 10:42, closed)

My thoughts exactly.
I tend to get quite a few of my clothes/bags/books from Oxfam etc, because: one can check they fit and aren't damaged, and one is giving money to charity at the same time. With ebay, you risk spending money on clothes that aren't in the condition described, don't fit, are the wrong shade (pictures rarely show the correct shade of colour), and your money goes to some person wanting to make a cheap buck out of it.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Fri 24 Oct 2008, 11:02, closed)