Luxuries like new clothes and shoes are the first thing most of us cut from our outgoings when we start to feel the pinch, and with the cost of living skyrocketing, they're at the bottom of the priority list now.
Reporter Rebecca Lockwood, at our sister paper Lancs Live, used to make clothes shopping her payday ritual, either heading into town to take a look at the latest fashion or filling up an ASOS basket with special treats. However, the effect on her bank balance, as well as the environmental impact fast fashion causes, made her decide to switch her shopping habits - browsing pre-loved threads instead.
At the start of the year, she made a pact with herself to only buy from second-hand shops for at least a month to see if she could ditch the expensive habit and four months later she says she'd never go back to her old ways. Since January, she estimates saving over £400 on the retail price of the items she's picked up, mostly from charity shops in Lancaster.
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In a post about her experience on Lancs Live, she said: "Yes, while we shouldn't make ourselves feel bad for dropping £30 on a new coat in Primark here and there when we need one, shopping second hand could save you hundreds of pounds. People assume charity shops don't boast on-trend stock in the same way a high-street shop does. But I'd dispute this pretty quickly.
"Thanks to TikTok, the hottest trends in stores and online right now are typically 90s or early noughties inspired and what better way to enjoy this than bagging an original coat or t-shirt from that era (not a cheap replica), without breaking your budget?"
Here are some of the bargains Rebecca managed to bag, costing a total of just £41 - the same items brand new would set you back £454 in stores.
Fila trainers
Fila Disruptor's are sought after by those looking for a chunky trainer but you won't find them for much less than £100 brand new. Fila is a quite popular household brand and the shoes are generally long-lasting.
Rebecca found a pair of these for £6 in the charity shop and they appear to have barely been worn at all, with a small bit of discolouration. Whilst the exact same shoes can't be located online, a very similar pair retail at £80.
White jeans
White jeans or any other block colour jeans are a really simple way to refresh your wardrobe when you begin to feel like your outfits always look the same. Rebecca found a pair of wide leg, white jeans in Lancaster's Scope store.
The jeans she found cost £4 second-hand, with the as-new garment retail for £69 at COS.
90s leather jacket
Well-fitted leather jackets are very much the range at the moment, with videos on social media sites like TikTok filled with people wearing the wardrobe staple. Similar faux leather jackets to the one pictured typically sell on sites like PrettyLittleThing and isawitfirst for £25.
Rebecca found a vintage real leather jacket in Lancaster's Defying Dementia charity shop for £20. Its from an old Debenhams 'John' range which is no longer stocked, but a similar real-leather jacket from the department store now retails at £97 in the sale. It costs £325 before the discount.
Next crew neck jumper
Jumpers are the easiest thing to find in charity shops across the county, but its easy to underestimate how much money you save by buying them second-hand. The most recent one Rebecca picked up was a Next knitted jumper with orange and white stripes.
Next crew neck jumpers retail on their website at £18. For one as good as new, she paid just £2.50.
Slip dress
Rebecca is set to finally celebrate her postponed graduation this year and the thought of finding a dress that fit both her body and budget was one that filled her with " the fear". Fortunately, she found a red slip dress in her size in a charity shop in Leeds that is perfect for the occasion and in an incredibly good quality, making her wonder why someone would have donated it instead of selling it on.
The dress is from moochi - a luxury, contemporary designer brand from New Zealand. Rebecca paid £6 for it in a good-as-new condition. Like most items on this list, it is no longer available on their website, but a similar dress in black retails at $189 (£145.15).
New Balance
Out of all the second-hand items, Rebecca's New Balance 373s were most obviously pre-loved. There are signs of wear in the shoes but they still have a good life span ahead of them, especially as she paid £2 for the pair, that retail at £45 online
Whilst she acknowledged that the quality, selection, and fit of your second-hand finds can be down to luck more than skill, Rebecca believes that not looking for bargains in your local stores removes the chance to treat yourself without breaking the bank.
Charity shops often receive donations from big brands when stock doesn't sell or didn't meet the mark to go to their general sale. According to Rebecca, the British Heart Foundation store in Lancaster usually has an entire rail dedicated to Pretty Little Thing stock donated this way. Looking out for swap shops in your area are also a brilliant way to refresh your wardrobe without spending a fortune.
Next time you're looking for a dress or a nice shirt for a night out, try your local charity shops before you head into one of the big name shops. You'll be surprised what you can find at a price tag that makes you feel like a charity shop champion.
