With the cost-of-living soaring, getting creative with our gift buying can save us a few pounds this Christmas - and lots of us are on the hunt for bargains. But one place you might not think of going present shopping is the tip.
Tucked behind Llansamlet Household Waste Recycling Centre in Swansea lies a reuse shop - which is a bargain-hunter's paradise. With a huge range of second hand items to trawl through, I went along to see if one person's trash really is another person's treasure.
From guitars and golf clubs to flat screen TVs and exercise equipment, all items on sale in the Tip Treasures shop have been diverted from the rubbish heap. If you buy something from the shop, your money goes straight back into developing the project which significantly reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill and helps local residents get their hands on some great deals. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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On first appearances, the shop does not look that impressive. I mean, it is a shipping container on a tip site after all. But do not be fooled, there is lots of space inside and each corner is filled with interesting finds that people have donated rather than throwing onto the tip.
Perfect for a last-minute Christmas shop, there are lots of toys and board games on the shelves. You can buy two board games for just £1 and if you enjoy upcycling there are some really nice potential gifts.
A pastel-coloured children's kitchen set was on display and just needed a lick of paint and some extra toy kitchen equipment to get it Christmas present ready. With wooden sets like these setting parents back up to £200 when bought new, this could be a nifty alternative.
If you are on the look-out for new furniture, it is definitely worth a visit here before you spend hundreds buying new. If you work from home and you are making-do with the kitchen table chair you can get yourself an office chair for just £10. There were also plenty of chairs, drawers and cupboards on offer from as little as £3.
At the back of the tip shop is where the real treasures lie. All items are sold as they are other than electrical goods which are PAT tested and function tested for safety.
There was a fancy coffee machine by De'Longhi which seemed used but in good condition for £100. After a quick online search, it looks like one of these new could set you back a couple hundred pounds more. Loads of TVs were for sale for as little as £10 and while some of them did not have their remotes they were definitely still a bargain. One TV on offer was a smart TV with Freeview and cost just £50.
There was sale on at the tip shop this month and you could pick up ten DVDs, books or CDs for just £1. Usually you can still get five for £1 and there is a huge selection.
Not really much of a bargain but perhaps one of my favourite finds at the tip shop was an old Charlotte Church cassette tape. From before her crazy chick days in the pop charts, the self-titled album was released when she was just 13 and shows off her classical soprano voice. Does anyone have cassette tapes anymore? I don't know. But surely this is a Welsh cultural artefact that should be preserved. It might even fetch a few bob on eBay.
Other interesting finds included an elliptical for just £20 and sets of golf clubs and bags for only £5. If that is not enough to keep you busy, you could learn a new instrument and pick up a guitar for a tenner. Tip Treasures seems to go on and on and even has a second-hand clothes shop which is well worth going through.
For those looking for something more vintage, there was a beautiful old Singer sewing machine on sale for £60, a gorgeous floral mirror for £50 and a complete vintage tea set for £100. Some of the more pricey items were stowed behind a glass case and were in excellent condition.
If you visit with an open mind and take time to look through all the wonders of Tip Treasures, you are likely to come home with something unique and knowing you are helping less waste go to landfill makes it even better. I think I am now a tip shop convert- I just need to get my hands on a cassette player.
Tip Treasures is open Monday-Sunday from 9.30am-4.30am
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