Rae has been a keen secondhand shopper her entire life describing her parents as being the “early adopters” of the thrifty habit.
One of the main reasons Rae also adopted this lifestyle was to save money but to also reduce the impact her shopping has on the environment.
She told Mirror Money: “The idea of seeking out pre-existing items has always been a way of life for me and my family.
“I am very aware of how much stuff already exists, and the impact it has on the environment, so to me it just makes more sense to seek out a secondhand version of something I want or need.”
“I also find that secondhand items generally tend to have a better lifespan. So much of what is manufactured nowadays is done so quickly and consequently, cheaply, so buying secondhand means I tend to get items that were built to last, or made by brands that I wouldn’t be able to afford at new prices.”
Rae says the “vast” amount of her family’s clothing is bought secondhand from either charity shops or secondhand selling platforms such as Vinted, eBay and Facebook marketplace.
She said it was particularly obvious that she could save money on children's clothes and toys simply due to how fast they grow.
“All parents know kids get through clothing and toys so quickly when they’re little, outgrowing stuff before they’ve had much chance to use it again and it can be very expensive," she added.
“So, in terms of saving money, secondhand shopping helps keep my bank account happy!”
Rae’s husband also joins in on her thrifty spending and frequently buys secondhand and refurbished tech like iPhone handsets as well as furniture and often saves a significant amount of cash doing this
She said: “My husband has also bought a number of refurbished tech too and he’s always happy with the quality and usage he gets.
“Furnishings are something we would shop secondhand for as well and over the years we’ve gotten a sofa, cabin bed, a desk, several bookshelves and more plus, they tend to be solid wood items over cheaper, less resilient materials.”
One of the “best bargains” Rae has managed to bag was her daughter’s cabin bed which, if brand new, would’ve cost around £150 but Rae managed to grab it for just £30.
She added: “I imagine my husband has saved £200 plus by buying refurbished handsets, but seeing my daughter so happy has kept that saving at the forefront of my mind.”
Over the course of her life, Rae believes she has easily saved over £10,000 through her shopping choices.
Research by the secondhand online retailer MusicMagpie recently revealed that almost two-thirds of us are considering buying secondhand or refurbished gifts for Christmas this year.
Rae says her shopping habits have not hindered her festive shopping and has not found it too difficult to sort out Christmas this year.
She explained: “Obviously, a few things have been bought new but through places like Vinted, eBay, Facebook Marketplace and the good old charity shops.
“I’ve been able to tackle the Christmas list as quickly, although postage can be slower, as if I’d stuck to the high street or online shopping platforms. Whilst I tend to keep an eye out from the autumn, the vast majority of my purchases have been in the last few weeks.”
For those thinking of dipping their toe into secondhand shopping in the future, with clothes Rae advises people to “look closely” at the labels and try to weed out the brands and materials that won’t likely last long.
She said: “With any purchase, you want to know it’s worth the money, and the same goes for secondhand shopping. There are loads of buy or swap groups on Facebook too.
“With tech, find a company that does rigorous checks and purchase from them. We’ve all been stung at one point or another by purchasing something only to find that it’s not functional so this gives you a level of protection to avoid that."
If people are not ready to commit to buying secondhand, Rae believes more people should consider renting certain items over the Christmas period as it is a “great way” to meet needs without the added waste.
She explained: “If you only need something to use once, it’s a great way to meet your needs without a huge commitment, things like occasionwear, or something like a hot plate for hosting a Christmas dinner are perfect examples.
“The idea of using a rental scheme to minimise the production of more excess, or to help me make better-informed purchasing decisions just makes sense on an environmental and financial level. I often find those two things go hand in hand!”
