I save a fortune buying all my clothes in charity shops… and my wardrobe has never been better
Charity shopping is cool again and TikTok cannot get enough of the savvy shoppers and their unbelievable finds.
From snagging inexpensive designer clothes to finding items new with tag, charity shopping is growing in popularity amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Charity shops saw a 12.4 per cent increase in daily transactions last year, data from the Charity Retail Association has revealed.
Social media has also flooded with videos of thrifty shoppers across the UK showing off their successful hauls.
Jen Graham, whose TikTok account Charity Shop Girl has more than 75,000 followers, has shared some tips and tricks for curating the wardrobe of your dreams with previously loved pieces.
Jen Graham, whose TikTok account Charity Shop Girl has more than 75,000 followers, has shared some tips and tricks for curating the wardrobe of your dreams with previously loved pieces. She is pictured debuting a thrifting haul on TikTok
Ms Graham, who visits charity shops across the country, has advised that bargain hunters should try exploring stores in smaller towns. She is pictured sharing one of her hauls online
Ms Graham has shopped at charity shops her entire life, but just started sharing her finds on TikTok during the pandemic. She has since become a voice in charity retail.
The mother and influencer says finding bargains is now more important than ever as Britons feels the strains of the ongoing economic crisis.
Ms Graham, who visits charity shops across the country, has advised that bargain hunters should try exploring stores in smaller towns.
‘Market towns are the best,’ she told MailOnline. ‘The quality of donations are better. I’ve found the pricing is better.’
She explained how nearly her entire wardrobe has been purchased secondhand, noting how she often finds items from popular brands still with their original tags.
‘Charity shops typically have the big brands like Zara and H&M,’ she said, adding how she recently took a wardrobe of completely thrifted clothes on holiday.
She said: ‘Going on holiday is so expensive, and with the cost-of-living crisis, charity shopping helps.’
The influencer also explained that shoppers can typically find on-trend products for 3x less than they would pay at high street stores.
Ms Graham explained that buying secondhand offers the opportunity to explore new styles with less risk. Thrifting is also a more cost-efficient way to evolve you wardrobe with ever-changing trends.
She added: ‘You can be more adventurous in charity shops with style because it costs less.’
She advised: ‘Make notes about what you’re looking for. Go for something that you really love, go straight to that section, and don’t be afraid to try things on’
Ms Graham, who says that her ‘wardrobe has never been better’, says the best charity shoppers are those who ‘go regularly’ and are ‘prepared to rummage’.
She advised to research the type of products you’re looking for before heading to the store and then start in that section.
For example, if you’re looking for an outfit to wear to a wedding, she suggests making a Pinterest board with styles, colours and brands you’re interested in wearing.
‘Make notes about what you’re looking for,’ she said. ‘Go for something that you really love, go straight to that section, and don’t be afraid to try things on.
Ms Graham says her wardrobe is mostly comprised of secondhand clothes and that she ‘wears 99 per cent of everything I buy’.
If an item doesn’t work out, she will donate it back to the charity.
‘I have a passion for fashion, I love wearing second hand,’ she said, ‘But it’s about how the money helps the charity, it’s more than the haul.
‘The money you spend also helps the charities do their work for free.’
She explained that charity retail is a ‘huge part’ of fundraising for charitable organisations and that it is ‘important to shop, donate and volunteer’ at shops when you can.
Loads of TikTokers have gotten into the bargain hunting game. Florence (pictured above) told her followers she found a Vivienne Westwood t-shirt at a shop in London
User @splashton claims he earned over £1,000 by selling his charity shop finds online
TikTok user @maxmontfoli recently found a designer baseball cap at a charity shop in Notting Hill, London for £60. The same hat had previously sold on StockX for more than £350. He listed it on Vinted for £350
However, some other thrifty shoppers have found ways to turn a profit from their bargain hunts.
TikTok user @maxmontfoli recently found a designer baseball cap at a charity shop in Notting Hill, London for £60.
The same hat had previously sold on StockX for more than £350. He listed it on Vinted for £350.
User @splashton claims he earned over £1,000 by selling his charity shop finds online.
So whether you’re looking for a deal or trying to make some extra cash, it is clear that charity shops offer something for everyone.
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