Today my sister visited me from Torquay. We went into the village where I live and decided to have a look around the two charity shops, after our trip to the post office.
Well I had forgotten what a treasure trove there was in the charity shops. Granted the things weren't new, but some of the clothes and books were in such good condition, that they were well worth the £1.50 on the price tag.
One of the earliest charity shops was set up by the Wolverhampton Society for the Blind (now called the Beacon Centre for the Blind) in 1899 to sell goods made by blind people to raise money for the Society. During World War 1, various fund-raising activities occurred, such as a bazaar in Shepherds Bush. London, which made £50,000 for the Red Cross.
It's great to think that the empty shops in the high street can be used to help various charities. However, another view is, if a town has a large percentage of charity shops then the area is poor, due to the fact that 'normal' shops no longer trade there. Also, some people think 'new' is always best, and you can't sway their view.
However, I think everyone should try and buy at least one item a month from a charity shop as not only will they save money (and that's always a good idea), they may find a classic, and it will help a local charity.
So tell me what is your view on charity/thrift shops, and what has been your best bargain?
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