Hi everybody! So, I have just made a post about my latest finds in the charity shop and I thought I might as well put up another post with my questionnaire results. I only asked two charity shops but two is better than none. I originally wanted to put pictures of the results but instead I decided to just put up a link. So here it is;
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0At6Z-dOkd8-bdEZWSTNha2VQaC1YMWRqOXhFY1cwY0E&usp=sharing
Thanks for reading, Miriam

Hi everybody! So, I was just working in the charity shop and I found a few really nice, good quality jackets perfect for these cold winter months. This week was pretty good in comparison to my past weeks working in the charity shop. Enough me telling you about what I found, I will just show you; I noticed that there had been many more new jackets donated to the shop in the past week, the majority of which were practically brand new and very recognisable brands.

The first jacket was a heavy and navy Old Navy one, it was military style and had a nice button detail on the back. It was a size Medium and only €20, which is very good for a jacket of this brand and quality. Looking back I kind of regret not buying it because the chance of seeing something like this jacket again in the charity is very slim.




The next coat I found was a long, light grey one from Dunnes. It was very stylish, making any outfit perfect. Some of you may turn your noses when you hear of a second-hand coat from Dunnes but this could be easily mistaken as being brand new from a high-end boutique, that is how nice it was. This coat was also €20.

The last jacket I found was from Jaeger, a British brand, it was a slim-fit, navy jacket, perfect for dressing up or down. This jacket was also €20, which is very good in consideration. Navy is a colour that goes with everything, whether it is white or black, I can promise you it will go. A jacket like this, or any of the others I have already mentioned are a must in your winter closet this year. It is much better to have one amazing jacket that will go with everything and never let you down in comparison to a cheap one that will not even keep you warm.

There wasn't just jackets in the shop, there was also a very pretty, floral shirt from Zara and a cream, lacy top from Topshop. The floral shirt from Zara was a size Medium and only €4. If you are wearing an outfit that is very dark and wintry, then this is the perfect touch, it will completely brighten up your outfit while also keeping you a small bit warmer. The lacy top from Topshop was cream in colour and even though it was a size Large, it was still very short, easy to pair was only €3.
This week was much better than others. If you are wondering what happened to the questionnaire, I have asked it in a couple of charity shops and will be putting up the results soon. Thanks for reading, Miriam.

Hi everybody! I amn't working in the charity shop for a few days, so I thought I would put up another blog on shopping tips because you might not live near any charity shops or just want to find out how to save money while still shopping in other shops. I looked all over the internet for the best tips and here is what I came up with;
1. Make a list of what you want to buy and stick to it
2. Only bring the set amount of money you intend to spend, ensuring you won't go over your budget.
3. Go straight to the sales rack in shops so you are getting the best value possible.
I found many more from several Youtube videos, so I thought I should share with you with one of the best. This girl in the video has really easy and useful tips for shopping on a budget, and she also shows what she is wearing. To be honest, I was not very interested in the end of the video because the only reason I was watching it was for the tips, but it is a good video which I definitely recommend you to watch. It's URL:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNbZXjaTpNk 
I hope you enjoyed this video and found a few useful tips. If you are interested in watching these videos and want to see more be sure to comment on this blog and I can put up a few more of my favorites.
Thanks for reading, I will be posting a new blog in a few days which will include my latest finds in the charity shop I work in and also one completed questionnaire.
Thanks again,  Miriam.

Hello everybody! So, I have just come home after working in one of the charity shops for a few hours. We were not overly busy so I was able to have a good look around at the clothes. Now, to be honest, there was not much left but I found a few things. 

                                                                                                                                                                   

 The first thing I found was a pair of black Dunlop track suit bottoms perfect for the gym or running, whatever you do. They were only €4 which was great in comparison to their normal selling price of €35  in the shops but unfortunately a size 10 so I couldn't buy them. They were practically brand new as well-great bargain!

As it is winter time now, I was looking for something big and cozy that would keep me warm and I came across exactly that; a cream chunky knit cardigan for only €4! It was so perfect I couldn't believe it. It's a color that will go with everything, you can dress it casual or dress it up, you can wear it at all                                                                        occasions. 

Just behind the cardigan there was an O'Neills pink hoodie for €4 also. The first thing i thought to myself was, wouldn't it look really good over the Dunlop tracksuit bottoms? It was such a shame they weren't in my size! The O'Neills hoodie's interior was quite soft and warm, perfect for this time of the year. 

 The last thing I found in this charity shop was a blue silky dressy top from Topshop for €5. It was size 12 so I couldn't buy it but it would be perfect for going out. It was made of silk, which is a very soft and flattering material, easy to move in. You can pair it with so many different things as well, for example; black jeans, heels and a classy clutch. 

When my shift ended I decided to go across the road to another charity shop just to have a look around, and I found a two things I really liked, one of which I actually bought. Here they both are, a jacket and a scarf;

The first thing was a army-colored, waterproof, fleece-lined, Bench jacket with a husky hood, size small and only €25. But wait, it gets better, there was 50% off everything, making it €12.50. Now, that's what I call a cheap treasure. Imagine, €12.50 for such a vital winter essential! You can literally throw it on over whatever you are wearing, whether its jeans or a skirt, I can promise you your outfit will work. 

The second thing I found it that charity shop, was a red knit scarf with an usual design for €4, and again there was 50% off that too, making it €2. I actually bought the scarf because whatever outfit you are wearing, especially if its black, it brightens up the whole outfit. And of course it also keeps you warm. 

Again, this week was not the best but it was not the worst. Be sure to follow my blog as I go to different charity shops searching for cheap treasures and find the best shopping tips available. Thanks for reading. 

Hello everybody! So, I have already told you what my blog is going to be about going into different charity shops and having a look around in each for cheap treasures but what I have not told you is, I am also going to be interviewing the managers and volunteers in each. I have made a questionnaire with seven questions which I will be asking in each shop. These questions include; When are your peak times? Here is a picture of the questionnaire:
The aim of my blog is to encourage people to shop in charity shops and not feel embarrassed or ashamed of it. Not everyone is rich and can afford to shop in high-end shops, so charity shops are the perfect second choice. I am going to be posting a blog at least once a week so be sure to follow me.

 So, I went into a few charity shops like I promised and found a few nice things. The only problem is I could not take pictures of all of them. I took pictures of a few of them, so don't worry. Let's get into it so. The first thing I found was a pair of chestnut UGG boots in great condition. Unfortunately these were one of the few things I could not take a picture of. Oh, they were so perfect and only €35. What a bargain right? The next thing I discovered was a chocolate brown leather jacket from Topshop, perfect for those cold winter days when you are walking the dog or shopping with your friends and it was only €7. Crazy! Speaking of jackets, I also found a really heavy denim jacket for only €8. If you are looking for something to wear under these jackets or any jacket or that matter, then I have the perfect thing for you; a black Levi's zippy. Don't forget to layer up this winter, not just to keep warm but also to look good(style-wise). Sometimes when you are looking for a pair of jeans, it just seems impossible to find the perfect pair, but in charity shops there is such a good variety of pairs. For example, a pair of dark-coloured a|wear jeans for €6. They may not be my size, the reason why I did not buy them, but if they had been I would have bought them without having to think twice. Finally, the last cheap treasure I found was a small, practically brand new purse from Avoca for a only €1. It's so cute I cannot wait to use it. This week may not have been the best, but in charity shops there are good and bad weeks. Don't fear, the best is yet to come.

 

 

 

 

I love clothes! I love shopping! I love dressing up!

If you can relate to any of what I just said then this is the blog for you. 

It's winter time now and it's starting to become freezing cold, so here I am thinking I need to go shopping because a) I need a new jacket that will keep me warm and cozy and b) I need a new closet for the new season. There is a problem though, I don't have any money. I instantly add up how much money I have been 'saving' in my head (which F.Y.I doesn't take very long) and come to the same conclusion every time: uh-oh, don't have very much. But, didn't I babysit for my neighbors just last week? Oh yeah, I bought new jeans with that, looking down at my denim legs guiltily. What can I say, they were in the sale, 25% off, I just could not resist. Wait, what about the money I got for looking after my friend's dog when she was away? Oh yeah, I bought those new leather boots which were not in the sale, I admit, but a definite bargain. I am positive. 

So, I am in a dilemma here, I need a new jacket/closet and I have less than €50, there is only one answer- CHARITY SHOPS. Some people cringe when they hear those two words but I say it loud and I say it proud because even though the majority of clothes are second-hand, you can find really good bargains. I say this because I work in one of them and I have come across amazing bargains, for example; an Abercrombie and Fitch long-sleeve t-shirt for €3 and Jack Wills tracksuit bottoms for only €5, both of which were in perfect condition. 

I am going to show you how to shop on a budget by bringing you along with me to different charity shops as I look for bargains and find CHEAP TREASURES.