There are plenty of reasons that someone would want to shop second hand. Maybe you are buying things for yourself or maybe you are buying to sell on and make a profit?! Either way, there’s a few things that you should consider buying spending your pretty pennies on those items.

If you’re looking to start shopping second-hand then check out your local charity shops, car boot sales, eBay and even Facebook marketplace. So, if you plan on hitting those places then here’s my top tips for you so you can grab yourself a hidden gem.

Perseverance

This is probably my number one tip. Sometimes, clothing items can be put back in the wrong place in charity shops which means that it’s worth checking every single rail in the shop if you’re looking for a complete bargain. You’ll find men’s in the women’s section and kid’s in the men’s section. It just happens in charity shops. That is why you really need to search through every item on every rail.

I often find that when a customer uses the changing room in a charity shop, they just dump everything on the nearest rail when they are done. This is where you’ll find those hidden gems. Of course, people don’t want to buy horrible, over-used items so if you look through things that someone else has already tried on, you’ll find some good stuff.

Check for imperfections

If you’re looking around a shop and find the perfect item, you’re not going to notice that little hole at the bottom. Charity shop staff and volunteers try to go through all the clothing and get rid of the not-so-good stuff but sometimes, they miss things. Snags, tears and holes in the fabric are big things to look out for as these may not be obvious straight away.

Other things to look out for are broken zippers, stains, missing buttons and alterations (which are sometimes good and sometimes not). If you’re looking to resell then you want your clothing item to be in pristine condition.

If you are buying clothing for yourself and you are handy with a needle and thread, take into consideration that you could repair an item yourself if there is an imperfection. Small tears in fabrics such as cotton, linen and denim can easily be repaired with a few quick stitches and means that you don’t have to leave that item you fall in love with on the rail.C

Keep going back into the shops

To get the absolute best of what your local charity shops have to offer then keep on heading back. New clothes will always be coming into the shop as they receive donations and stock rotate. Popping into the shops regularly will also mean that you’ll get to know people and they might even offer your further discount or let you see items that haven’t even reached the shop floor yet.

Have fun!

The most important thing about second-hand clothes shopping is that you have fun. It’s not meant to be tedious, it’s meant to be fun. You’re getting a bargain and also supporting a great cause. What’s not to love?!