I work in a charity shop – the secrets to bagging the best bargains & the exact times and days to hit the stores
YOU never know what you’re going to find when rummaging through the racks at a charity shop.
And while that’s all part of the fun, some of us want to make sure we get the best bargains.
That’s why Fabulous spoke to charity shop worker and second-hand shopper Nina Mendoza to give us her top tips on when to shop.
Nina who has worked at various charity shops over the years and shares her second-hand hauls on TikTok, @ninamendoza28, explained she would never spend more than a fiver on a piece of clothing.
And her money-saving ways have gotten her far, from finding Tommy Hilfiger goodies to Dior handbags.
Monday afternoons are prime
Although charity shops have a never-ending cycle of items to put out, Monday afternoons could be the prime time to hit the jackpot.
The charity shop worker explains that most charity shops don’t have the time to put out new items over the weekend so tend to do so during the day on Monday – which means there are a bunch of new items on the shop floor.
“Monday is a good day, you know, but afternoons are probably better than mornings as we’ve had time to restock after the weekend,” she explains.
End of season
Just like other retailers, charity shops often slash the prices when a new season is starting to make room for different stock.
Nina says it’s always worth asking staff when this will be as they will often tell you as they want to clear stock.
“They’ll tell you when there will always be the best sale because they want to get rid of it in the shop,” she explains.
The next end-of-season sale usually starts around July to make way for winter clothing to come in store – so make sure to ask next time you pop in.
Weekday mornings
While Monday afternoons are a great time to go, most of us are at work then.
Therefore Nina recommends going early in the morning on other weekdays.
Not only would they have added new stock after closing the day before but it will also be a lot tidier to go through.
She adds: ” For the rest of the weekdays, early mornings are quite a good one.
“The volunteers would have made it nice and tidy sort, and it’s quite easy to look.”
Don’t stick to the women’s section
While you might feel like you have to stick to the women’s section of the store. Nina explains some of the best bargains are hidden elsewhere.
She reveals she found a Tommy Hilfiger top (that does indeed fit women) in the child’s section for just £4.
And like most shops, the children’s section is usually way cheaper so it’s always worth having a look.
If you’re after basics like blazers, jumpers, shirts, or jeans – then the men’s section is definitely worth having a nosey in.
Nina says: ” I go to the men’s section before I go to the women’s section because I you know, prefer that look.
“I also find that men’s stuff is cheaper. I don’t know why that is. I believe that’s probably because they don’t spend like women would spend.”
On top of that, Nina recommended always checking the clothing size on the actual label rather than the coat hanger.
Be friendly
Nina’s final tip on bagging the best bargains is to make friends with your favourite shop’s volunteers and staff.
She says: “The friendlier you are to the staff, the more help you can get.
“You can always go to a manager and say, you know, I know it’s difficult to find but I really like a certain brand. If you are a good customer, they might keep it for you.”