Well in the interest of research, I investigated our local charity shops to see what I would be living off in the next six months to a year (will we last to midwinter, or be brave enough to continue for longer?).
It was an interesting experience, as it made me feel like I was 16 and poor again. You see I was raised on second hand stuff, in a middle class family. ’twas a tale of old – big house, no disposable income. So second hand shops were where a lot of my clothes came from. This simply continued as a teenager as I shopped with my pocket money, and simply wanted to make it go further – I was a fan of vevlet jackets, waistcoats and grandad shirts.
This time around its different. Well sort of, I do have more money, but shopping with a baby, the cashiers (now they must be the feature of a few blog entries later) assume my pregnancy must have been a horrible accident and, bless, I have ended up in a charity shop. My fellow shoppers are old ladies, young mums and a whole range of eastern Europeans. Want to know the best multi-cultural experience you can have – go to a charity shop!
As for usefulness, I reckon about three out of eight are going to know me by name very soon. The rest seem to specialise in glassware and scary china knick-knacks. On the list of shame is actually Save the Children, which since I work for them on and off, is tragic. Top of the list is Oxfam and Shelter. Having worked for Oxfam in the past, I know how hard they work at their shops, and it shows.
What was utterly depressing was “Cash Converters” et al. Desperate people selling whatever they could for whatever reasons. At one there was actually a queue at the selling desk. Making money out of people’s misery and desperation is not a noble calling.
There is however, a dearth of baby gear <gulp!> in charity shops. Meg has enough clothes for the next few months, thanks to the generous gifts made when she was born, but sooner or later she will grow out of them. I already have three NCT Newly New baby sale dates on the calendar, but they are in October. This does make me a little anxious.
- Tammy
