A THRIFTY mum claims to have saved over £10,000 during her life by choosing pre-loved items.
Mum of two Rae has been an avid secondhand shopper ever since she was young and hardly ever buys anything new.
Rae said she has always been conscious of her impact on the environment and sees no reason to change her unique shopping habits now.
She told The Mirror: “The idea of seeking out pre-existing items has always been a way of life for me and my family.
“I am very aware of how much stuff already exists, and the impact it has on the environment, so to me it just makes more sense to seek out a secondhand version of something I want or need.
“I also find that secondhand items generally tend to have a better lifespan.
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“So much of what is manufactured nowadays is done so quickly and consequently, cheaply, so buying secondhand means I tend to get items that were built to last, or made by brands that I wouldn’t be able to afford at new prices.”
Rae claims the majority of her family’s wardrobe is made up of second-hand clothing from charity shops or online selling platforms like Vinted, eBay and Facebook.
And she says her habits make sense given that children grow so fast.
“All parents know kids get through clothing and toys so quickly when they’re little, outgrowing stuff before they’ve had much chance to use it again and it can be very expensive," she added.
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“So, in terms of saving money, secondhand shopping helps keep my bank account happy!
Rae’s husband also joins in on her thrifty spending and frequently buys secondhand and refurbished tech.
The mum claims there are so many savings to be made on items like iPhone handsets as well as furniture – and often they save a significant amount of cash in the process.
“My husband has also bought a number of refurbished tech too and he’s always happy with the quality and usage he gets,” she exclaimed.
“Furnishings are something we would shop secondhand for as well and over the years we’ve gotten a sofa, cabin bed, a desk, several bookshelves and more plus, they tend to be solid wood items over cheaper, less resilient materials.”
Rae added she was particularly proud of her daughter’s cabin bed which she managed grab for just £30 – a mere fraction of its online price of £130.
“I imagine my husband has saved £200 plus by buying refurbished handsets, but seeing my daughter so happy has kept that saving at the forefront of my mind,” she said.
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
The mum also says her shopping habits extend to festive shopping – and this year has been no different.
“Obviously, a few things have been bought new but through places like Vinted, eBay, Facebook Marketplace and the good old charity shops,” she explained.
“I’ve been able to tackle the Christmas list as quickly, although postage can be slower, as if I’d stuck to the high street or online shopping platforms.
“Whilst I tend to keep an eye out from the autumn, the vast majority of my purchases have been in the last few weeks.”
Rae now advises people who are last minute Christmas shopping to look at items in a different way.
For example, she said you should take extra notice of labels on clothes and try to weed out the brands and materials that won’t likely last long.
However, for those not willing to take the plunge, she also said that the Christmas period is a “great way” to meet needs without unnecessary surplus.
And it only requires small changes.
She concluded: “If you only need something to use once, it’s a great way to meet your needs without a huge commitment, things like occasionwear, or something like a hot plate for hosting a Christmas dinner are perfect examples.
“The idea of using a rental scheme to minimise the production of more excess, or to help me make better-informed purchasing decisions just makes sense on an environmental and financial level. I often find those two things go hand in hand.”
Research by the the secondhand retailer Music Magpie revealed that almost two thirds of us are considering buying second hand or refurbished items for Christmas this year.
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