IS 2011 going to be a frugal Christmas?
With the country’s finances in turmoil and the credit crunch looming over our heads, it seems that more and more people are turning to charity shops to buy Christmas gifts for their family and friends.
New findings by independent consultants JRA research, for the Charity Retail Association, show a rising number of people using charity shops for Christmas gifts.
Their research found 31% of people saying that they had bought a Christmas gift from a charity shop in the past with the figure rising to 38% buying this year.
Presents are a difficult thing for people on a budget to buy, so sometimes second-hand gifts are the best option available.
Charity shops in Huddersfield have seen the number of visitors steadily rise over the last couple of years, especially at Christmas time.
Carol McKeown, deputy manager of the Kirkwood Hospice shop in Byram Street, said: “We’ve been really busy lately.
“More people are realising that shopping at local charity shops is a good way to save money. Everybody’s looking for a bargain these days.”
Karen Wimpenny, manager of the Mind shop in John William Street, had a similar view.
She said: “Times are tough at the minute. There’s no shame in buying from a charity shop; there are some real bargains out there and, even though it’s second-hand, there’s a lot of really good quality stuff to be bought from shops like ours.
“You can definitely buy an outfit here for less than £20, and that’s including shoes and a handbag,” added Karen.
“There’s a bit of a stigma that clothes from charity shops are dirty, but everything has to be steamed clean before it’s put out, and nothing that’s past its best is ever sold.”
Like most charity shops, both Mind and Kirkwood Hospice sell a wide variety of things.
That means it’s possible to do just about all of your Christmas shopping by visiting a few charity shops in the town centre.
But what can you get for £20?
You can buy a half-a-dozen DVDs as well as a couple of ornaments, a jigsaw, a photo album and a few books for just under £20, which is ideal for people who have to watch how much they’re spending.
