5 Thrifting Hacks That Will Help You Snap a Bargain at Your Local Charity Shop

5Thrifting Hacks That Will Help You

https://blog.betway.com/casino/the-thrifting-capitals-of-the-world

Following Love Island’s decision to dress contestants in second-hand clothes from eBay, fashion experts suggest that this could spark a change in viewers’ shopping habits.

With the upcoming festival season just around the corner, many of us are turning to second-hand clothing websites and thrift shops to purchase those flashy summer garms.

As part of their new Thrifting Capitals of the World Campaign, the team at Betway have provided a beginners’ guide for thrift shopping by outlining five valuable hacks that will help consumers snap a bargain at their local charity shop.

1LOOK OUT FOR DE-TAGGED STOCK - When dealing with stock from big-label brands, charity shops will often remove the labels of these clothes in order to prevent returns to the original store.

Snap a Bargain at Your Local Charity Shop

That said, if you spot an item with no label, this could be a donation from a high-end brand. When dealing with these sorts of items, it is important to know how to spot top quality material, even if you don’t recognise the brand.

For example, you can check whether the shoes you’ve picked out have a genuine leather sole, or whether the sunglasses you’ve got your eye on have thicker lenses and heavy duty hinges.

2GO OFTEN TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF FINDING A BARGAIN - Popping to your local charity shop on a regular basis and knowing the kind of stock that is available will increase your chances of finding a bargain.

A top tip here is to shop regularly on weekdays when the shop won’t be as busy. It will also pay to visit the shop first thing in the morning, too.

What’s more, it would be a good idea to chat to a member of staff to find out when the shop’s restock day is to bag your next gorgeous top at a discount.

3FOLLOW YOUR LOCAL CHARITY SHOP ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Before you head into town to thrift shop ‘til you drop, it may be worth having a look on social media to see if your local charity shop has any special sales or discounts on items on. These typically tend to be posted on social media pages like Facebook and Instagram, and is a great way to get in the know of what a particular shop has to offer. It also pays to do your own research on the charity shop outside of social media, looking for incentives such as reward programmes. For example, the British Red Cross offers a Give and Gain Loyalty card, which gets you 20% off your first purchase, alongside various discount vouchers and offers.

4RUMMAGE THROUGH THE RAILS - Unlike a high street store, a charity shop won’t have all the hottest buys displayed on one clothing rack. Rather, items are organised by colour or size, so it’s important to be patient and rummage through the rails in order to find a bargain.

When it comes to selecting clothes, be sure to try them on first in order to check for any faults with the item. Even though you can return your clothes, you’d ideally want to get value for money the first time round.

5CHECK OUT GLASS COMPARTMENTS TO SEE IF THERE’S ANYTHING VALUABLE OR COLLECTIBLE - When shopping at a charity shop, it’s easy to get distracted by the giant clothing rails and endless stacks of books, CDs and vinyls.

But it is also important to pay attention to the little things - one of these being the glass compartments that are typically near the tills. These tend to be loaded with an assortment of the hottest jewellery, watches and even cameras - typically at a discount. So, if you’re on the hunt for some new accessories, be sure to check these out.

Aiming Higher

YOU CAN DONATE TO AIMING HIGHER USING THE FOLLOWING METHODS:

WEBSITE | www.aiminghighercharity.org.uk/donate JUST GIVING | www.justgiving/aiminghigher/donate/ PAYPAL | Found on Aiming Higher website or call to make donations by phone POST | Aiming Higher, 231 – 233 Church Street, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 3PB. To see more of what we do please visit our website www.aiminghighercharity.org.uk or follow us on facebook @aiminghighercharity, Instagram @aiming_higher_charity or twitter @ahcharity.

Please ring us on 01253 206447/8 for further information.

About Aiming Higher

Aiming Higher for Disabled Children & their Families is the Blackpool based charity that supports hundreds of local children and their families. The charity has been bringing the families of children with disabilities together for 10 years.

For lots of the families Aiming Higher support, it can be difficult to enjoy a family day out with friends because of the extra challenges their children face. Aiming Higher take a lot of this stress away with their monthly family trips and visits. One such trip saw the charity take 150 family members on a trip to Chester Zoo in May. Three coaches, including one specially adapted for wheelchair users, made their way to Chester, with several other families choosing to travel by car and meet up at the zoo. Families could then choose to enjoy the day in a small family unit or with other friends they have met through the charity and with the option to join the Aiming Higher team for an informal picnic lunch. At 51 hectares, the zoo might have been a challenge for some families but with the adapted coach allowing for wheelchairs and pushchairs and ramps making even the highest parts of the zoo accessible it seems everyone had a great day! Some even borrowed the zoo’s own buggies when little legs got tired. Everyone reported that they had enjoyed the day out, would like to go back again and were looking forward to the next event. Parents filling out the feedback form commented:

If you would like more information regarding the support offered by Aiming Higher or would be interested in fundraising please give us a call on 01253-206447 or email info@aiminghighercharity.org.uk You can also view our new newsletter by visiting bit.ly/AHnewsspring2022 “We have been isolated for a while. And this trip was just what we needed. We all had a great time. Thank you very much” “Aiming Higher Staff are amazing, very accommodating and professional. They work extremely hard to ensure families have a great day.”

Balance Counselling and Coaching Ltd PUT YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE

By Kathryn Taylor

IS IT TIME TO HAVE A REVIEW OF OUR FRIENDSHIPS?

Changes in personal relationships are often hard to deal with, as when we have a strong personal relationship it can be difficult when they change. When someone you have been close to, shared experiences with, supported and been supported by them, through good and bad times and spent so much time with either disappears from your life or is no longer there for you when they were before it can be difficult to deal with and quite stressful.

We talk about relationships where people grow apart and if this is in equal measure on each side then it can still leave a tinge of sadness and loss but is relatively stress-free.

When it is unexpected then it can cause feelings of stress, loss and even feel like a bereavement. It can generate self-doubt in terms of what’s wrong with me? Why don’t they want to spend time with me anymore? Where did I go wrong? What did I do?

I have had many friendships that have changed over time and been in the situation where it’s been a mutual drifting apart, where I have been the one who pulled away and where I have been the one who has felt left behind.

What I have come to recognise is that as relationships change over time, so do we and what we get out of them or give to others also changes.

Sometimes we stay in friendships for old time’s sake, or because we feel obliged to, not recognising the negative impact they can be having on our lives in terms of stress. When a relationship is one-sided it can cause feelings of anger, resentment and frustration and even shame.

LIFE CHANGES US AND OUR PRIORITIES

When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I used to enjoy going out socialising, which really means going out drinking to the local pubs and clubs and generally went out at least six nights a week.

I had a large group of friends, and we were always out together but the person who was my closest friend who at the time I would have said would be in my life forever, was the one I was always with. If you saw one of us, then you could guarantee the other one was somewhere close by.

I was the quiet one whilst she was the one who didn’t care and would talk to anyone and approach anyone. She knew what she wanted and expected to get it.

I have so many happy memories of that period, laughing together, going on holiday, shopping, and just generally enjoying ourselves. I also have the memories of the times things weren’t so great for either of us and had always looked back and thought that we supported each other through those times.

Over time the relationship changed and by the time we were in our thirties, we had completely drifted apart.

WHY DID IT CHANGE?

What I recognise now, when I look back is that my values

in life shifted and what was important to me changed. I no longer wanted to be out partying all the time, I was happy to stay in and curl up with a book or watch a good film. I became more discerning about where I wanted to go and would go. Previously my desire to go out and have an enjoyable time was the priority, and I didn’t really care where we went, so I went along with whatever was suggested. Now I refused to go to places I didn’t like, I started to say no to things. I wasn’t someone who would just do anything they wanted to anymore or agree to go places or do things just because the other person wanted to, I had to want to do it too. That didn’t mean I only did what I wanted and didn’t care about my friends’ wishes, I just wouldn’t do it all the time.

This changed the dynamic of our friendship, initially, she blamed other people for influencing me and accused me of letting her down and not being a good friend, because if I was, I would do what she wanted.

I also started to recognise that as long as everything went her way then she was great, and if she had any issues or struggles, she expected me to drop everything and be there for her until she got through it or I worked out a solution for her, but if it was me that was struggling or had any personal issue she wasn’t really interested and would turn things round to be about her again.

This made me re-evaluate the friendship and over time I spent less and less time with her until we just stopped staying in touch.

When I look back, I realise that at the time the friendship served a purpose but as I matured and the things that were important to me in life changed the relationship had to alter too.

IS IT TIME FOR YOU TO RE-ASSESS THE FRIENDSHIPS YOU HAVE WITH THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE?

Now maybe the time you want to sit down and ask yourself the following questions about the people in your life. • What connections and relationships have changed in your life?

• What does the friendship provide me with?

• If the friendship has changed, what purpose did it serve at the time?

• How do you feel about them now?

• Do you look forward to seeing them?

• How do you feel when you have spent time with them?

Do you feel enriched or drained?

• Do you have a sense of dread about them?

• What do you give/do for them?

• What do they give/do for you?

• Does the friendship enhance your life or take away from your own self-worth?

When you have your answers consider whether you want to surround yourself with these individuals or want to change the dynamics of the friendships you have.

You may want to use the above questions or your responses to them to generate a conversation with your friends to help you both recognise how you feel and potentially make some of your friendships stronger and more fulfilling for each of you.

By Sarah Ridgway THE SOUTH LAKES

The South Lakes district was formed in 1974 and sits in the county of Cumbria. The area consists of towns including Kendal, Ulverston, Windermere, Ambleside, Bowness-on-Windermere, and villages such as Grasmere, Coniston, Hawkshead and Sedbergh.

The population is under fifty thousand, and there are six times as many sheep as people. The Kendal and Windermere Railway, also known as the Lakes Line, extended to Windermere in April 1847, opening it up to tourism from the rest of the country. Today, up to 15 million people visit the Lakes every year, and tourism is the main source of income employing many locals. Despite being one of the wettest places in the UK, it remains a firm favourite with visitors. The area receives around thirty-five metres of rain each year, totalling an average of 200 wet days. The area of outstanding beauty became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 and has inspired poets and writers such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.

Bowness-on-Windermere is the town on the shore of the lake and a thriving tourist spot. It is the South Lakes’ most popular tourist destination and people come to enjoy the town’s atmosphere and the water sports on the lake. During the Victorian times, wealthy business owners built large properties in the area, and many have now been converted into hotels.

The World of Beatrix Potter is a huge draw for all ages who want to learn about the much-loved writer’s life and of course a souvenir from the gift shop to take home. Lake Windermere is 10.5 miles long, 1 mile wide and 220 feet deep, and is the largest natural lake in England. In 1895 the lake completely iced over for six weeks, and visitors would walk across.

AMBLESIDE 

Ambleside sits in the beautiful Rothay valley and has a population of around 2,600. The bustling market town is in the national park and surrounded by fells making it popular with walkers and climbers.

Home to one of the most photographed scenes in Lakeland, The Bridge House, a tiny house over Stock Beck. The small house has just two rooms and is free to visit and owned by the National Trust.

The poet William Wordsworth had an office on Church Street, and the Armitt Library & Museum Centre is a great place to learn more about the town’s history.

GRASMERE  KENDAL 

The village of Grasmere is nestled at the foot of some stunning fells and is home to the famous Grasmere Gingerbread. Sarah Nelson invented Grasmere Gingerbread in 1854, the gingerbread shop is next to St Oswald’s church and can only fit a few people so expect to see queues outside the door. The unique spicy and sweet snack became very popular and today the business is run by third-generation owners Joanne and Andrew Hunter. The village is picture perfect with cobbled streets, oil lit lamp posts and full of tea shops, cafes, and independent shops. Grasmere was home to poet William Wordsworth who described it as “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”. His home Dove Cottage is now a museum about the poet’s life welcoming tens of thousands of visitors each year, and in 2020 the Wordsworth Museum also opened. The poet is buried alongside family members in St Oswald’s church.

Kendal is the gateway to Lakes and boasts an impressive shopping scene with a blend of independent and modern high street brands. The Creative Quarter showcases the very best businesses based in Kendal. Many brands take their inspiration from the surrounding area including Cable & Blake who use the local Herwick wool to create their fabrics.

Kendal Mint Cake is an iconic sugary piece of confectionery with a peppermint flavour originating from the area. The recipe is a secret and is said to have been created by accident in 1869 by Joseph Wiper who was trying to make mints.

Quiggin’s is the oldest surviving company producing the cake and moved its premises from the Isle of Man to Kendal in 1880. Wilsons founded in 1913 and Romney’s founded in 1918 also still produce the confectionary. The mint cakes proved a popular snack for mountaineering, and in 1953 Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay fuelled their attempt to ascend Mt Everest with them. The cake is high in glucose and provides a source of energy and has been touted as the world’s first energy bar!

The Lakes is full of historic buildings, castles, and mysterious woodlands, with a host of folklore, tales of witches and mystical creatures mainly around Lake Windermere. Scotland might have the famous Loch Ness monster, but the Lakes have the Tizzie-Whizie. This elusive creature was said to have the body of a hedgehog, a bushy tail, and a set of wings likened to a butterfly. The shy creature was spotted along the shores of Windermere, and the first sighting was in 1900 by a Bowness boatman. It wasn’t until 1906 that a Tizzie-Whizie was captured and taken hastily to a photographic studio to prove its existence. The photographer took a picture before the creature made a dash for freedom and flew out of the window. The hunt for the creature continued, but was never spotted again, so keep an eye out when near the lake because you never know.

This little-known tale of the Windermere children was brought to life in a BBC drama in 2020. It is estimated that approximately 90 per cent of Jewish children were murdered in the Holocaust and in 1945, three hundred orphaned child survivors were welcomed by the people of the Lake District. The children who arrived in August had been through a very traumatic time and came to recuperate and get back to normality. The children were housed at Calgarth Estate where they were free to regain their lost childhoods with volunteer therapists on site to help and treat the children for trauma. They were encouraged to join in with local sporting opportunities such as swimming in the lake and playing football. The children arrived with no English but were said to have quickly caught up. Over a six-month period, the children were gradually re-homed across the UK and the estate was empty by early 1946.

 THE TALE OF BEATRIX POTTER 

The beloved children’s writer remains a huge part of the Lake District and attracts thousands of visitors every year from all over the world. Born in 1866, she grew up in a house full of animals, and she and her brother loved to draw and paint them. When she was sixteen years old, Beatrix and her family spent their first summer in the Lake District. The family stayed at Wray Castle which lies on the western shore of Windermere. The young girl spent an idyllic summer sketching the stunning surroundings and its local wildlife. The budding writer spent many more summers in the Lake District, and it was here she first began writing picture stories which she gave her friends and relatives to read. In 1905 after publishing her first book The Tale of Peter Rabbit, she used the proceeds to buy a small farm in the village of Near Sawrey named Hill Top. Beatrix would often travel to Hill Top from London to write and paint, and acquired an interest in farming, especially the local breed of sheep, called the Herdwick, native to the area. The writer did not live at Hill Top; but she wrote thirteen of her twenty-three books here and took much inspiration from its garden. The National Trust manages the property as a museum and the interior and furnishings are just as the writer left them.

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT

The well-loved tale was inspired by a letter she wrote to the son of one of her friends, and surprisingly was rejected by several publishers. The writer was undeterred and had 250 copies printed herself for friends and family. In 1901 Frederick Warne & Co, a publisher who had originally turned the book down decided to publish it, and by 1902 was an instant best seller. The following year The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin and The Tailor of Gloucester was published, and a Peter Rabbit doll went on sale. The doll had a registered patent and is believed to be the oldest patented literary character in the world. The writer went on to invent a Peter Rabbit board game, tea sets, and other books followed. In 2016 a first edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit sold at auction for £43,4000 and remains as popular as ever with today’s children

In 1923 the writer bought Troutbeck farm, then one of the largest in the area to save it from development. With the help of the local shepherd, Tom Storey she began breeding Herdwick sheep to protect them as the breed was under threat.

Beatrix and Tom would go on to win awards at local agricultural shows, which are still on display at Hill Top.

Over the years Beatrix would purchase more land across the area and went on to marry local solicitor, William Heelis. The pair lived in Castle Cottage, in Near Sawrey from 1913 until the author died in 1943.

During her marriage, Beatrix wrote fewer books as her passion was farming, protecting the local land and community. Beatrix was a good friend of Canon Rawnsley who set up the Lake District Defense Society in 1883.

Beatrix worked closely with the National Trust intending to preserve the Lake District for future generations. Beatrix bequeathed Troutbeck Park to the National Trust and supported the trust by raising funds from selling signed drawings of Peter Rabbit to American fans.

Beatrix Potter died in 1943 and left 4,000 acres of land, which included buildings and fifteen farms to the National Trust; many of the farms at her request are still in operation today.

THINGS TO DO IN THE SOUTH LAKES

TAKE A BOAT ON LAKE WINDERMERE

You can hire a boat to go at your own pace or opt for a cruise and sit back and enjoy the stunning views of the famous lake.

Wander through the rooms of the beloved author’s home, to get close to her favourite things including paintings, photographs, and memorabilia. Finish your visit in the picturesque garden which inspired many of Potter’s books.

GET WALKING

The South Lakes are a walker’s paradise who can enjoy the many fells, ambling through tranquil woodlands, historic castles and round the area’s picturesque villages.

The Lake District makes the perfect spot for star gazers as it is one of the darkest places in the UK. Take your pick of places to view the sky at night from looking up at the stars.

KENDAL CALLING

This music & arts festival is held every year at Lowther Deer Park. It began in 2006 as a two-day event with a capacity of 900 people and has evolved into a four-day event for up to 25,000 people. The multi-awardwinning summer favourite is back this year after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, and the impressive line-up includes Craig David, Stereophonics and Sophie Ellis-Bextor to name a few.