SHOPPERS have got less than a month before Christmas, with many still hoping to grab a bargain before the big day.
Whilst it might come once a year, one woman claims you don’t have to spend a lot over the festive periodand has admitted that she buys her presents in charity shops.
Though the thought of receiving something second-hand might not fill you with joy, Iso Neville insists that her loved ones don’t just receive old knickknacks.
In fact, the 26-year-old says she splurges on designers goodies – which she finds for just a fraction of the price in charity shops and online.
However, the thrifty social media manager didn’t initially set out to save on her Christmas shopping.
Like many people in their early twenties, Iso wanted to save her money and be more eco-friendly.
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After vowing to only buy secondhand clothing back in 2019 though, she quickly gained a love of pre-loved fashion and was sourcing items wherever she could.
Having bagged herself countless design bargains on Depop, Vinted and in charity shops, Iso believes she has saved £20,000 thanks to her thrifty ways.
Now, lurking in her closet is a £1,500 Burberry trench bought for just £100, £1,400 Chloe boots which cost her only £91, and a £155 Ganni bag bought for only £55.
Whilst she may have given her wardrobe a major revamp, the 26-year-old has also turned her attention to her loved ones.
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Unlike the rest of us who will be trawling the high street, the social media manager hasn’t bought a new present since 2019.
Despite this, her generous pre-loved presents have included a Ganni T-shirt, a DKNY bag and even a coach purse.
“Each year, I usually save around £500,” she confessed, adding: “My entire budget this year is £270 on presents, and I’m not done yet so I think I’ve definitely saved a good amount.”
In fact, the 26-year-old is under budget and has already made a serious dent in her shopping list.
Having gotten into the festive spirt back in September, she has already spent £70 on designer clothes, Christmas jumpers and mugs for her loved ones – which she estimates would have cost her approximately £285 if bought new.
Though it’s definitely more time intensive, Iso says her loved ones ‘look forward to their presents even more’ because of the added sense of surprise.
Iso said: “You can often give quite a unique present second-hand, you can guarantee that someone’s not going to already have received that present that day.
“It just shows that there’s a bit more thought that’s gone into it, which is really nice, and it’s just the more sustainable option as well.”
For those wanting to follow in the social media manager’s footsteps, she even has some tips about how to bag a bargain.
If you are heading to charity shops or car boots, she says to get stuck in and have a really good rummage – as you never know what you might find.
For those staying indoors and browsing secondhand apps, misspelling a brand can also often lead to you finding a bargain.
She explained: “If you find something that’s been misspelled, it’s likely that there’ll be less competition and so you can put in quite a cheeky offer and it will likely get accepted because it won’t have any other interest.”
With all these hints and tips, you'll be sure to save this Christmas!
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