CHARITY SHOP CHIC

The current economic woos have us all backing into the nearest corner; we are all desperately seeking the latest bargains. Christmas is imminent, and so is the litany of presents we swore to buy for our nearest and dearest. Student life has its many demands without the influence of demanding external influences: consumerism pressure being one of them.

We have heard much talk about boycotting big industries for popping Christmas pressure on top of us all too early, sadly this big talk rarely amounts to big results. So let’s face it: We have to prioritise our expenditure and take advantage of deals on offer – even if that means trading vouchers! Okay, perhaps that’s a tad over the top, but it’s happened. Once upon a time butter vouchers had to be traded for necessary needs such as heating and food. Fortunately for us, time has sincerely progressed since then, and there has been a conspicuous rise in retailers accommodating our needs – Charity Shops being one of the most influential, particularly in recent times.

Despite some charity shops reporting a decline in donations, hard up consumers continue flocking to the shops in search of money-saving bargains. This Christmas it’s all about sentimentalities and the “inner meaningful thought”, as opposed to the bigger and more expensive notion that applied in the Celtic Tiger era.

It doesn’t take a genius to gather that charity shops are a haven for cash-strapped individuals, and students, at least the majority (unless Mam and Dad are loaded), fall into the ‘living on a shoestring’ category. It’s not uncommon – while sifting through the vast array of goods in charity shops – to stumble upon brand new unwanted gifts, whether it be from birthdays or previous Christmases, and some items still come equipped with the original price tag, usually double the downgraded asking price – and guess what? No-one ought to know the whereabouts of their second hand, but virtually brand new present. A mega plus to charity shops is the fact that the once reputed hand-me-down stigma is massively deteriorating: people are shaking off the class thing and diving head first into a world of something once frowned upon.

St Vincent de Paul recently announced that their 100 shops throughout Ireland are 10% busier this year, reinforcing the impact of a rise in charity shop popularity, despite spending per customer being noticeably lower. With their popularity increasing, more and more counties are paying homage to charity shops.

Malahide and Lucan recently bore witness to the opening of new shops, and more are scheduled to open in Kilcullen and Greystones. The current climate has charity shops sprouting up throughout Ireland and more and more are opening to match an increase in demand. The stores are similar to Russian Roulette in the sense that their stock is unpredictable and ever changing. One day they could offer little or nothing that you’re interested in, the next they could have everything – vintage clothing, books, Cds, fancy dress outfits, and other little accessories – on offer. It all depends on the location, donations and custom that each individual store is receiving.

“I love charity shops,” says Martina Wallace, a student studying in Dublin. “The idea of finding something unique, as opposed to something mass produced and cat-walked by everybody has never appealed to me, so charity shops definitely provide the chance to find something quirky and unique.” When asked if charity shopping for Christmas is the ‘done thing’, she said: “Before, I wouldn’t have considered charity shops as a place to visit on my Christmas shopping list, it was only after college friends voiced positive opinions on them that I decided to give them a go. Only recently I purchased two fantastic and unread books for less than a fiver.”

She added: “This year I’m keeping an open-mind. I’m of the impression now that I’ll shop around this year with a higher sense of purpose and practicality, and charity shops are certainly offering the best bargains at the moment.”

This year, other than benefiting from a kick-ass bargain, bear in mind that every exchange in a charity shop is geared toward something positive, and somewhere someone is gaining from your cash injection, no matter how small the amount. Charity shopping offers a number of ‘feel good factors’. It’s simply a matter of taking the plunge and reaching out to a greater need. Students, particularly those on a tight budget, are inevitably bound to benefit from charity shopping, and notice a lesser dent to their pockets. So whack on your thinking caps and seek out the many bargains waiting to be snapped up…

Martin Flanagan