I Quite Like Bargains Now
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
July 5, 2012 6:20pm CST
When I had money (in other words, working) I didn't really think about the amounts I was spending on things. Don't get me wrong; I didn't go for designer clothing or anything like that, it's just if I saw a top for £40 I would buy it..because I had the money to do so.
Now, of course, it's a different story. A few weeks ago I had a job interview and I bought a pair of canvas-like black "Atmosphere" shoes from Primark for £8, yes, £8 people plus a multi-coloured top from Abingdon Street Market in Blackpool for £16. The latter would be at least £35 in a high street store and the one I've got is actually made in the UK, therefore keeping people in work.
http://www.abingdonstreetmarket.co.uk/home-page
Unfortunately, we do not have a Primark in Carlisle but there are ongoing campaigns to get one. A ridiculous thing that's happened is a long-established furniture store shut down recently and the building has been bought by yet another furniture chain.
Mmmm! I can't help thinking - if the furniture store it replaced didn't have people buying stuff, which is why it shut down, why does this new firm think it can do any better? Very odd. To be honest, though, the building isn't big enough to be converted into a Primark store. They tend to be massive as it's the only shop that has people buying stuff in it...usually teenagers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primark
Anyway, are there shops you go in now that you wouldn't have been seen DEAD in a few years ago? You know, charity shops and the like? Have you bought something "on the cheap" that you know would be a LOT more expensive elsewhere?
By the way, online I've seen shoes like mine with PUMA and the like written on them (instead of unbranded ones) and they cost about £50!
http://www.abingdonstreetmarket.co.uk/home-page
Unfortunately, we do not have a Primark in Carlisle but there are ongoing campaigns to get one. A ridiculous thing that's happened is a long-established furniture store shut down recently and the building has been bought by yet another furniture chain.
Mmmm! I can't help thinking - if the furniture store it replaced didn't have people buying stuff, which is why it shut down, why does this new firm think it can do any better? Very odd. To be honest, though, the building isn't big enough to be converted into a Primark store. They tend to be massive as it's the only shop that has people buying stuff in it...usually teenagers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primark
Anyway, are there shops you go in now that you wouldn't have been seen DEAD in a few years ago? You know, charity shops and the like? Have you bought something "on the cheap" that you know would be a LOT more expensive elsewhere?
By the way, online I've seen shoes like mine with PUMA and the like written on them (instead of unbranded ones) and they cost about £50!3 responses
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
6 Jul 12
I don't shop certain stores (namely, Walmart), and that won't change regardless of finances, geography, etc.
I have long been a fan of thrift shops. Shopping thrift shops is more eco-friendly than continuing to create demand for more, more, more new clothing.
I'm also considering taking sewing classes to improve my skills so that I can re-imagine some of my older pieces when I grow tired of a particular look but don't want to donate a particular item (i.e., love the pattern but tired of the length).
Of course, I do also go to boutiques for some pieces. I like to support the small, local shoppes. I also have a great local place that I adore for shoes.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
6 Jul 12
That's brilliant!
I took sewing lessons at school many years ago. I was a total, dismal failure as it took me about 6 months to make a Gypsy Skirt..and that was using a machine too.
I hope you are better at it than I was. Good luck with it!
I took sewing lessons at school many years ago. I was a total, dismal failure as it took me about 6 months to make a Gypsy Skirt..and that was using a machine too.
I hope you are better at it than I was. Good luck with it!1 person likes this
@psychoartist (756)
• United States
8 Jul 12
hi janey! sometimes i really like to shop in thrift or consignment stores because they have unique interesting clothes or items that you can't find in the "mainstream" shops...i once got a really cool vintage london fog raincoat in a consignment shop for about ten dollars i think! and i have found a lot of neat old dresses that way...i am into vintage fashions..i don't want to wear pre-worn underwear or shoes, (eeeeekkk) but i am open to other things and it is sort of like a game...and i like mixing those things with more conventional fashions too...of course when my son was small it was easy to find a lot of nice children's clothes at consignment shops and i was lucky during his teen years for a while because he was into nirvana and the grunge scene and liked finding his grunge uniform at thrift stores...unfortunately, he outgrew that stage....
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Jul 12
I've never heard of Grunge uniforms before but I like the concept. If I had kids I'd love it if they were into Grunge..it would save thousands on clothes!
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
6 Jul 12
hi j aney yes its common nature for one to spend more when you
are working bu t I always loved a bargain too. and some good shops
still have some great bargains. but now crippled as I am I go to
Walmart or Target or K Mart to buy clothes as their prices are
right and they have the sizes that really fit me and look nice
not some yucky stuff that expensive Lane Bryant tries to push on us bigger people.
stuff that expensive Lane Bryant tries to push on us bigger people.@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Jul 12
I actually went in Primark as a last resort because the more traditional shoe shops are so expensive (AND the likes of Clarke's don't have their shoes made in the UK anymore so I've boycotted the shop as it's just as expensive with their imports now dominating the floor space) and Hotter shoes (UK) are more expensive still. This is why I had to buy my £8 shoes from Primark. No idea where they're made but I draw the line at buying clothing from there because of the sweat shop link. However, ALL the big stores have this philosophy so I don't know why some people (not you) are getting all high and mighty about Primark.
THEY ARE ALL THE SAME!
