There are few joys in this world which compare to the feeling of the perfect preloved find. Whether it’s the dress of your dreams or the necklace you never knew you needed, the delight of the unexpected is one of the many things that keep me hooked on second-hand shopping. Each term, I dedicate at least one full day to this most addictive of pursuits, swapping the mindless Depop and Vinted scrolling for an in-person search, an art I (humbly) believe I have perfected. To spare you my trials and tribulations, I have put together a collection of pointers for your most fruitful shopping trip yet. Without further ado, let’s dive in…

Location:

Cambridge is a city chock-full of charity shops, but it can be hard to differentiate between the treasure-troves and the time-wasters. My first tip? Stay away from the centre of town. The few charity shops on Regent Street may seem enticing, but I find them consistently underwhelming. Whether this is because they have been picked clean by hawk-eyed Downing students or simply due to my own bad luck remains unclear; what’s for sure is you will have a more rewarding shopping experience on Burleigh Street. In this shopper’s paradise, conveniently situated near the Grafton centre, there are nine (yes, nine) charity shops, with a tenth just around the corner on Fitzroy Street. The Oxfam on Bridge Street also earns itself an exception from my previous rule for its impressive selection of formal dresses. If you’re a hardcore second-hand fan and have grown tired of the same local round, consider making the fifteen-minute train journey to Ely for a change of scene, as well as a break from the crowds.

“Always leave yourself ample time to trawl through the depths of each shop”

Timing:

Mondays and Tuesdays are widely regarded as the best days for charity-shopping since you can sift through the new donations from the weekend, with the added bonus of a quieter and less hectic experience. However, most shops put out new stock daily, so do not be deterred. Many Cambridge charity shops also remain open on Sundays but beware of their reduced opening hours. Always leave yourself ample time to trawl through the depths of each shop; charity shopping is above all a game of patience and perseverance. It pays to look through each rack and section thoroughly, even those you would usually write off (perfectly adult-sized clothing likes to lurk in the children’s section). An early start also gives you the chance to grab lunch and get right back into the action without feeling rushed by impending closing times.

Vintage shops:

With the closures of Jemporium Vintage, Superstore Vintage and Beyond Retro in rapid succession, the vintage clothing scene here in Cambridge has seen better days. Aside from sporadic market stalls selling second-hand clothes, there are a few remaining vintage shops in Cambridge, including CJ’s Vintage Store and Goldrush. These shops boast a curated selection of true vintage clothing, with the catch of a slightly higher price point. Think of them as charity shops with half the work done for you. I would recommend checking out a vintage shop for high-quality jackets, denim, boots and belts, as these are somewhat harder to come by in charity shops (although not unheard of by any means). Vintage shops offer a good selection of items and reduce the chances of you leaving empty-handed, a frustration every charity shopper will be familiar with.

“Bringing a friend along for the ride can also provide some much-needed sanity checking”

Top tips:

I find it useful to make a mental wish list beforehand, not to discourage you from trying out something new but to help evaluate what you will truly wear. It’s dangerously easy to make flippant purchases when a price seems too good to be true and going in with a vague idea of what you want and/or need can prevent you from going overboard. I’m sure many of us can relate to pulling out our purchases in the cold light of day with a creeping sense of “what was I thinking?”. Bringing a friend along for the ride can also provide some much-needed sanity checking. Be mindful of the fabrics and brands you pick up; many charity shops price all items in a category the same, regardless of their quality, meaning you are more likely to get your money’s worth by searching for longer-lasting materials that resist wear and tear. In some cases, a high-quality but stained or damaged item may be worth picking up if you are confident in your reparative abilities (or know a good tailor).

Second-hand shopping can be an extremely rewarding experience and provides some much-needed retail therapy without breaking the bank. Some Cambridge societies such as CUCFS even organise occasional charity shop crawls, so keep your eyes peeled! This term, heed my advice and see what the second-hand scene has in store for you.