Do you know the song Second Hand Rose, originally sung by Fanny Brice and then Barbra Streisand? It reads, “I wear second-hand hats, second-hand clothes, that’s why they call me Second Hand Rose.”
Well, that describes my life growing up. Almost everything we had belonged to someone else before: bicycles, furniture, clothes (often passed on by family and friends), tools, books. . . you name it, we had it secondhand.
Not that it bothered my brother and I. We didn’t even notice. A bike is a bike, whether new or pre-loved.
I guess that’s why I’m such a proponent of buying second-hand now – and there’s the added benefit of being good for the planet too.
Not surprisingly, the cost of living has led to a boom in the second-hand economy, valued at £10 billion, according to a recent study by Gumtree.
Well, that describes my life growing up. Almost everything we had belonged to someone else before: bicycles, furniture, clothes (often passed on by family and friends), tools, books. . . you name it, we had it secondhand
Gumtree is one of the largest websites in the UK, selling all sorts of beloved everyday items. It is now one of the most popular places to buy a used car.
It’s also good for bulky items like wardrobes and TVs, as it connects sellers with buyers in their own neighborhood.
The same goes for nextdoor.co.uk, where neighbors sell or even give away unwanted items.
Gumtree also has a ‘Free Stuff’ section and Facebook Marketplace, which is also often active locally, is another good place to shop for bargains.
I’m also a fan of freecycle.org for giveaways. It’s amazing what you can find – from furniture to refrigerators and garden tools to gadgets.
And of course there’s eBay, with its 200 million users. The latest service is Refurbished Tech, which offers up to 50 percent off top brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google.
Second-hand clothing is also becoming increasingly popular.
You can now buy a Charity Shop Gift Card (charityretail.org.uk), a great gift for a fashionista.
The Charity Retail Association (CRA) has 9,000 stores and their sales have increased by more than 10 percent in the past year.
Second-hand clothing websites are also flourishing. One of the best known, vinted.co.uk, is popular for its vintage designer outfits.
Still White (stillwhite.com) specializes in buying and selling second-hand wedding dresses.
And Oxfam has eight bridal shops across the country plus an online store (onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk/bridal).
For children’s clothing, Build a Bundle (buildabundle.co.uk), based in Barrow-in-Furness, allows parents to buy for all their offspring in one bundle, reducing delivery costs. It is also a convenient way for families to earn money by selling maternity and children’s items.
An even cheaper way to get used children’s clothing and toys is via the Young Planet app (youngplanet.com), where parents can exchange items for free.
A lesser-known vintage site is Cheekys Online (cheekysonline.com), a go-to boutique for denim fans, especially those who love Levi’s jeans.
There’s also Curate & Rotate (curateandrotate.co.uk), specializing in much-loved classics. Meanwhile, for quality furniture, don’t forget about your local auction house, but keep in mind that they add a percentage to each sale, so the price you bid is not the final price you pay. See auctionfinder.nl.
Buying second-hand has a number of disadvantages. In general, there are no guarantees. You should check that electrical items have been PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) tested to show that they have been examined and are safe to use.
Also check whether soft furniture such as sofas and chairs have a fire safety label. Not many older versions.
In general, it is not a good idea to buy helmets second-hand. When I was learning to ride a motorcycle, my instructor told us never to buy a used helmet because it could have an internal crack. The same goes for child car seats.
Also be careful with makeup, perfumes and lotions. They can be outdated or even fake.
Got the right name for a freebie?
Do you have a royal name? If your first and middle name, or first and last name, are similar to our new king, you could win one of 100 free National Rail train tickets.
So if you are a Charles or Charlotte and your middle name is for example Phil or your last name is Phillips then go to the National Rail Instagram page (instagram.com/national.rail) between Friday May 5 and Monday May 8, and comment with your name.
The first 100 to claim (and legally prove their identity) will receive a free rail card that will allow a third to travel off-peak for a year.
Do you have a royal name? If your first and middle name, or first and last name, are similar to our new king, you could win one of 100 free National Rail train tickets
Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park near Ripon in Yorkshire is looking for a temporary child CEO (Chief Executive Officer) to help develop new attractions. Applicants must be under 12 years old and love rides and attractions.
The successful candidate will receive an annual pass, a free family day, including lunch, and a dinosaur gift. To apply, please complete and upload the form at lightwatervalley.co.uk/vacancies before 4 June.
Get 20 percent off fine jewelery from new company Momi Ishq (MomiIshq.co.uk). It makes durable jewelry from stainless steel that, it is said, will not discolour.
Rings cost from €22.99 and necklaces from €26.99. To get the money off, just enter the code JASMINE at checkout.
ASDA is reintroducing its £5 bonus for first time users scanning the app at checkout.
Download Asda Rewards (asda.com/rewards), sign up for an account and scan the app for the first time before 3 May to receive £5 in your Cashpot.
Grab a STRAIGHT ROYAL DISCOUNT this weekend
To celebrate the coronation next Saturday, I’m going to my local street party, but that’s not the only way to mark the big event. There are many freebies and offers to give us all a lift.
Bus company FlixBus is selling tickets to London on the day of the coronation for just £2 on new routes from Peterborough and Stevenage and on the Bristol to London route, which now has 12 buses a day.
You can also get a £10 discount if you book your ticket through thetrainline.com for travel between May 5 and May 8.
The BBC is suspending the license fee for the day to allow venues to screen the May 6 ceremony live.
Costa Coffee will give customers a 25 percent discount on the full spring menu on Friday, May 5. It also has a limited edition Coronation Chicken Toastie through May 31.
Krispy Kreme is giving away a dozen Original Glazed Donuts every hour during Coronation Weekend, Friday, May 5 through Monday, May 9, exclusively for Krispy Kreme Rewards members.
Krispy Kreme is giving away a dozen Original Glazed Donuts every hour during Coronation Weekend, Friday, May 5 through Monday, May 9, exclusively for Krispy Kreme Rewards members
You must show your Rewards app for a chance to win the free donuts. For information, visit krispykreme.co.uk.
Battersea Power Station in London is hosting a huge party this weekend (6th May to 7th May) with face painting, tribute acts and loads of offers from the shops on site. Go to batterseapowerstation.co.uk.