Where to find buried treasure

We show you how to hunt down secondhand 'shabby chic' bargains!

It seems that 'shabby chic' is enjoying a real renaissance in cash-strapped Britain.

According to new research from Abbey Credit Cards, cannier spending is now saving UK consumers an average of £1,746 each a year.

Shopping secondhand is a big part of the belt-tightening process. The research suggests that nearly a third of us (31%) are now happy to spend a Sunday morning rummaging through a car boot sale, while 40% of us prowl charity shops hoping to pounce on bargains.

One man's trash really is another man's treasure. I'm always buying stuff secondhand (and I've picked up some fantastic bargains) but I think it pays to look in the right place.

For example, eBay, Freecycle, car boot sales and charity shops all have their strengths and weaknesses - it really depends on what you're looking for...

Best if you're starting from scratch

I think community site Freecycle stands head and shoulders above the rest if you're looking for a large number of items.

You can join your local group and wade through the torrent of 'offered' emails that pour into your inbox every day. As the name suggests, all secondhand items are given away free - and you can also post a 'wanted' ad if you're looking for something in particular.

As I explained in this article, Freecycle proved an absolute godsend when I moved into a completely unfurnished flat a couple of years ago.

Just make sure you give something back to your local group when you can - and please don't abuse the system by selling your 'bootie' on eBay!

Best for hunting down a specific item

There's no doubt that eBay is far from perfect - I recently analysed its pros and (many) cons in this article.

However, when you're looking for something very specific, it generally comes up trumps. You can search through hundreds of individual categories using very specific terms - which is great if you want to find that obscure item that completes a shabby chic collection.

For example, I started off building my vintage Agatha Christie collection in charity shops and secondhand book shops. When it came to hunting for the last two books in the series however, I turned to eBay.

Postage and packing did make them a bit more expensive - but goodness knows how long it would have taken me to track them down on foot!

Best for big, bulky items

This is where house clearance shops come into their own. They usually have heaps of furniture and white goods in all shapes and styles - from antique masterpieces to some pieces of VERY shabby chic.

Your local house clearance shop will probably delivery large pieces of furniture at very reasonable prices. The man and his enormous van will probably be doing the rounds in your area anyway, and they'll be keen to clear their (often quite small) floor space.

I bought an enormous solid oak table and four chairs at a house clearance shop near me. Because they couldn't wait to get shot of the thing, they delivered it for free.

Best for good solid furniture

If you're looking for good quality, sturdy old furniture, get out of town and visit a rural auction.

Much of the furniture in these auctions also comes from house clearances, and you can often pick up lovely pieces at a fraction of the price you'd pay in a city antiques shop.

To make the most of out-of-town auctions, you'll usually need a car with a big boot (to avoid hefty delivery charges). And you may not get a cheap deal the first few times you go - it all depends on the competition on the day.

Best for clothes

Of course, you can buy secondhand clothes on websites like eBay and its rival, eBid. Personally however, I like to feel, examine and try on secondhand garments before I buy them, so I still prefer good old charity shops.

If it's designer labels you're after, head for shops in the affluent part of town (which tend to have richer donors). Alternatively - if you're looking for quirky, vintage or retro clothes - check out your local Oxfam Originals shop.

You can use this charity shop finder to pin down the shabby chic emporium in your area.

Best for books

To find piles of secondhand books at rock bottom prices, head for your nearest library sale.

Public libraries periodically clear their shelves of older/out-of-date/particularly dog-eared publications, to make way for new purchases.

Their number one priority is to make space, so they'll often sell off the old books for pennies - much cheaper than those sold on eBay or Amazon.

I recently wandered into my local library and staggered out with a huge box of books for just £1. And they weren't out-of-date or old fashioned; my haul included a couple of Stephen Kings, the entire works of James Herriot, a cookbook and a Maeve Binchy hardback.

Book sales are not usually well publicised, so you need to keep your eyes peeled and ask at your local library when the next one is likely to be.

You can find your local public library using this guide.

Alternatively you could try swapping your books through bookmooch or readitswapit.

Best for real bargains

Are you looking for that collectors' item to make you a millionaire? It's time to get rummaging at your local car boot or jumble sale.

While eBay allows you to search quickly and clearly, and offers you an enormous choice of items, it also gives sellers the opportunity to find out roughly what their items are worth (by comparing them to others already online). So you're less likely to find a mis-priced gem.

A car boot sale, on the other hand, is full of people intent on having a good old clear out. Items may not have been individually examined, and boxes of rare Star Wars memorabilia may be nestled in between old shoes and deflated footballs.

You can use the CarBootJunction website to find a boot sale in your area.

Of course, you may spend days rooting through jumble and never find the shabby chic gold at the end of the rainbow. But that's half the fun, isn't it?

Good luck!

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