Many of us are happy to give away our outdated glad rags after a wardrobe spring-clean but it seems few of us are actually willing to go in for a regular rummage.

Yet charity shops have proven to be a hidden gem in the quest to live stylishly for less and if you’re a dab hand at sale rummaging, you’re halfway there!  Follow these tips on how to shop charity shops and you won’t be disappointed.

1) Find charity shops in rich areas; the product will be better and more likely to be designer and/or recent.

2) Check every rail, that’s right; the men’s section, the women’s section AND the kidswear.  The men’s is usually cheaper and may hold treasures such as boyfriend cardis, warm festival jumpers, denim jackets and check shirts to wear oversized.

3) Think outside the box; be creative and don’t be put off by a small hole or dodgy hemline. You can fix it yourself or pay for adjustments as you’ve spent so little on the item.

4) Accessorise!  Charity shops are packed with hats, bags, belts and shoes and while these can be pricy in other stores, you can make a massive save by shopping in charity shops and get a unique piece.

5) Ask!  Charity shops have stock rooms and constant donations.  If you want shoes in a Size 7, ask if they have any out the back, if not…

6) Check Back….regularly.  The best stuff will be snapped up fast so make sure you pop in, all the time!

7) Also…remember…charity shops are great for finding kitsch items for your home and for getting some great holiday reads without the high retail price.

Be determined and we promise you it’ll be worth it!  Also for those of you that simply can’t stand to rummage, you can now buy online check out www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/ or you can even browse charity items on www.ebay.co.uk.