Do you know the song Second Hand Rose, originally sung by Fanny Brice and then Barbra Streisand? It goes: ‘I’m wearing second-hand hats, second-hand clothes, that’s why they call me Second Hand Rose.’
Well, that describes my life growing up. Pretty much everything we had was owned by someone else first: bicycles, furniture, clothes (often handed down by family and friends), tools, books . . . you name it, we had it second-hand.
Not that it bothered my brother and I. We didn’t even notice. A bike is a bike whether it’s new or ‘pre-loved’.
I think that’s why I’m such an advocate of buying second-hand now — and there’s the added benefit that it’s good for the planet, too.
Not surprisingly, the cost of living has spurred a boom in the second-hand economy, which is valued at £10 billion, according to a recent study by Gumtree.
Well, that describes my life growing up. Pretty much everything we had was owned by someone else first: bicycles, furniture, clothes (often handed down by family and friends), tools, books . . . you name it, we had it second-hand
Gumtree is one of the largest websites in the UK, selling all kinds of pre-loved everyday items. It’s now one of the most popular places to buy a used car.
It’s also good for bulky items such as wardrobes and TVs, as it puts sellers in touch with buyers in their own neighbourhoods.
The same goes for nextdoor.co.uk, where neighbours sell unwanted items or even give them away.
Gumtree also has a ‘Free Stuff’ section and Facebook Marketplace, which also tends to operate on a local basis, is another good place to go bargain hunting.
I’m a fan of freecycle.org for giveaways, too. It’s amazing what you can find — everything from furniture to fridges, and garden tools to gadgets.
And, of course, there’s eBay, with its 200 million users. Its latest service is refurbished tech, which offers up to 50 per cent off top brands such as Apple, Samsung and Google.
Second-hand clothes are also becoming increasingly popular.
You can now buy a Charity Shop Gift Card (charityretail.org.uk) which would be a fun present for a fashionista.
The Charity Retail Association (CRA) has 9,000 shops and their sales have increased by more than 10 per cent in the past year.
Second-hand clothing websites are flourishing, too. One of the best known, vinted.co.uk, is popular for its vintage designer outfits.
Still White (stillwhite.com) specialises in buying and selling used wedding dresses.
And Oxfam has eight bridal shops nationwide plus an online shop (onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk/bridal).
For youngsters’ clothes, Build a Bundle (buildabundle.co.uk), based in Barrow-in-Furness, allows parents to buy for all their offspring in one bundle, which cuts down on delivery costs. It’s also a handy way for families to make money by selling on maternity and children’s gear.
An even cheaper way to get second-hand children’s clothes and toys is through 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, particularly lovers of Levi’s jeans.
There’s also Curate & Rotate (curateandrotate.co.uk), which specialises in preloved classics. Meanwhile, for quality furniture, don’t forget your local auction house, though be aware they add on a percentage to every sale, so the price you bid is not the final price you will pay. See auctionsalefinder.co.uk.
There are a few downsides to buying second-hand. There are generally no warranties.You should check electrical items have been PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) tested to show that they have been examined and are safe to use.
Also check that soft furniture items such as sofas and chairs have a fire safety label. Many older versions don’t.
Generally, it’s not a good idea to buy any helmets second-hand. When I was learning to ride a motorbike, my instructor said that we should never buy a used helmet, as it might have an internal crack. The same goes for child car seats.
You should also be careful with make-up, perfumes and lotions. They may be out of date or even fake.
Have you got the right name for a freebie?
Do you have a royal name? If your first and middle names, or first and surname, are similar to those of our new King, you could be in with a chance of getting one of 100 free Railcards from National Rail.
So if you’re a Charles or Charlotte and your middle name is, say, Phil or your surname Phillips, go to the National Rail Instagram page (instagram.com/national.rail) between Friday May 5 and Monday May 8, and comment on it, with your name.
The first 100 to claim (and legally prove their identity) will get a free Railcard giving a third off off-peak train travel for a year.
Do you have a royal name? If your first and middle names, or first and surname, are similar to those of our new King, you could be in with a chance of getting one of 100 free Railcards from National Rail
Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park near Ripon in Yorkshire is seeking a temporary Child CEO (Chief Executive Officer) to help develop new attractions. Candidates must be under 12 and love rides and attractions.
The successful candidate will receive an annual pass, a complimentary day for their family, including lunch, and a dinosaur gift. To apply, fill in the form at lightwatervalley.co.uk/vacancies and upload before June 4.
Get 20 per cent off pretty jewellery from new company Momi Ishq (MomiIshq.co.uk). It produces sustainable jewellery made out of stainless steel that, it says, won’t tarnish.
Rings cost from £22.99 and necklaces from £26.99. To get the money off, just enter the code JASMINE at the checkout.
ASDA is reintroducing its £5 bonus for first-time users who scan its app at the checkout.
Download Asda Rewards (asda.com/rewards), sign up for an account and scan the app for the first time before May 3 to receive £5 in your Cashpot.
Grab a RIGHT ROYAL DISCOUNT next 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 lots of freebies and offers to give us all a lift.
The bus company FlixBus is selling tickets to London on Coronation day for just £2 on new routes from Peterborough and Stevenage and on its Bristol to London route, which now has 12 buses a day.
You can also get £10 off your fare when you book your ticket through thetrainline.com for journeys any time between May 5 and May 8.
The BBC is suspending its licence fee for the day so that venues can screen the May 6 ceremony live.
Costa Coffee is giving customers 25 per cent off the full spring menu on Friday, May 5. It also has a limited-edition Coronation Chicken Toastie until May 31.
Krispy Kreme is giving away a dozen original glazed doughnuts every hour over the Coronation weekend, from Friday May 5 to Monday May 9, exclusively for Krispy Kreme Rewards Members.
Krispy Kreme is giving away a dozen original glazed doughnuts every hour over the Coronation weekend, from Friday May 5 to Monday May 9, exclusively for Krispy Kreme Rewards Members
You need to show your Rewards app to be in with a chance of claiming the free doughnuts. For information, visit krispykreme.co.uk.
Battersea Power Station in London is hosting an enormous party over the weekend (May 6 to May 7) with face painting, tribute acts and loads of offers from the shops on the site. Go to batterseapowerstation.co.uk.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk