Well hello there everyone and welcome to the first post of my blog. Right folks I’ll be completely honest and up front with you – I have no idea what I’m doing!!
Those that know me will confirm that I’m pretty much a techno numpty. I only learn the technology that I have to, in fact I can barely work my phone. Yet here I am with this rather vague idea to start a blog about recycling, living better and being kinder to the environment. Oh dear!
Well all that said I’m just going to launch right in there and tell you about how I became a real life tattiebogle.
If you’d have told me ten years ago that I would become a charity shopper I’d have laughed you out the park. When it came to charity shops I was a total snob. I can recall going out for walks with my ex-husband and him stopping at the charity shops to look in the windows, well I would be standing about four feet away, looking in the other direction as if I was waiting for someone and hoping no one would see me!
Fast forward a couple of years and I found myself single, a one income household with not a lot of spare cash. At this point I had accumulated a fair amount of clothes so simply wore the clothes I had and only bought what I felt I needed.
The next few years rumbled on and I went through a lot of changes, most notably being diagnosed with MS. Over the course of time I had also put on a considerable amount of weight and with nothing fitting entered into the world of baggy tops and leggings.
After deciding to cut my working hours I decided to volunteer at a local charity shop and here my eyes were opened! Firstly the shop didn’t smell (which is preconceived idea I had always had about these shops), and secondly the quality of clothes being donated were outstanding – some were even brand new with their tags still on! Finally of course the prices were amazing, how could you buy such lovely stuff at these prices?
I was sold and have never looked back. I started to lose weight and enjoy fashion once again. I could ditch all the stuff that didn’t fit (and perhaps a bit too young for me now) and replace it with a new top quality wardrobe, and all on a limited budget!
Being a lover of fashion it also gave me the opportunity to try out new looks. If it didn’t work out there was no harm done I could always put it back into the shop, after all it didn’t cost the earth. I think a big thing for me as well was that I was having fun with fashion again, and that’s what fashion is – fun! And remember the look you create will be yours and all yours – you’ll never turn up to an event to the horror of another person with the same outfit!
Now wherever I go I’m always on the lookout for the charity shops. It’s a fantastic way to shop on a budget, recycle unwanted clothing and donate to good causes.
Why don’t you give it a go, you’ll be amazed!