Savesmart
It all started at University when I was time rich and money poor. Those were the days when for some (not me, obviously!) the student loan, any money earned working a few pathetic hours per week hungover or course related costs were spent on alcohol, fast food, clothes and rent (in that order). Unless you were an engineer student, the lifestyle seemed to allow for ample free time. As each year passed, some (again, not me obviously!) developed skills to expand that free time. These skills included watching lectures online with the free library Wi-Fi when (and only when) they were not hungover or simply not watching the lectures at all and using the notes and previous exam papers from older “buddies” right before their exams.
During the period of your (ok, you got me!) life when it’s easy to ooze in all things self, including self-soothing with alcohol, self-pity when hungover and generally just being a selfish soul in all aspects of life, what better way to spend your spare time and small amount of money than on highlighting your self-worth through clothing? (With the benefit of hindsight I could name many things but that ship has well and truly sailed). The problem was that unless one had ongoing income from an external source such as “daddy's credit card” to buy new designer items, most had to resort to borrowing clothes from flat mates, buying second hand items or a mixture of both. I was in the majority.
Opportunist in all things and with the influence of my flat mates at the time, op shopping became my hobby. I loved that each item had a story and while it was probably best that I didn't ever know the details of each story (#cringe), it was nice to think I was giving something another life. Although my previous self-absorbed being can't claim the credit for it back then, there was also a "saving the planet" kind of feel to it. There was nothing better than finding a piece that was someone's old designer throwaway that was probably worth the earth but only worn once. Actually there was one better: When you were subsequently asked by "label bashes" (so 2003) who wouldn't set foot in an op shop where you got it from. That in itself was an op shop staple piece that needed to go straight to the pool room.
Op shop rules
As any true op shopper knows, and as any hygienically conscientious human should know, the following two rules should ALWAYS be followed:
Never buy underwear or bikinis from op shops. Period.
Always soak your underwear with Napisan or an alternative strong cleaning substance after trying on anything with a crutch.
Op shopping challenges
Don't get me wrong, op shopping comes with challenges. If it didn't, everyone would be doing it.
You have to get past the smell of an entire shops worth of different homely smells fermenting from each clothing item which, despite washing (or so they say), is almost enough to make your nose turn and run for cover behind one of your ears. It can be difficult to bear upon initial entry but I find that soon enough it is overshadowed by a fellow op shopper's sweat induced flagrance, BO. Shopping in winter is better for a number of reasons and let's just say it isn't because of the woollen knits.
You have to be in the mood for wading through sometimes hundreds of items to find absolutely nothing. It requires stickability (by you and not the item - Trust me it warrants a clarification) and resilience.
You can at times be stuck on a clothing rack waiting behind the slowest op shopper in history who takes almost every item off the rack as he/she moves so as to reduce your buying scope to then not purchase one single item.
The changing rooms often fail to adhere to standard privacy policies. You are left in a less than desirable predicament: Getting changed with one hand, desperately trying to close the public viewing gap with the other but forgetting that in doing so the opposite side of the curtain opens to the public for all to see the viewing of your bare backside.
Op shopping with a baby
My passion for all things op shopping generally went on a long adjournment during my employment. As it turned out, lawyer suits worthy of Court attire are a hard find in Savemart. However, since motherhood my love for the hobby has well and truly made a comeback. Pleasingly, shopping with a baby is one way to make the process easier (baby permitting of course). Not only have your senses become immune to anything smelling remotely less than satisfactory but the presence of your baby:
Wipes any rules when it comes to waiting in queues. If anyone opposes you moving to the front of the queue there are enough older staff volunteers to have your back.
Gets you access to the fully closed staff only toilet for your own changing purposes (true story). I have found that this has the added benefit of space and edges which, unlike the pathetic excuse for most op shop changing rooms, they are capable of hanging more than two coat hangers.
Gets you free stuff even when there is not a 50% sale on. Yes, you heard correctly. I too was surprised to find out there was such a thing (#OnlyinDannevirke). It is a sad state of affairs where people can't pay $2 for an item.
Our recent deals
In the last month Lottie has grown out of many of her items within her extensive 0-6 month baby wardrobe courtesy of many generous friends and family members. We have been on a few excursions to our local op shops and each time we have come out with items worth far more than I paid.
Tweed is back people.
Who wore it better? Lol.
Lottie rocking the little buttoned knit.
These two blazers cost me $2.00 each and Lottie’s knit was a steal at $3.00. These items are in perfect condition and are “trendy” (wow, I’m really a mum now). The brand new labelled versions (pictured above) which are almost identical come to a grand total of $1,034.74, even when two of them were on sale. You do the math.
In my opinion, op shops need more customers and supporters. They offer a win/win service. Not only do you get bargains, but more often than not your (small) proceeds go to a charity and the environment is better off for it. What’s not to love?