Second-hand items are first choice deals as Express & Star reporter grabs charity shop bargains

I dropped into the charity shop to see how far £100 can get you – here is what I managed to bag.

As a frequent charity shop visitor, I like to think I have a keen eye for a bargain when I see one, so when I entered the Acorns store, I had already set part of my £100 aside for a vintage black leather jacket that could be straight out of a James Dean film.

One of the things that always amazes me with shopping pre-loved is the range of items available: you can find anything from genuine leather jackets, Levi jeans and even Royal Doulton figures, all for much less than market price.

Angela Wilts, a manager at Acorns Bilston, said: "Shops like ours are great. There is always a bargain and usually, it's very high quality.

"Vintage and second-hand fashion is really popular these days, there are always kids walking around wearing vintage items. I would encourage everyone to shop at charity shops, I really would."

The jacket set me back around £25, which for a genuine leather coat was a bargain. So with my first big purchase in hand, I moved on to the rest of the clothes.

To go with my jacket I found a great pair of light grey dress trousers that oddly were exactly my size, and also a mock collar plaid sweater - all for less than £10.

Checking the pockets for any hidden mothballs, my eyes caught a glimmer of a box I hadn't seen in years. Twister.

I ran to the toy and boxed goods shelves and grabbed the box, remembering the many Christmases starting arguments over who knocked who over.

I bagged Twister and also another game called 'Pickin Chickens' which I imagine will end up under a family member's Christmas tree this year (sorry!), both for a grand total of £10.

I took a break to talk to a fellow shopper who was silently judging my selection as if watching an episode of Bargain Hunt, who shed some light on why she shops second-hand.

Mary Frances-Lloyd, 65, of Bilston, said: "They're fantastic places. The clothes they resell really have to be good quality, so it's not all that like some people imagine.

"The money goes to a bigger cause as well, doesn't it? It's nice to be able to buy something for cheap, but also to help someone else as well."

I continued on my grand hunt for vintage deals, finding another coat and a few items for my fiancée. This added up to £25, taking the total so far to £70.

Following this I filled my basket with smaller items to equal up the £30 left to make an even £100.

Garry Pettit, Acorns director of retail, said: "It's an exciting time for sustainable fashion at the moment and where better than your local Acorns shop, where you can make a real difference for local children and families at the same time?

"This is a fantastic opportunity to look good, feel good and do good. So whether you're after something like a cosy coat for the colder months, a new pair of heels for a night out, or you’re thinking of reinventing your style, why not browse the bargains at your local Acorns shop."

So there you have it. A counter full of pre-loved items, fashionable clothing and even a few stocking fillers.

While the lovely check-out lady was scanning my items, I found myself reflecting on what I had really taken away from the experience. Was it the bags upon bags of clothes, or was it really the great feeling of getting a deal while also helping a charitable cause?

To find out more about the causes that Acorns supports, visit acorns.org.uk.