Consumer expert shares 10 ways to bag a bargain this second-hand September

A consumer expert has shared her top tips to help you grab a bargain this second hand September – and do your bit for the environment at the same time.  

The initiative has been set up to help change our buying habits by reducing the amount we throw away in landfill and the resources like water and plastic which are used to make things we scarcely use.  

And consumer expert Jane Hawkes, who runs the consumer advice website ladyjaney.co.uk. says it’s a great opportunity to revitalise your wardrobe or your home without the hefty price tag and make some money with a good declutter.  

“Four in ten Brits have worn an item of clothing just once,” says Jane. That’s not only a waste of natural resources at a time when we’ve seen pressures on water production and land, it’s a total waste of money! 

“Second hand September is an opportunity to have a good clear out of things you no longer use and, if you’re looking for a refresh, find something at a great price. 

“But the trick is to think outside the box and perhaps take a bit of a risk or be prepared to put in the time to give something a glow-up. 

“And if you’re someone who has a favourite brand and an in-depth product knowledge, make it work for you by spotting the hidden treasures others haven’t noticed.

"You'd be surprised at the things some people throw away in the fast fashion world we live in: it's a great opportunity if you're prepared to put a bit of time in to find some treasures and some extra cash from things you no longer use." 

Here are Jane’s ten tips to grab a bargain this September. 

1. Become a ‘bargain detective'


Don't just search for the exact thing you want. Just because you know the exact name of a product or brand, people listing them might not. Search misspellings, old model names and descriptions particularly on sites like Vinted. 

A good way of finding something which could be a real treasure or a project is to find items using descriptions such as ‘old’, ‘vintage’, ‘retro’ or 'needs TLC’. Sellers who don't know what they have may inadvertently list something valuable very cheaply. Good quality leather products, for example, will always have a value. 

2. Buy the ‘boring box’
 

At car boot sales and house clearances, boxes of miscellaneous household bits can sometimes be where the bargains are hiding. A box of apparently uninteresting kitchenware, old tools or cables could contain something surprisingly useful or collectible. Just don't buy the entire box unless you're prepared for some detective work. 

3. Check the "wrong" section
 

People don't always know where to list things. A vintage item might be in "homeware" rather than "collectables", or children's items might be listed under "toys" rather than the particular brand or character. Searching broadly can uncover things other buyers miss. A bit more time spent looking can pay dividends.  

4. Adopt a ‘before you bin it’ rule


Create a household rule: nothing goes to the tip until you've checked its second-hand value. Old garden furniture, tools, crockery, picture frames and even spare parts can have a market. You might discover your rubbish is somebody else's treasure. You’d be surprised what people throw away – from designer handbags to silver! And even if you don’t want it, knowing that it’s worth more than what it is being sold for can be a great way of making some extra cash. 

5. Shop your own wardrobe first
 

Before buying an outfit for an occasion, pull everything out of your wardrobe and create ‘new’ outfits from things you already own. You could even swap clothes with friends. It's essentially a free second-hand shop but with no postage. If 4 in 10 of us have worn an outfit just once there’s a good chance you have things you’ve put away in storage you’ve totally forgotten about, so check the loft and under the bed as well. 

6. Buy second hand Christmas presents
 

It’s only September but the shops are already displaying Christmas wares so while there is time to browse before the Christmas rush, have a look for second hand items which could make great presents.  

Start looking for unusual books, vintage games, collectables, jewellery, ornaments and toys now rather than paying higher prices in December. Just make sure anything intended as a gift is genuinely in giftable condition. If it’s not as listed, don’t be afraid to raise a dispute. 

7. Sell the bits nobody thinks are worth selling
 

A quick search on reselling sites proves that something you might throw away, like packaging, has a value.  Things such as original boxes, manuals, remote controls, chargers, spare camera lenses, games controllers or replacement parts might be just what someone is looking for.  

An accessory can be more useful and therefore more valuable to someone who already owns the main item and original packaging the finishing touches to someone else’s gift. 

8. Sell things as bundles
 

If you've got a cupboard full of jigsaws, books, DVDs, children's clothes or craft supplies, don't necessarily list everything individually. A themed bundle can make your unwanted items much more attractive while saving you the hassle of photographing and listing 20 separate things. 

9. Look for the ugly duckling
 

Don't dismiss something because it looks dated or unattractive. Solid furniture, good-quality kitchenware and older clothing can often be transformed with a little cleaning, polishing or styling. But calculate the cost of the makeover first otherwise your bargain can become an expensive hobby. 

10. Do a £10 challenge
 

Give yourself £10 and see what you can turn it into through second-hand buying and selling. Find something undervalued, clean it up, photograph it properly and resell it. It's a fun way to learn what actually sells without risking much money.

If you have a particular knowledge of a brand, put this to good use by searching for one which has been undervalued or not recognised. People have genuinely thrown away designed handbags because they looked battered without realising that there is a real trend for second hand, particularly among younger people.  

Bonus Tip! The ‘sold, not listed’ rule 

When deciding whether something is valuable, don't be fooled by optimistic asking prices. Look at completed/sold listings where the platform provides them. Someone asking £100 for something doesn't mean it's worth £100, someone actually paying £100 is much better evidence.