Cost of Living Spotlight – Upcycling Clothes and Furniture
Here at Winchester Student Union, we understand the stress of the current cost of living crisis. We’ve put together fortnightly spotlights with tips and tricks to help save your pennies.
With summer around the corner, it may be time to start thinking about your summer wardrobe! We understand that not everyone can afford to spend money on new clothes at the moment, but have you thought about buying second hand, or upcycling the ones you already have?
The Winchester Fashion Society have put together a list of their recommended second-hand shops:
Dogs trust foundation in Winchester
• Charity shops are very hit and miss but every now and again you can really find those gems, so it’s worth digging!
• One of our members found a Tommy Hilfiger sweater for £5 and a Guess midi skirt for £8!
• Great to shop second hand and donate to an amazing charity
Naomi house & Jacksplace charity shop Winchester
• One of the cheaper charity shops in Winchester
• Can find some gems
• Has a range of items
• Some really cool homeware bits which could be upcycled- lots of videos on TikTok which upcycle second hand items and end up looking amazing!
Shaw Trust Eastleigh
• Everything is £1!
• Some really nice clothing pieces
• Also, really lovely accessories
• Has books, games, accessories, jewellery, clothing, DVDs etc
• Although not fashion related, our chair found a monopoly board for £1 which is normally around £15-£20
• Eastleigh has lots of amazing charity shops so it’s perfect for a day out- train tickets are around £2-£4 and one stop on the train from Winchester!
Vinted
• Second-hand reselling website
• Easy to use
• Sustainable
• Affordable- buyers will generally accept offers
• Also, great to sell on too- many of our members use vinted to both buy and sell
• Buyer will cover postage and vinted does not take any selling fees- so keep everything you make!
Charity shops are also a great place to find second-hand furniture that just needs some TLC. If you’re getting ready to move into a house with friends next year, and need some more furniture, why not visit a charity shop.
There are plenty of tutorials online that show how you can upcycle second-hand furniture. Sometimes it takes a few extra pennies, but overall, it can be cheaper than buying new. Plus, you’ll end up with something that you love!
If you need independent advice on money, you can contact our Student Union Advisor by completing our Advice Enquiry Form. Don’t forget to keep an eye on our Cost of Living Hub to see what we’re getting up to, to support you.
