A mum-of-two saves £5k a year buying nearly everything second hand – including her Christmas gifts.
Jess Potter, 36, says its easier than you think to find quality gifts second-hand – and it saves so much money.
Jess Potter and partner Davey, both 36, love shopping secondhand
With Christmas round the bend and people feeling the pinch, there’s never a bad time to try a money-saving hack.
The mum-of-two switched to second-hand living to keep costs down four years ago and now buys almost nothing new.
Savvy Jess and partner Davey Brown, 36, say they save an average of £5,000 per year after changing their buying habits.
They say it surprises some people because they assume second-hand means bad quality – but they claim that’s not the case.
This year she bought a silver moonstone necklace with a pendant for £8 – which would have cost £30 new.
In previous years she bagged a pink leather Warehouse cross body bag for £10 which would have been £80 new, a Harrods lambs wool scarf £12 which cost £40 new, and a wrought iron bed for £400 which cost £1200 new.
Jess who lives in Grangetown, Cardiff, said: “Some people will always have something against second-hand items, but some things don’t carry that ‘used’ stigma.
“For example, vintage jewellery or handbags always go down a treat at Christmas!”
Jess runs Used and Loved, a second-hand selling website, with Davey, bringing together different second-hand finds they spotted online on various different sites.
Top tips for finding secondhand items
You’ll need to start looking now if this is for you.
Jess said: “You can’t just nip into town on Christmas Eve and do a last-minute scramble, second-hand shopping takes time.
“Allow for deliveries and the Christmas rush too.”
She added if you see something you think is right you should grab it then and there.
She said: “The beauty of used items is they are one of a kind – buy it before someone else does!”
However, it’s only a good deal if you wanted the item in the first place.
And if you’re on the lookout for something specific, it’s worth doing some research on prices so you have a basis to work from.
Do remember that refund policies can differ for secondhand items – in some cases once you buy, it’s yours, so make sure to check that first.
On clothing, check for rips, missing buttons and working zips.
And if you’re buying CDs or DVDs, have a look at the disc to check for scratches.
It’s important to be realistic, too – if you’re buying something for a few pence, you might be willing to accept that it’s in less-than-perfect condition.
Some sites you can have a look on include Vintage Cash Cow and Shpock, which you can also sell old stuff on.
If you’re selling, it’s worth remembering that anything extra you earn can be taxed.
You can earn up to £1,000 without paying tax thanks to the trading allowance.
According to HMRC, the odd jobs you can claim for tax free include money made at car boot sales, online selling or auction, so you should be okay if you sell on.
It could also include money made from food delivery or by charging other people for using your equipment or tools.
Once you earn more than £1,000 a year, you need to complete a self-assessment tax return and start paying tax on your extra earnings.
How much that is will depend on how much you already earn.
You can also find a lot of secondhand items at car boot sales – but you never know what will be sold at these, so don’t get your hopes up about finding a specific product.
But if you’re going to one of these then make sure to bring loose change – car boot sellers aren’t shops and you shouldn’t turn up expecting to be able to tap your contactless debit card to make a purchase.
They also won’t appreciate you giving them a £20 note to buy something for 50p.
From finding a rare handbag to bargain vintage clothes, we covered a car boot sale expert has plenty of advice to help you – read here.