My favourite shops are charity shops, which shops are your favourite ?

My favourite shops? Those that sell decent quality at reasonable price. Generally I prefer an independent department store like Beale's Peter Jones any old style stores that remind me of visiting Marshall and Snelgrove/Kendal's/Affleck and Browns /Lewis's/pauldens in Manchester with mum in 50/60s !! Old style shops with hidden gems!

Another charity shopper here. You never know quite what you might find. Like Judy54, I also buy many of my clothes from eBay. I like certain brands and styles and buy new or in very good condition. I can afford more of them this way as l could not afford many of them new from the shops. It also means saving things from landfill.
I also like bookshops, especially second hand ones, and music shops.

I shop in charity shops or on ebay for clothes, then resell on ebay when I want a change or if it's not a good fit.
Bedding I usually buy from M&S online or Amazon. Also electrical goods Amazon or Argos online.
I used to love browsing shops but now with masks (which hinder my breathing due to lung damage) and risk of Covid I don't spend long in them. I could not wear a mask as exempt but try to conform to make others and myself feel safer. So shopping is mainly 5 minutes in each shop now sadly.

We've got a very nice Charity shop. They usually have a selection of M&S, East and Joules, and I've bought a Guess handbag there and a Cath Kidson one.

I get a fair bit on eBay, usually M&S from a few years ago. Things I originally tried on in the shop and decided were too expensive, so I already know they are going to fit and around a fiver is a much better price.

I like to look in the odd charity shop.

But I don’t enjoy shopping like I used to as my back wont allow it. After an hour I’ve had it and have to sit down.

Also, Covid has made the shopping experience fairly stressful for me. I used to enjoy mooching around, but not anymore.

I like pet shops.

I love garden centres. We have 2 large ones with great cafes in our town. I meet up with different friends at least once a week. We enjoy a long lunch and sometimes buy clothes, gifts and cards there. Then buy something nice for dinner in their butchers. Love it!

I don't mind a well run and well organised charity shop. I prefer to look at the books though and have had some good bargains - recent books in perfect condition for £1.

I have also had some good buys for my young GC. Mainly toys that other children would have grown out of e.g. wooden jigsaws, toy cars etc. I always wash and sterilise them when I get home though.

Sadgrandma. I hope that your hip op goes well. The first few weeks afterwards are pretty uncomfortable, but it's well worth it. I had a tray trolley which was invaluable for carrying things about. Also a 3-wheeled one which was a big help in getting to the bathroom at night. Much easier than fiddling with crutches
Do what the medics tell you, and keep moving, and you should soon be almost as good as new again. Good luck!
PS. I bought my mobility items from our local charity shop!

Second-hand book shops. It is a family problem, we need to be banned.

I love shopping and browsing round Charity shops, the little town I visit often has many charity shops, all on the one road, I dont often buy anything just love to browse, I always visit a quaint old fashioed tea shop after my browsing and have my favourite meal, they do the very best baked potato I have ever tasted, it makes my day.
I love bric a brac shops too,I often supply them with things!

Sixty years ago, you couldn't get me past a shoe shop. Nowadays, I share with one of my GDs an attraction to stationery shops. My DS, inspecting my clutter, was aghast at the number of notebooks he came across in every drawer, on every shelf. Honestly, I've long been unable to resist a nice notebook. Yet what did that same DS give me for Christmas one year? Yes. A special notebook (and a pen) for my memoires. I have some notes in it, but there are so many more memories in my head.

Like Serendipity22 I used to love pottering around the shops but I have had mobility problems the last year so haven’t been able to go on my own. Shopping with my DH is a nightmare as he doesn’t understand the concept of pottering. His attitude is go to the shop that sells the thing you want, buy it and go home! However, I’m having a hip replacement op next week so I am hoping that, once I heal, I’ll be able to potter once again ?

I have recently made an ecological decision to buy most of my clothes from either charity shops or ebay. I can smugly say that I have got some spiffing bargains!

I have a mobility scooter so can only reach things on middle and low shelves, unless I ask for help (which I hate to do). Still like to get out for a bit of freedom though.

B&M and Home Bargains are great for household products, they have some great prices. My wandering around shops are Dunelm and The Range, I love looking at cushions, flowers and decorative items for my home. I could spend ages in those shops, well pre Covid. Garden centres are another fav.

I love our local wool shop!

Small choice in rotten apples.

On my pension I can't afford to shop very often unless I go to a charity shop if I need clothes, shoes or household gadgets.

I have never been madly keen on shopping either, so I don't miss it, I must say.

I am envious of those of you who live in cities/towns where there are still larger shops (M&S etc). My town is small-ish and during the lockdown even Bon Marche closed which was my go-to-shop for clothes. (I do order from them online now.) We do however, have a number of decent charity shops.

You must be frequenting the wrong charity shops, CountryMouse22. None of my local ones have a bad smell, and are kept very clean.

I ventured only yesterday to my nearest M & S 30 miles away. The store can be accessed from outside, no need to go through the Mall. Returned item ( a gift) then chose a new item as replacement. The store had clearly been rearranged due to Covid so wide aisles. The till was at end of store near the cafe so of course the lovely smell of coffee and food got to me. Collected my coffee after having to ask 3 times what the assistant had asked me. Sitting in the cafe was just awful, the noise was horrendous. Why are all those place constructed from hard surfaces that echo noise in all directions. I did enjoy my wander about the store after nearly two years but the cafe was a disaster. No relaxation browsing a book in that atmosphere.

I'm ashamed to say I don't like the smell in charity shops so only go in them to deposit donations!

I'm not one for browsing round shops either - but I could happily spend all day in a book shop!

When I lived in London it was Liberties, then, with smaller children it was model railway shops. More recently, before covid, kitchen shops and charity shops. Now I prefer online shops, although i confess I had to make an urgent trip to Wilko's for lining paper and a paintbrush yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Serendipity22
That sounds like my kind of day, but not charity shops, I prefer craft shops, fabric shops and bookshops. But haven't done it for a long time now, maybe this year.