Beautiful Bargains

Hello All, Due to some unexpected personal circumstances, Beautiful Bargains has been unable to post since January 2018... but the good news is... WE'RE BACK! Thank you to all of our lovely customers who have supported us through this rough patch! It's individuals like yourselves that keep small businesses up and running. Keep being awesome! Thank you for your time. Speak to you soon! Beautiful Bargains

First of all, welcome to Beautiful Bargains ! You've landed on our blog, where we rant and rave about all things THRIFT! However, you're probably wondering 'who are we?' and 'what on earth do we do'?! Thankfully, this blog post should answer all of your questions! So, let's begin... Who Are We? Beautiful Bargains operates as a small, independent, online thrift store. Our aim is to reduce the amount of reusable goods ending up in landfill sites across the UK. We sell primarily via our eBay store , however, we also offer instant payment methods via the Depop Selling App . To keep up-to-date with our latest products and announcements, you can follow us on Twitter , and subscribe to our emails by clicking the 'SUBSCRIBE' button above. Beautiful Bargains on eBay.co.uk What Do We Do? Supported by a dedicated team of individuals, we collect, salvage, and resell anything that we can get our hands on! Whether it be items refused by a charity

A common question we're usually asked is 'where do we find our stock'? Well, to save everybody the hassle of emailing us, we thought we'd write a blog post that reveals all!   To put it simply, we source our stock from everywhere. We accept items from anybody who is willing to donate, and are extremely thankful for having the support of so many thoughtful individuals. In addition to donations, we also collect unwanted stock from local charity stores. Believe it or not, many charity stores have to adhere to certain standards when choosing what donations to sell. Any items that are slightly damaged, creased, or dirty, are usually classed as 'unsellable' and therefore discarded. At Beautiful Bargains , we strive to restore items to their original glory, and always wash and iron any items of clothing before resale. Furthermore, we endeavour to repair any damaged items (to the best of our ability), and if unsuccessful, we clearly note any defects when listing

Can you believe that eBay was founded almost 22 years ago!? ... Neither can we! Since its creation, eBay has become one of the top online auction sites, allowing buyers and sellers to trade goods online with ease. Recent years have also seen the creation of successful mobile selling apps, such as Depop and Shpock . However, trading online always has its risks. This is because buyers and sellers don't usually meet in-person, allowing scammers (using fake details) to become less traceable! So, how do you avoid problems when buying and selling online? After all, there's nothing worse than being ripped off by a seller. Likewise, difficult customers can easily tarnish a company’s reputation. Thankfully, we have created a list of top tips for online traders. Tips for Selling 1. Write accurate descriptions:   It's true what people say, 'Honesty is the best policy'. If any of your items have defects that cannot be seen in the photos that you upload, make

Firstly, I'd just like to say... this is possibly the best online competition of August 2017!  For those of you that don't know, Lucozade Energy UK has teamed up with Missguided - an online fashion store teaming with stylish clothing and accessories. I discovered that this fabulous collaboration had begun whilst on my way to work... Not only was I handed a free Lucozade Zero in Manchester Picadilly Station , I was given the chance to enter the Missguided 'Zero to Pay' competition!  So, I entered a code found on my Lucozade Zero can into the competition site , and I was automatically given a Missguided 30% discount code just for entering. Whats more, the next day I was emailed with another treat - 50% off my next Missguided order!  Therefore, I would like to say a big THANK YOU to both Lucozade and Missguided. This competition has literally made my week! 

I always keep an eye out for materials that I can salvage and turn into something beautiful, even on my holidays. After all, it means that my money isn't wasted looking for memoirs in a tacky souvenir shop... Last week I visited the picturesque town of Benllech in the Isle of Anglesey , Wales. Spending my time sunbathing on the beach was just what the doctor ordered; I’ve returned to work refreshed and motivated. Furthermore, I managed to collect an awesome haul of washed up shells and driftwood, sending my creative mind into overhaul. So, I’ve been home for 2 days, and below is my first holiday craft project completed! Using just £2.50 worth of clay (very thriftily), I hand-moulded a simple bowl and added detailed markings using one of the shells I picked up on the beach.  Next, I allowed the bowl to air-dry overnight, and then painted it blue to remind me of the sea. It turned out to be the perfect size to hold my prettiest shells.   Thus,

Do you regularly find yourself trying to make £10 last you until payday? You're not alone! Being thrifty with your cash doesn't come naturally to everyone. If this screams you, carry on reading to discover some simple money-saving tips! 1. Create a Shopping List Let's face it, the supermarket shop can be harsh on your budget. Unbeknown to many, retailers use visual tools to tempt buyers into spending more. Hence, most people walk away with £10-£20 worth of items that they don't actually need. So, how do you avoid this? ... It's simple! Create a shopping list , and most importantly, stick to it! 2. Save Your Change It's true that they say, "every penny counts!" Whilst it may seem pointless to keep those coppers, they do eventually add up to a substantial amount of cash. Furthermore, there's no need to hand over a tonne of change to a till-worker. Handy coin converter machines  can be found at supermarkets and post offices! 3. Ta

Working in Manchester City Centre brings with it the temptation to spend. With high street and high end fashion on your doorstep, it sometimes seems inevitable that your purse will be needed!  However, bargains can always be found! For example, this week I was having a wander during my lunch break and happened to stumble upon the Debenhams July 2017 sale. Now, coincidentally, I was in need of some new work boots. My current boots were literally falling apart. Thankfully, the Debenhams sale saved my feet and my bank balance! Not only did I manage to get some Clarks Leather Ankle Boots for just £21, I also picked up some fabulous Jasper Conran Leather Ankle Boots for a mere £23.70… Both pairs were meant to be an eye-watering £80 each. Therefore I saved a total of £115.30! To say that I was happy is an understatement! Left: Clarks Kelda Nights Boots  Right: J by Jasper Conran Black Leather Pointed High Ankle Boots

"This blog aims to inspire the thrifty, crafty, and cost-conscious individuals out there! Whether you want to discover how to up-cycle your old belongings, learn how to be a bargain hunter online, or find affordable craft projects... this blog has it all!" Plus, YOU can get involved: - Comment what future posts you wish to see! - Share our regular competition posts to WIN great prizes! - Check out our eBay and Depop thrift stores! - Contact us if you wish enquire about our services! "Good Things Come To Those Who Thrift" - Unknown