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Hopefully you noticed it was Secondhand September. It’s lovely to see so many people celebrating secondhand in September.  Confession I’m a secondhand kind of girl, virtually my entire wardrobe is either second hand or things I bought before 2020 (which is when I started my only buying second hand clothes challenge). 

I guess for me the next obvious target would always be books, I’ve always been a bit of a secondhand book person (anyone remember the ‘Book Church’ on Ashley Road in Boscombe) and now I am really good about nearly always only buying secondhand books (although it can be hard –  if anyone has a copy of Wisteria by Adalyn Grace they no longer want!) I’m also passing them on again once I’ve read them, 95% of books I read I’m not going to read again.

Originally launched by Oxfam to put the spotlight on fast fashion, Secondhand September has grown and now encourages sustainable choices not just in clothing, but in all aspects of consumer life.

Secondhand September invited us to rethink how we shop for all sorts of different items from home goods to electronics, furniture to toys and more. There are all sorts of places to look for a preloved gem from charity shops (my personal go-to) to online marketplaces and community swaps.  Buying preloved helps us to reduce waste, save money, and lower the carbon footprint of manufacturing and shipping new products.

I’m not perfect (although don’t tell my children that!) not everything I buy is secondhand but it is now my first choice to check if I can get something secondhand – whether that’s a carpet cleaner (yes I did) or craft materials (hello Dorset Scrapstore).  It sometime takes a little bit more time but it gives you a bigger thrill when you get what you want.

Every secondhand choice contributes to a more sustainable, circular economy.   What’s your go to for secondhand purchases? And is there anything you struggle with?

This time of year with young people expectantly waiting for exam results lots of them are preparing for going away to university and moving away from home for the first time.  The list of things they might need seems never ending and with lots of other expenses and things to think about it can be daunting.

But never fear if you have a young person of to uni (or you are a young person off to uni) this year, here are my top tips for preparing for a less expensive, less wasteful university experience:

Make a list (doesn’t every big life event need a list) and if you can get advice from others, this list from UCAS is quite good – although skip the TV (if you only watch programmes on a laptop that isn’t plugged into the wall you are covered by your parents TV licence). 

Make sure your list is realistic – what do you like to cook/drink etc will effect what you need to get and rooms are (generally) small.  Honestly an ironing board is not something most people will need (yes I have heard of people taking ironing boards).  Think of dual purpose items a large reusable shopping bag works as a laundry basket and takes up way less space. 

Think about what you already have – lots of us have spare towels and bedding that our young people can take with them.

What do you really need to buy new – things like duvets and pillows might be on this list

Check out your local car boot sale – trust me you will be able to pick up a lot of things this way – last year we bought a stack of plates/bowls for £5.  Particularly good for picking up individual items – why buy a pack of 4 glasses if you only need one or two.  One thing though pick up saucepans etc and check them carefully – too heavy or wobbly handles are not a good thing.

Ditto for checking out your local charity shops – I have one local to me who often have ‘new’ kitchen items which was fantastic for stocking up.

With both car boot and charity shops start early though you probably won’t get everything the first time you look.

Don’t bother with lots of cleaning stuff – a white vinegar spray and a few reusable cleaning cloths will work fine.

Think about how you are getting stuff there and getting it back.

Lastly and not related to shopping – if you haven’t already done so teach them (or find someone to show you) some basic cooking and cleaning skills – if nothing else the people they/you share with will appreciate it.