More people than ever are bargain hunting recently of cause due to the credit crunch which we are painfully reminded of all the time. We have become more cautious on what we spend money on and all importantly how we go about it. Money is tight.

However shops such as charity shops and second hand shops seem to be one the few niches which have done well with the credit crunch panic.

It is nice to have something new in your wardrobe to enrich the colours. It is nice to have a new shirt you feel confident in. And it is also a great relief to have book with you when you are sat on the tube or train with a seat. The answer appears to be greatly charity shops. Is it really that surprising? Items are cheaper than on the highstreet and usually still in excellent condition. And I understand that sometimes you feel like washing the clothes before you wear it, manly because we know that it has been worn by someone else before. However it appears that we have overcome those aspects now more than ever. This is fantastic and hugely useful in our lifestyle.

Wimbledon itself has eight charity and second hand shops and honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if another one was to open in the next few months. It is a great thing to support in either purchasing or providing items, as we know we are helping others at the time we do so.

By: Natalie Pollard (Community Correspondent)