I Spent £20 at the Salvation Army on My Day Off — Here's Exactly What I Made Back on Vinted (And My Best Thrifting Secrets)
Let me tell you about one of my favourite Wednesdays recently.
Wednesday is my day off work. My one weekday without school runs timed to the second, without my rapid response hat on, without being needed by absolutely everyone simultaneously.
So what do I do with this precious, sacred free time?
I go to the charity shop. Obviously.
Five kids dispatched to school. Coffee in hand (actually hot this time — miracles do happen in Casa Chaos). And me, standing at the doors of my local Salvation Army like it was the opening of a theme park.
Because honestly? For me, it kind of is.
The Rules of the Game
Before I even walk through the door I have a system. And if you want to make real money from reselling, you need one too.
Here are mine:
1. Give yourself time.
This is not a quick errand. This is an investment. I spend at least an hour — sometimes more — going through every single rail methodically. The good stuff doesn't jump out at you. You have to look for it. Slowly. Lovingly. Like you're searching for treasure. Because you are.
Do not rush this. Do not pop in on your lunch break with seven minutes to spare and expect to find gold. Commit to it. Bring a tote bag. Maybe a snack. You're here now. Enjoy it.
2. Know your category and stay in your lane.
I sell adult clothing. That's my lane and I stay in it. Why? Because I know what sells, I know what to look for and I don't get overwhelmed. When you try to sell everything — kids clothes, homeware, books, shoes, everything — you spread yourself thin and nothing gets proper attention.
Side note — I do pick up children's clothing sometimes, but I gift that to friends rather than sell it. It's my little act of chaos solidarity with other parents out there. You're welcome. 😄
Pick your category. Own it. Stick to it.
3. Set your price rules and don't break them. Ever.
Mine are simple and non negotiable.
I don't pay more than £5 for any single item. And I won't buy something unless I'm confident I can make at least £8 profit on it. That's my minimum. If it doesn't meet both of those rules it goes back on the rail — no matter how much I love it, no matter how good the vibes are, no matter how much it's calling my name.
Buy with your head, not your heart. The charity shop does not need your sympathy purchases. Put it down and walk away.
The Salvation Army — The Numbers
On this particular Wednesday every single clothing item was £2. TWO POUNDS.
I actually had to compose myself.
I spent around an hour going through every rail, picking up pieces I knew would sell, putting back anything that didn't meet my rules. Here's just a taste of what I found:
Nike trainers — paid £2, sold for £16 on Vinted
£14 profit. On one pair of trainers. From a charity shop. On a Wednesday.
Nike windbreaker — paid £2, sold for £32 on Vinted
I did a little dance in the car park when that notification came through. A £30 profit on a jacket that had been hanging unloved on a rail. Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, The North Face — always pick these up. Always. No exceptions.
And that was just two items. There was so much more besides.
Total spend on that visit? Around £20.
Total made back? Considerably more — and I'll do a full detailed breakdown post very soon with every single item and every single profit. Watch this space.
Vinted vs eBay — Know Where to Sell Your Stuff
Not everything belongs on Vinted. Here's my honest breakdown:
Vinted is brilliant for everyday clothing — high street brands, sportswear, casual wear, anything people buy regularly. It moves quickly, the audience is massive and listings are completely free. This is where the majority of my stock lives and where I get the fastest sales.
eBay is where the bougie stuff goes. Levi jeans. Denim jackets. Vintage pieces. Anything with a brand name that makes people stop scrolling. eBay can be slower — I'm not going to pretend otherwise. But once you've built up 100 plus listings something shifts. The sales become more consistent, the prices are higher and the buyers are serious.
My rule — if it's a name that makes people stop, it goes on eBay. Everything else goes on Vinted.
The Golden Rules of Charity Shop Reselling
Before I go, here's my most honest advice for anyone just starting out:
Do your research BEFORE you buy.
Check what similar items are selling for on Vinted and eBay before you pick anything up. The search function is your best friend. Don't guess — know. Ten seconds of research in the charity shop aisle could save you from a very disappointing listing.
Don't buy rubbish just to buy something.
I've done it. You get into the zone, you're excited, the charity shop energy is real and suddenly you're buying a slightly bobbled jumper from a brand nobody has ever heard of just because it's there and it's cheap. Stop. Put it down. Walk away. Your future self will thank you.
Condition is everything.
Check for stains, pilling, missing buttons, broken zips, weird smells. A £2 item with a mystery stain is worth absolutely nothing if nobody buys it. Be ruthless. Be honest with yourself.
Photograph everything well.
Natural light. Clean background. Multiple angles. Your photos are your shop window — make them count. Nobody is buying something they can barely see.
Be consistent.
List regularly, price fairly and respond to messages quickly. Your seller rating matters more than you think and repeat buyers are everything.
Start small and build.
You don't need hundreds of pounds to start this. You don't need a storage unit or a label printer or a ring light setup. You need a good eye, a simple system and the willingness to spend a happy Wednesday morning rifling through rails.
Which, as it turns out, is my absolute favourite thing in the world.
Wednesday is supposed to be my day off.
Technically it still is — it just happens to also be the most profitable day of my week.
Stay tuned for more hacks, hauls and honest numbers. We're just getting started.
— Aypril x
P.S. Come and find me on FiveKidsOneCloset on Vinted — everything I source ends up there first! https://www.vinted.co.uk/member/173669435