I'm going to be honest; charity shops are amongst my favourite things, alongside shouting at the TV…read moreand knitting. So imagine how happy I was when I found an awesome charity shop that also sells knitting yarn! And TVs! Age Concern's Withington branch looks a little careworn from outside (most shops on Copson Street do, to be fair) and it has its fair share of charity-shop-tat-that-nobody-wants, souvenir teaspoons and Dan Brown novels etc. There's very little to distinguish it from other charity shops, apart from the yarn (in many different colours, at less than £2 a ball, and all proceeds go to charity!) and the fact that this particular charity shop sells electricals and small furniture, at great prices. Whilst living in Withington, my 14" telly from my teenage self's bedroom finally gave up the ghost. On Heroes day. I was, as you can imagine, gutted, and went to work with a thundercloud over my head. Then, at lunch time, the boyfriend texts me. He's been to Age Concern and bought a 30" telly for £25! Woo! Now I could watch Heroes and feel good about helping the elderly. The TV (one of the old skool 'fat' ones) has not failed us since, and it was an excellent bargain. The shop stocks two or three TVs at a time, as well as the odd DVD player or VCR, and the stock is being constantly renewed from a central warehouse. The furniture is often a little old fashioned, but sometimes there are real gems; for example the Singer sewing machine in its own cabinet that I missed buying by about 30 seconds, and which went for a ridiculously cheap £45. As well as bargainous furniture and TVs and yarn, Age Concern Withington also stocks a pretty good selection of mismatched china, great if you're going for the shabby chic look on a budget. It also occasionally has esoteric kitchen accessories; I swear I once saw something called the Onionator but I might have been hallucinating. All electricals are tested and certified safe. You might be deterred by its shabby exterior and its weird fusty smell, but this is a real gem of a charity shop, and it's helping some of the nation's neediest people. So get down there, dig deep and come away with enough wool to knit a football team!

This is my favourite charity shop in Chorlton and maybe one of my favourite overall. The selection…read moreof books and clothes is great. Obviously as with any charity shop you will need to search to find something you like but I rarely leave here empty handed and never leave completely disappointed with the stock. They also sell a few bits of furniture, various bric a brac, etc. The prices here are just so reasonable compared to nearby charity shops. Things that are brand new with tags might push £5-6 but most things are much cheaper. And the books are usually less than £1. It's not that I don't want to give money to charity, of course I do, but it just doesn't appeal to spend lots of money on second hand clothes when you could buy them new for less. The staff/volunteers have always been lovely when I've visited. Some of them I think have additional needs so just be patient- if you need super fast and efficient service perhaps a charity shop is not for you.

My favourite charity shop on Copson Street - a street swarming with them! The main reason for this…read moreis the manner of the staff. I've occasionally been met with less than enthusiastic responses from other charity shops on that strip when off loading personal donations (be it clothes/toys/games). Help the aged have always taken such donations without any hint of malice (yes - can you believe I've given thousand yard stares by the proprietors of other stores when attempting to donate a bin bag full of decent donationsit's not as though I'm selling crack to them is it?). Besides at least Help the Aged belongs in this decade unlike the other relics further towards the Wilmslow Road end of Copson Street. Perhaps not quite Oxfam territory but the prices are far more reasonable that that shop. They usually have a good set of clothes (usually females fare better for clothes in charity shops than men - their clothes are usually bequeathed from boredom whilst ours are off the backs of the recently deceased. Still, recycling is a good thing.) Books and the usual bizarre items (David Hasselhoff Candlesticks for example) are all set out here. Worth a visit for you bargain hunters out there.

One of quite a few charity shops dotted around the town, this is one of the bigger charity shops…read more They usually have furniture in the window and inside you can find table and chairs, second hand clothes, books, shoes and other odd items such as ornaments. I recently bought a set of scales from this place for £3 They are still working well and are probably the best scales I have had. The staff consist mainly of elderly woman and they are very nice, pleasant and friendly. I believe they are volunteers so their work is extra special.

I think this shop is a rip off compared to other charity shops. They had a counterfeit burberry bag…read moreand wanted £20. I said to the woman on the til it was a fake so why where they charging £20. Her response was, you'd pay £20 for it abroad, so why not here. It is going to a good cause. Ok, fair enough it is going to a good cause, but they shouldnt sell illegal products, for extortionate prices. The woman agreed it was fake herself. They also ask £3 for a primark top. Tops new in primark are only £3. Also once they had a new primark top and wanted £3 odd for it. On the primark tag, the top had been reduced to £2. So it had only cost £2 new to buy. When I questioned this, they said they have set prices so could not reduce it. It is rediculous. I also used to visit this shop in Prescot, but now I refuse to go, as it is crammed and the staff are rude. Being quite young, I find that the staff follow me around the shop to check I am not robbing. My mum noticed it too. In the end I lost my rag and said to the woman, for gods sake I am not going to rob from a charity shop, stop following me around. I find other charity shops reasonably priced. I don't like this branch of charity shops

Oxfam Emporium is attempting to take charity shops to the next level. Not content with making money…read morefor an awesome charity, this branch on Oldham Street is attempting to fit in with the multitude of amazingly cool record and art shops that litter the Northern Quarter. It does a half decent job of it, with a really good books, records and CD sections that actually house some decent titles. Also, it's not as ramshackle as other charity shops and definitely has more of a boutique feel. Oxfam Emporium offers photocopying as well, if you're in a fix. Make copies and support charity. Excellent!

Girls with small feet. Ooh don't get me started…read more I have been blessed with my height of 5 foot 2 and a half inches, yet what size am I in shoes? 5 and a half. Smack back in between the two most popular sizes. You see a friendly red 'Sale' sign, rush in, see a beautiful pair of black patent sandals with bows, heart beat quickens... Oh, they only have 3s and 4s left. And so it also is at the Oxfam Emporium- their glass case of Miu Mius flats and Marc Jacobs heels at the back (bargains) is all in small sizes. Ahh well. At least the rest of this massive 'emporium' will cheer me up. Its like a really cool supermarket but without much food (bags of tea, Green and Blacks and Divine chocolate). They have loads of ethical goods and some adorable material jewellery, like a felt flower brooch made by women helping themselves in developing countries. Good selection of vinyl too; I'm building up my collection and was tempted by a Barbara Streisand record. Don't worry I decided that I only really liked Hello Dolly not her music.

I Love all Charity shops, I think they do a great job. This one located in Oldham Town centre is…read moregreat, a five minute walk from the Bus station its central location is Ideal. They have lots of Old and new stuff in the shop, and pleanty of stock. They sell books at very reasonable prices and I only get my books in Charity shops. The Clothes are of a good standard and are always clean and have nothing wrong with them, they stock a good selection of ladies, mens and childrens clothes. A small selction of toys (Mainly babies and board games), Videos and Music. Lots of Bric a Brac at great prices. They have a small selection of jewlery at the till and always sell pin badges, trolly coins and other things that all give money to the charity. At the moment you can buy a Heart and write a message on it to be displayed in the window for valentines day. The staff are always friendly and very helpful.

I good charity shop in the middle of town. Not the cheapest…read moreand to crowded but well presented clean and no charity shop smell. Men's suites at around £15, some very good quality ones. Men's Jackets at around £5.00

A good not great charity shop just on the corner of Bury New Road; this is where you can find some…read morebargains but nothing life changing.. unless someone just gets there before me and I just need to be more sly?? I'd recommend having a quick look through their shoes plus some of their costume jewellery is cute (in the glass cabinet by the till). Why would you go to Topshop and pay for fakes when you can get the real thing that someone's grannie has donated? Back to the shoes- if you're willing to stand a little mark you can get some real gorgeous pairs. Lets face it, you'll wear them once and they'll be marked anyway.. The stock is always kept tidy and it feels brighter than most charity shops; they do normally have loads of VHS videos but I wonder if they don't finally take them down now we're in the midst of a "digital switchover"... There are two changing rooms which are ACTUAL rooms and not just a curtain in the corner.. although if that curtain is even the least bit open, people from the street would be able to see in. A bit disconcerting to say the least. One last note: the staff (well, volunteers) are pretty friendly except when they're about to shut..