When you've had your taste of ukay, every so often you'll be itching to venture out and ukay new…read moreold stuff, very much like the itching you get after you've tried on several articles of dusty clothes. It's all worth it though, when you find those few things you've worked hard to find among the sea of secondhand somethings you'd had to wade through. This particular building in Anonas houses a good bunch of ukay-ukay stores and has always been one of my go-to places to thrift, after the spots in Cubao had to close and be replaced by the condominium sites. It's really accessible to the Anonas LRT Station and a lot of the stores have air-conditioning, which is great to have when you plan to be covered in grime at the end of the day. Most of them are fashion stores, carrying clothes, bags, and shoes, but a good few would have beddings, toys, and a couple of appliances or books here and there. One of the stores only specialize in toys and collectibles, while its neighbor only housed shoes and bags. It's my personal strategy to go for the least accessible places as they'd probably have cheaper stuff, but most of the stores in the higher floors had a more limited selection, more expensive clothes, and limited air conditioning. One of the stores had tops and dresses that went for almost four hundred bucks, which is hella expensive, but I guess it was because they were pre-chosen designer and branded articles. I guess they were worth a look regardless--no doubt they'd go on sale at some point in time. Still it'd be better to just sift through the bigger stores with more varied, cheaper stuff. Arm yourself with a bottle of water, some wipes, and alcohol, and make your way to Anonas. You're sure to find something here. If not, ask when their next batch of arrivals come in (some might have a text "mailing list" or they'd just give you a mobile number), or ask if they're online. Some of them have legit, updated Facebook pages!

I think one of the things I love about one of my best friends is that despite us having grown up in…read moreprivileged circumstances, she's always been judicious about her spending habits. Now that I'm pushing 30 and making my own money, I understand its value and how hard it is to make it! It's true -- the stuff really does run through your fingers! Having said that, Celina was the one who introduced me to the world of ukay-ukays. If you're a foreigner or you can't understand Tagalog, an ukay-ukay is essentially a thrift store or a flea market for clothing items. Once in awhile, bags or shoes are on sale as well but it's mostly clothing-centered. Anyhoo, the first time that she introduced me to this specific ukay-ukay was in our college days -- so somewhere in the realm of 2006-2008. It can be overwhelming to dig through the thousands of tops, bottoms and dresses available here but if you're patient and persistent, I guarantee that you'll find something to your liking that costs less than P500. 100 percent guaranteed. There are at least 10 ukay-ukay stores in the area so knock yourself out. I think one of the things I love about one of my best friends is that despite us having grown up in privileged circumstances, she's always been judicious about her spending habits. Now that I'm pushing 30 and making my own money, I understand its value and how hard it is to make it! It's true -- the stuff really does run through your fingers! Having said that, Celina was the one who introduced me to the world of ukay-ukays. If you're a foreigner or you can't understand Tagalog, an ukay-ukay is essentially a thrift store or a flea market for clothing items. Once in awhile, bags or shoes are on sale as well but it's mostly clothing-centered. Anyhoo, the first time that she introduced me to this specific ukay-ukay was in our college days -- so somewhere in the realm of 2006-2008. It can be overwhelming to dig through the thousands of tops, bottoms and dresses available here but if you're patient and persistent, I guarantee that you'll find something to your liking that costs less than P500. 100 percent guaranteed. There are at least 10 ukay-ukay stores in the area so knock yourself out.

I always knew that Starmall EDSA-Shaw is a good place to hunt for bargain items. But it's only…read morerecently that I discovered Japan Selection on the second floor. At first glance, the store looked like just any ordinary thrift shop selling Japan-made goods. Look closer, or better yet get inside, and you will see that they are more than just the usual stocks of cookware, kitchen gadgets, chopsticks, Lucky (or Pocky) biscuit sticks, and whatnots from the land of the rising sun. They sell second-hand appliances on an 'as is, where is' basis. This means they will test the appliance you want to buy in the store. But if it doesn't work later when you bring it home, you can't claim a refund. They also have pre-owned baby strollers and other baby furniture. Heck, they even have used surfboards. What really lured me to the place was the stacks of original Japanese manga comics, many of them are Naruto. I was giddy because my cousin who's learning how to read and write Japanese can now spice up his studies by reading one of his favorite manga/anime series in its original language. Without hesitation, I grabbed three books to buy. Right across the manga section was the used toy shelves. Here, I found countless Ultraman figures, diecast cars, robots, and baby toys. Clumsy me grazed one of the items on a shelf and it fell with a beautiful percussive sound. When I picked it up, I realized that it was a bamboo baby rattle. I bought it for twenty bucks to use as decoration at home. The only downside to Japan Selections is their dusty, topsy-turvy store. If you suffer from asthma, better stay out.

I don't know about you, but there's something magical about living near an ukay. A beloved…read morerestaurant or an outlet store might be really nice, but a chance to thrift at any given moment? Seems like a sweet deal to me. It's probably the crazy talking, but it might also be the high of having visited this new ukay along Aurora just near Robinsons Magnolia, called--and this is a beautiful mouthful--"Bargain for Millionaires Fashion Style." The name's funky fly and fresh, although it does makes little sense as a bargain for millionaires would unlikely be a bargain for most everyone else. But it certainly pulls you in, right? The place is new and pretty amazing, stark white and spacious despite being full of clothing. The AC was at full blast when I came into the store, which already kind of won me over. They also had a good arrangement of clothes, and even seemed to be organized by color almost on each rack. Though I did take a look at the prices in general, and they're a bit of an expense compared to most other ukays. P200 for a top is not cheap by ukay standards, as is P300 for denim, though they had slightly better deals upstairs. Yes, this place has two floors of ukay, both of them air-conditioned, though the second floor slightly less so. I wish them all the success and will probably be coming back numerous times in the future. If you're bored by the stores in Magnolia, come here instead!

MSM Surplus should be one of the first places you go to if you've just moved into a new place just…read morebecause of the random stuff you find there. And that they have in abundance. From cutlery to china, appliances (beware the 110v though) to furniture, to clothes, toys and electronics. Lawnmowers. Telescopes. Old medical equipment like crutches and walkers and canes. Golf clubs. Luggage. Books. I can go on. Although some of their stuff looks broken beyond repair, there a still a lot of useful things that can be found there. Like power tools. Fishing rods. Gaming consoles. Gaming console adapters. Gaming console controllers. Gaming console games. The only dangerous time to go there is when you're looking for something you don't know what. Because you might end up buying old board games. Or betamax players. Or VHS players. Or laser disc players. Or playing cards. Or trading cards. Every corner has something interesting to see. So go there when you're looking for coffee makers. Or when you just want to look at old stuff and find somethinf neat.

MSM Surplus is one of those kinds of places you pass by on your commute by southbound bus or train…read moreand you wonder what it is and if their business is thriving and if they're even actually open. Then when you realize that they're the same place of a secondhand store you used to frequent in Cubao which closed, you finally do a search on them, discover that they have an updated Facebook page, and go for a visit and are treated to the wonders therein. It's a huge warehouse of secondhand everything from furniture to books to electronics to toys to clothes (the only category they don't have much of--they're not that kind of an ukay). You name it and you'll probably find it there in some shape and/or form. I'm a sucker for rummaging through a melange of stuff to get at good books (a still beautifully covered "Valley of the Dolls" or a "Marcel the Shell" hardcover) for fifty pesos each, or a childhood board game, which though incomplete, was still pretty worth it for a hundred bucks. (I'll be waiting for them to dredge up another copy and hopefully be able to actually play it.) If you're the kind of person who's still happy covered in dust having scrounged some great finds, then have at it.

Need to update your wardrobe this year? Want a new swimwear? Or do you just want to shop till you…read moredrop without burying your wallet alive? Then this discreet yet stunning local clothing line could do the trick for you. Apartment 8, with branches in Trinoma, Greenhills and Glorietta, have been around for some time and has been creating quite a stir because of their trendy collections. Endorsed by famous fashion bloggers, Apartment 8 offers clothes for women, mostly for teenagers and young adults. But hey, their clothing line is for everybody, as long as you wear the dress, and not let the dress wear you. From casual to formal, from summer to winter, from vintage to modern - Apartment 8 surely has them all.

Call me a cheapskate, but I don't get the appeal of department stores when you have plenty of…read morethrift shops around that offerr really good clothes at many times less the price of new clothing. I am a firm believer in ukay-ukay shopping, especially for utilitarian articles of clothing that would otherwise bleed me dry if I bought them brand new in the mall or in the department store. I find that shopping for items such as jackets, hoodies, jeans and even dress shirts are best done in flea markets and ukay shops, because these thrift stores have the best quality stuff, and it doesn't hurt that they are so ridiculously cheap compared to their spanking new counterparts. I love JCB Hong Kong Surplus in PHILCOA not only because it is near to my place, but also because it is one of the more fairly-priced ukay shops around. Some ukay shops jack up the prices of their stocks just because they have high-street labels, but that sucks because that is kinda the point of ukay shopping: to get high street brands for way less. Here, everything is well within the reasonable ukay price range. For instance, I was able to get a really nice Superdry polo shirt which looked brand new for only P200. I was also able to get an H&M hoodie for only P300. You will find great stuff if you have the patience to wade through their stocks, which is not that hard to do because everything is neatly sorted and displayed on hangers. The branded stuff are a bit more pricey than the obviously cheap ones, but they are quite a steal. They organize their stuff with such an efficient system that it's almost like shopping in a department store. The changing room is clean, and has a nice mirror to check yourself out with after you try the clothes on. Just make sure to thoroughly wash everything first. Some people overzealously wash their ukay finds in scalding hot water, which is a baaaad idea as this could shrink some delicate textiles. A good and thorough scrub using regular detergent and colorsafe bleach (for disinfecting), especially in the collars, armpit or crotch areas should do. If you are in need of quality winterwear (I bought a nice windbreaker to use on my next Mt. Pulag climb), activewear (I was able to get several dri-fit shirts that were actually marathon singlets; also, orignal football jerseys that wick moisture pretty darn fast), and really good denim, you should go to this ukay store in PHILCOA. It's pretty obvious how obsessed I am with this store, eh?

If ukay ukay was classy, this is the place to go. The items here were pre picked by the owner thus…read moretheir quality and overly done pricing. I mean you're paying almost the same price as new stuff from a bazaar for used clothing. But if you really know your shiznit and your way around vrands, you'll appreciate this cozy little spot at the entrance of expo. They have an impressive shoe selection with original but second-hand brands like Tom's, Sperry's, Guess, just to name a few. But mahal! Like a pair could be anywhere in between Php500 to Php1k depending mostly on the brand. They also have used books but nothing worth paying Php100 for.

I know a friend who shops incessantly at Artwork, and I don't see why she wouldn't. They have a…read morerack full of white muscle tees priced under 200 pesos, notebooks, shirts, and shoes - all with great, edgy designs! They definitely have better clothes now than from when I last visited a few years ago at another mall. If you need to update your wardrobe without going all the way to Greenhills for cheap finds, Artwork's worth a visit!

I love Artwork. I haven't been to one in quite a while and…read moreonly recently returned when my friend and I visited the branch at UPTC. And just, wow. I missed it so much. Artwork is a great artsy place that sells 1. cheap (SUPER YAY), 2. local (support local stores, yes), and 3. unique clothes, hats, beanies, bags, pouches, wallets, shoes, and notebooks. Artwork is all about their prints. The designs here are so funky and hip you will not know which to choose. If you're into art and odd and weird then you will love the stuff at Artwork. I got so giddy entering here and went ahead and bought something (I couldn't resist). The shirts are my favorite because they're super comfortable, and you can pair it with any type of bottom and you won't look plain because the designs are so loud and out there. You are literally wearing/holding/writing on/carrying an artwork and I think that in itself is amazing. The designs are all made by hand either transferred or done directly on the fabric. You can come in here with P1000 and come out with at most 5 shirts (they sell tanks for under P200).