I love a good hunt through the British Heart Foundation charity shop! In this particular branch I…read morehave bagged quite a few goodies over the years including a gorgeous prom dress which originally would have cost £100+... and I paid the pricely sum of £5 for it! The staff is made up mainly of volunteers who are always very pleasant and helpful. That was my best buy but there have been others including Next jumpers, Topshop bags and belts, and other designer accessories. Not only is it good to know that you are getting a bargain but you also get that warm fuzzy feeling of knowing that your money is supporting a great, worthwhile cause.

A recently re fit store with dedicated volunter staff, many actual bargains to be had in these…read morecredit crunching times In Blandford street this one of many charity shops

Take your grandma to the age concern cafe and have a feast for under £2.50. There is hot and cold…read morefood, tea, coffee, cakes and scones and they are all very very cheap. It's worth buying crisps, chocolate and cans of pop here since they are less than half the price compared to your average newsagent. The reason they are so cheap is because the cafe is run by elderly volunteers working for Age Concern. It does take them a while to process your order and they get confused very easily but you get served before the coffee gets cold. The cafe is fairly small and gets full easily. If you are anywhere near below 60 and the senile scene isn't your thing then good riddance to you, young fool.

Known as the 'Balkwell Hut' locally, this place has a fab toddler group on a Monday and Wednesday…read moremorning (9.30 -11.00). £1 per parent and child. The have loads of different toys for the little ones to play with. There is also a song time, where everyone gathers round and sings and does the actions. After this the children get juice and a biscuit while the parents get a cuppa and a biscuit. There is a raffle near the end and every week someone takes it in turns to tidy up and hoover. The place is very welcoming and the people who run it are fantastic. The hut can also be hired out for parties , coffee mornings and meetings. There is a notice board in the entrance telling you what is on when. There is a little kitchen, a small stage and toilets for men and women. A car park is situated round the back.

Lovely little charity shop on Gosforth high street. Well managed with lots of helpful staff and…read morequite a variety of stock. They don't do furniture or electricals, but have good clothing, book and media departments. They also sell Cancer research branded items such as mugs and bags. Definitely a prime spot for some second-hand fodder or to drop your unwanted items off!

Goos nursery. Some of the staff are unfriendly at times ( but I suppose we all have our bad days )…read moreChild live to go and have fun. Prices seem to be the same as the other nurserys.

What a great company I dropped my computer in to them to be re-cased at 11:15AM at got a phone call…read moreat 2:45PM and it was ready. Got it home and everything works a dream. Look no further Excellent Service

Spot on shop! All sorted in size order, loads of books and some great Per Una items. I have also…read moreseen some glittery pink Converse shoes, and a very nice poncho. I bought the latter, and dismissed the former. Oh dear, I must be getting old :-S

A great little shop that has just relocated recently just off the main shopping street. At first…read moreyou walk into the shop to a glass floor with a mummy tomb showing beneath with scorpions crawling around in the tank - a little puzzling to the mind when seems no floor there. The shop offers a wide range of items from healing crystals to dream catchers etc to a range of gothic type items. There is also a spiritualist reader that comes to the shop that you can visit for readings, always a bit sceptical myself but great for anyone that believes in this.

I love this shop, it has great little bits and pieces in. The staff are so lovely. I get a lot of…read moremy piercings here, it's all very well priced.