Books
For anyone who enjoys reading, there are a few ways you can reduce costs associated with purchasing books.
Your local library
Joining your local library is a fantastic resource that is free to use. Many libraries have audiobooks and digital books that you can borrow, as well as a wealth of physical books. Titles vary across fiction, non-fiction, and reference.
Find out more about joining your local library if you live in Fife, Dundee, and Angus.
Sometimes, libraries sell cheap books for a fraction of their original retail value, so it’s always worth a look.
Charity book shops
St Andrews
Barnardo’s on Bell Street is a dedicated charity shop just for books. Many other charity shops have book sections too, including British Heart Foundation on Bell Street, and Oxfam on South Street.
Dundee
Oxfam on Reform Street is solely for books and music. Many other charity shops have book sections too, including British Heart Foundation on Murraygate, and Cancer Research at the Gallagher Retail Park.
Wob (formerly World of Books)
At Wob you can find second-hand books at cheaper prices than their retail value in various conditions.
Abebooks
At Abebooks you can find second-hand books at cheaper prices than their retail value in various conditions.
Clothes
From time to time we may need to get hold of new clothes, which can be expensive and have an environmental impact. Here are a few places you can get inexpensive second-hand clothes that are in good condition:
Online
Sites and apps such as Vinted and Depop can be great places to find new items at lower costs and with a smaller environmental impact. You can also sell your things on these apps too.
Charity shops
St Andrews
St Andrews has many charity shops you can trawl through when searching for something ‘new’ including British Heart Foundation (Bell Street), Save the Children (Greyfriars Gardens), and the Salvation Army (Church Street).
Dundee
Dundee has loads of charity shops too, including British Heart Foundation (Murraygate), Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (Reform Street), and the British Red Cross (Reform Street).
Pop ups and Shops
StAnd ReUse (part of Transition St Andrews) hold pop-ups around St Andrews with everything from clothes to kitchenware – everyone is welcome! Check out their events page and their Instagram.
The Wardrobe on Nethergate in Dundee (part of Transition Dundee) has second-hand clothes at budget-friendly prices too – they even have some free items. You can donate your clothes too if they are in good shape.
Strathmartine Community Hub in Dundee is open 9:30-16:00 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday and often has second-hand clothes available for a fraction of the cost of buying new. Tayside Re-Users on Douglas Street in Dundee collect and sell second-hand goods from furniture to bikes to clothes and books (open Monday-Friday 9:00-17:00 and Saturday 10:00-16:00).
Mending classes
The Wardrobe in Dundee sometimes does workshops on mending and upcycling your clothes! Check out their Instagram or Facebook for updates.
Tools
Transition St Andrews offers tool sharing for £15 per year. It works like a library – you find the tools you want and loan them out for whatever you need them for. You might find things like garden equipment, DIY tools, or things to host an event with, like a pizza oven. It’ll save you money instead of buying new, and it’s sustainable too!