Confessions of a Cheapoholic

I said to myself last night that it is about time for me to spread the news that I am a proud Cheap-o-holic. I love everything and anything that is on a bargain. I would literally wait until the price of chicken in supermarket gone down from 3 dollars to 1 dollar, or wait until bananas being marked down significantly. I have to admit and realize that I am really poor. I came to Australia by myself to fall in love 2 years ago, I left everything and anything I had back home to pursue my dreams in this Land of Opportunity. I became a student, I worked casual hours from being a babysitter, a cleaner, a housekeeper, an administration assistant, to retail assistant and eBay seller.
On one hand, I always worried of not having a job and unable to pay rent, but on the other hand, my previous life has nurtured me with great sense of fashion. I used to have my clothes all altered and coutured with matching bags and shoes, but here, I couldn't afford all of that.
One day, couple of years ago, one of my friends from uni mentioned about Op Shop that are available all over Melbourne. So I tried my luck with hope that I could be as fashionable as I used to be, instead I end up with piles of junk. Junks that within next week I had to re-donated the items back. Nevertheless, it doesn't stop me from buying and browsing for some more items. After some trials and errors, I managed to come up with some tricks on picking up items in Opshop:

1. Don't being blown away with the price of $1-$2.
2. Buy something that you think you will actually wear it! Not just to be stacked up in your wardrobe.
3. Try to look for items that still has tags on it. Some Op Shop received donations from people or from other shop.
4. If you have options, it's better to buy a brand new good that's being sold as is, than just a second hand one. Make sure you know what the "as is" condition and it's repairable.
5. If you live around Hawthorn, Melbourne, go to Red Cross Op Shop on Glenferrie Road. They have the best quality items. Most of their items being sold under strict quality control and some of them are brand new goods. I have found great authentic treasures like Zara, Michael Kors, Versace, Prada, Tsubi, Sass & Bide, to Australian Designers like Lisa Ho and Bettina Liano. Some of them being marked down to under 20 dollars! 

Have a look on my successful attempt of looking fabolous in a $2 dress. The dress was still on its original tag when I bought it from Op Shop on Brunswick St. The dress is fantastic, fully lined, very nice fabric. The only problem was a slight torn on it's seam but it was easily repaired. I love my $5 shoes. Very sexy, added with few garnet-like stones. It has 9 cm heels and it fits me really well. Oh the scarf is just amazing. Bought it locally from Indonesia for aprox 2 dollar. Happy days :). The necklace I bought from Camberwell Market for $3 and it was hand made.

Happy Op-Shopping ;) xx