Living in New Zealand on a Budget: Thrifting the Best Finds in Auckland
I’m not going to lie, when I first move to Auckland I was shocked on how much the general cost of living was. I remember walking in to a countdowns (Woolworths equivalent for any one that has visited Australia), but basically is a supermarket. I was shocked to see a punnet of grapes being sold for $12! Yes that’s right $12. I thought this was obsurd however I think as you live here longer you either A) get used to the prices or B) learn what not to spend your money on or C) get involved with the hacks of knowing how to source items cheaper.
This leads me to going to buy some new clothes for an job interview for the first time. Obvsiouly I didn’t bring much of my belongings but for soem reason as I was now living in a new country and aiming to get hired prompto I wanted to look my best. I decided to go shopping for the first time in Commercial Bay in Auckland Central. The sun was shining and the city was hustling well to the most the Auckland city hustles. I remember going to shops like Kookai, Flo & Frankie and even H&M and being shocked at the prices of clothes. I feel like New Zealand everything is just priced the same. For example, if you want to buy a jacket you’re proabaly looking around $200, if you’re wanting a decent quality top, again you’re probably looking around $150! this is just for a basic T (I want to add maybe not from H&M but definitely from other high street stores. I did worry and have doubt to how much I would spend in the UK for a normal plain white T but I don’t think I ever spent more than £30 and look, I know the exchange rate and cost of living takes account but you have to draw the line somewhere.
Anyway this leads me on to finding the best and most affordable ways to source your clothing. I’ve always been an avid op ‘Shopper’ and can spend hours roaming through charity shops being happy with just browsing and finding the best deals.
But if you’re living in Auckland and want to know some of the best places to find some steels, carry on reading!
I’m going to start of with Auckland CBD. As most of you know Auckland can be quite spread out espically if you were brought up here you will understand about the the bridge and the northshore dived. But as I am a current north shorer I am going to cover both central and the shore as this is where I spend most of my time.
Auckland CBD
Recycle Boutique - 9 Darby Street, Auckland City, Auckland 1010.
First of all, lets start with Recycle Boutique in Auckland City, address is 9 Darby Street, Auckland City, Auckland 1010. One of my faveioute second hand shops in New Zealand by far.
Recyle bootique allows customers to bring in five or more good quality prices to resell. The items picked are based on quality, condition and seasonailty or trend. Once accepted items are then put on sale within the store and the store, and customer recives a percentage. (Check the store’s website for more details on this).
I have sold items with Recyled bootique before and manage to make some dollars from there. This is handy to have as a side hustle or passive income you forget about untill you go and shop in there. Which can be quite un to have a secret pot you forgot about.
I tend to visit this store for good quality trainers. I acutally once picked up a barely worn pare of Converse uk size 7! Which I couldn’t believe my luck. They had barely been touched but they were around $26 dollars. I also picked up a pair of white Vans trainers for around the same price a few weeks prior. Again I couldn’t believe it. I tend to ware trainers through quite quickly so there isn’t much point in spending alot of money on something that isn’t going to last that long anyway. Some people do object with wearing second hand trainers or shoes but I do think if they’ve barely been worn then theres not too much to lose.
Tatty’s - 41 High Street, CBD, Auckland 1010
This brings me on to my next fave and that is Tatty’s 41 High Street, CBD, Auckland 1010. What I like most about Tatty’s is that it has some nice designer items in there but you don’t feel as if you’re paying as much. Do you know sometimes you walked in to a boogie charity shop and it seems like some items are the same cost as if it was a brand new item. I feel like with Tatty’s everything is priced reasonably to match the quality of the item. I think my best find in Tatty’s was an Assembly label grey crop top which which I nearly brought once for full price however I ended up finding it in Tatty’s for around $20. Which I think was an absolute steel.
I think it’’s safe to say these are my 2 faves in Auckland City, that I can think of right now. I did want to mention ascolour if you’re after good quality basics. Although these aren’t second hand but I do believe they have always followed great sustainability initiatives which you can read over on there website.
Ok now I am taking you to the North Shore where I have four favrioute go too’s.
Takapuna
Regenerate Fashion - 21 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna Auckland
Regenerate Fashion
salvos
second hand shop
