A YouTuber was left disappointed after spending an entire day visiting five charity shops in search of second-hand furniture and home basics for her first home - and thinks she knows why13:30, 07 Jul 2026Charity shops have long been a go-to destination for bargain hunters on the lookout for a great deal. Shoppers can uncover everything from second-hand clothing and books to kitchen gadgets and electronic goods.‌But it doesn't always go to plan. One YouTuber recently put five charity shops to the test, shopping as though she had just picked up the keys to her very first home.‌Charity shop hunter Charlotte, who runs the account Pink Peach Finds, set out in search of everyday essentials including a kettle, a frying pan, cutlery, a desk and basic towels.‌She revealed she was inspired to embark on the challenge after hundreds of followers told her they had kitted out their first home entirely from charity shops.When she attempted to do the same, however, she was left bitterly disappointed. Charlotte said: "I honestly struggled. Not because the shops were empty. They weren't. They were absolutely full. But they were full of things I didn't need," reports Wales Online.‌After trawling through five shops, the YouTuber managed to track down just one cutlery set, a heavily worn kettle, pricey lamps without shades, saucepans missing their lids, and furniture with price tags rivalling those at IKEA.Charlotte said that her "honest answer" would be "no" if people asked her whether they should try furnish their first home from a charity shop. She said: "I'd tell them to check the charity shops."I'd tell them to keep an eye out for the occasional bargain, but I would not tell them to rely on them. Because after spending an entire day visiting five different shops, it's not realistic anymore.‌"This wasn't a reseller looking for profit. I wasn't hunting for antiques. This was simply someone trying to buy the absolute basics for their first home. And if I struggled this much, I think that's a problem."Charlotte claims her search proved fruitless because second-hand goods need to offer something cheaper, better quality, or unique to make them worth seeking out.Article continues belowTaking into account the time spent traipsing around five charity shops, hours of searching and the petrol costs, Charlotte concluded the whole exercise simply wasn't worth the effort.The only charity shop where she managed to find anything of use was a branch of Sue Ryder.Reflecting on what the experience had taught her, Charlotte confessed that she no longer believes the age-old wisdom about charity shops still holds true — because, in her view, they have "fundamentally changed".