With the rise in popularity of vintage clothing and the hit song about 'thrift shops' by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis in 2013, now is the perfect time to embrace the bargain-hunting joy of charity shops.

We have some great charity shops in the Furness area and with yesterday being National Thrift Shop Day, it's the perfect time to have a hunt for the ideal item at a good price.

After all, is there anything more satisfying than getting your hands on a great bargain?

Charity shops have been around for a long period of time and clothing was originally the main focus. However, over time, they have added furniture, household gadgets and especially toys and books.

Susan Gibbons is the manager of Furness Homeless Support's charity shop in Bath Street in Barrow.

She said: "I pretty much only dress in charity shop outfits and I like to run the shop under the principle of what I would wear and what would I pay for it."

Sue, who looks very glamorous and bang on-trend, keeps the shop up to date with all of the latest fashions.

She said: "We get about an equal number of men and women shopping in here. Most of them are young and we don't really sell any 'old lady dresses'.

"That might be people's perception of what we sell in charity shops but that isn't really the case any more. Ladies are stylish at every age now and so what we get in the shop is all good quality and ready to wear.

"I have an ironing lady too, as I wouldn't put anything out that was creased. I always tell people that if they can't see something they are after, just to ask me about it as I have loads of extra stock in the back rooms."

Sue's charity shop really is full to bursting with clothes for an outfit for any occasion.

After browsing the top floor, I expressed a wish to look for hats and Sue conjured up a plethora of beautiful, rainbow-coloured hats, perfect for a wedding or ladies' day at the races - and all nearly new.

We dressed Evening Mail reporters Amy Fenton and Jonny Rees in outfits that would have cost less than £20 in total; and we found a very glamorous going out dress for Amy for just £3.

Sue said: "It's not just people who want to spend less who shop here; it's great for people who want something a bit different too.

"All of the money we make in the shop goes to help people who are homeless in the Furness area, which is a great incentive in itself to shop here."

The history of the charity shop is one that has been in British society for many decades and National Thrift Shop Day reminds us to get back out bargain hunting and have some fun with it.

Whether you want an outfit, a book for your child or a lamp for your bedroom, it's well worth having a root through the charity shops before you head off to the chain stores to get something that will look just the same as everybody else's.

People can also feel that they are helping our environment when shopping in charity shops, as they are reusing these items instead of them filling landfills lettings things go to waste.