A secondhand shopping expert has shared her top three tips for finding genuine treasures in charity shops, with a 'pinky test' for furniture being key.
The pinky finger test
Lauren, who shares lifestyle tips with her partner Jeff on Instagram, recommends using your little finger to push an open drawer and see how well it closes. A poorly made piece will not close smoothly with the light force of your pinky, while one with 'expert level craftsmanship' will slide shut smoothly, revealing furniture worth your money.
Testing glassware
To tell glass from crystal, Lauren suggests a sound test: flick the glassware with your finger. Glass produces a short, dull, thudding noise, while crystal produces a long, musical, ringing sound. As Lauren puts it: 'Glass dings, crystal rings.'
Testing silverware
For silver, Lauren advises bringing a magnet. Silver is not magnetic, so if 'antique' cutlery sticks to a magnet, it is not genuine silver. This also works for silver plates and other trinkets.
More charity shopping tips
Other thrifters have shared their money-making advice, such as buying men's cummerbunds and fancy-dress costumes, which are always profitable, and a charity shop manager revealed the one item she hates receiving as a donation.
