Cataract Resin is usually written about something that has pissed me off for a period of time and I see it as my duty to inform the public of all sides of the story. this week's column is slightly different, in that I will be writing about something I think is great (although there are things that piss me off included). So get your smiles on, and lets talk about...

Charity stores. You know what they are. Every town has them. Most people avoid them at all costs. Why? Charity stores are essentially second hand stores that sell things people don't want anymore. All the proceeds from sales go toward whichever charity the store supports, be it Cancer Research, RSPCA, whatever. Sounds good, right? So why do people avoid them?

People don't want to be seen in charity stores, because it would 'ruin their image'. for fuck's sake. My image isn't ruined, and I shop in charity stores regularly. People don't think I'm a 'tramp' or anything, just because I wear second hand clothes/read second hand books/eat second hand food (err.... scratch that last one, actually). Indeed, people don't even know my stuff is second hand. My image has not been ruined. My bank account certainly has not been ruined.

Charity shops contain many bargains. You can get a decent pair of trousers for a pound or so. Don't have them baggy enough for you? Buy two pairs, split the seams and sew them together. For a little work, you get some decent baggy trousers, that cost you next to nothing, and are guaranteed not to be owned by anyone else. You can get books for a pound each. OK, they may not have a specific book in stock, and they certainly won't be able to order you in a copy, but at these prices, you can afford to buy a book you haven't heard of and give it a go - you may find that it's a great read. In short - You may not find exactly what you're looking for, but you'll probably be able to find something similar, and if it turns out to be no good, you haven't wasted your money.

There are two types of good people associated with charity shops: Workers and Donators.

Because all proceeds go towards the supported charity, the store workforce consists solely of volunteers. They don't get paid (that's why they're mainly retirees or schoolkids working in the holidays). They man the store, smile and say hi, sell you the items, and they get no money for it. Their only payment is knowing that they are helping the store's charity. And that's all they need.

For the same reason, charity stores don't pay out when they take your items to sell. Otherwise they'd just be another form of pawnbrokers. When you donate items, you give them to the store and they sell them. You receive nothing. Your only payment is knowing that they are helping the store's charity. And that's all you need. There's no sense hanging onto old toys, clothes you've outgrown etc. And it is FAR better to give them away to charity than to sell them for personal profit. Admittedly, some charities are better than others, but I'll leave that choice to your own discretion.

One thing I will mention with respect to BAD charities is Oxfam. Oxfam is the biggest charity store in the UK, and it's possibly the most widely known charity in this country. Oxfam provides money to African farmers and villagers to help them get a foothold in the harsh third-world. Sounds good, right? Well, yes, it is. BUT. And there is always a BUT. Oxfam does not give nearly as much as it should. In fact, sixty percent of Oxfam's proceeds go towards 'administration costs', meaning, among other things, the owner's bank account. The owner of Oxfam is on an insane salary, which is entirely unjustified (something in the region of two hundred grand a year). Oxfam is also the only charity that pays its workers. When it is common knowledge that there are people willing to work for free, this simply becomes more money that should have been given away to the charity's intended receivers. And why is Oxfam so well known? Because they advertise on TV. It costs a tremendous amount of money to advertise on TV, which means the African farmers receive less and less.

So what is the solution? Well, boycotting Oxfam would be a mistake. Although Oxfam does not give nearly as much away as it should, it does make a LOT of money. And the more money it makes, the more is given away, so a boycott would only serve to deprive the Africans of more money. Just know that not all charities are squeaky clean simply because they are 'charities'.

So there you have it. Charity shops are fantastic. If there's something you're after, even collectors items such as action figures or old computer systems, your first stop should be the charity store. Shop at the stores, and donate to the stores. Give them your old clothes, toys, books, videos, records, anything. Choose a charity that holds meaning for you - I donated to Cancer Research, as my mother was affected by cancer (she lived through it, but will forever bear the scars). I shop at RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) as well as the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals), because I love wildlife. Choose your charity and give them some stuff. If you can't think what to give them, think about anything you've had in your house which hasn't been used for a year or so. Chances are you don't need it, but someone else might.

And a week from now I want you to be reading Cataract Resin in your second hand clothes.