A solo mum saves over £1k a year on clothes and homeware - buying almost EVERYTHING second hand.

Jamie-Lee Luckett, 35, began second-hand shopping aged just five when she would scour charity shops to spend her pocket money.

She stuck to her thrifty ways all through her teens, twenties and into her thirties.

Now a solo mum-of-three children aged eight, 12 and 14, Jamie-lee's weekly routine involves scouring charity shops, Facebook Marketplace and Vinted.

Almost all the clothes she buys for herself and her children are second-hand, along with all their furniture, and she even thrifts Christmas and birthday presents.

Jamie-Lee, from Thanet, Kent, said she has even managed to snag some high-end bargains in charity shops - including Gant scarf for £1, worth £60, a Guess handbag for £5 worth £140, and a Calvin Klein jumper for £3 worth £120.

She spent just £750 on all their clothes, shoes and furniture last year - over £1,000 less than the average household, according to latest ONS figures.

Jamie, an educational content lead, said: "I don't remember a time when I didn't shop second-hand."

"The thought of going into an actual shop and buying new horrifies me!"

"Almost all our clothes and furniture are second-hand."

"You see these awful things about fast fashion and I want my children to be aware of them - and my shopping habits have rubbed off on them too."

"I much prefer it - as well as saving money and being more environmentally friendly, you can buy clothes that not everyone else has."

Jamie-Lee, who posts online as @our_little_bubble_x, said her own parents instilled a thrifty mindset in her from as young as five.

She scours the local charity shops - including the £1 rails and clearance bins - to get the best deals.

She uses Vinted to help her source pre-loved fashion - by saving a search if she's after something specific.

Jamie-Lee said: "I had a specific idea in mind of what I wanted for my Christmas party."

"I saved my search on Vinted and within a week I'd managed to get the exact dress I wanted for £9 - which was brand new and available online for £25.90."

She said she can source pretty much anything she wants or needs with a little determination - and prioritises finding second-hand branded sportswear for her children's birthdays and Christmas presents.

Jamie has almost entirely furnished her home with second-hand goods from Facebook Marketplace - including a games table for £40, a sofa for £50 and mini-fridge for £30.

She said the only things she struggles to find are second-hand school shoes that are in good nick and the right size - which she has to buy new.

According to ONS' latest data for family spending, furniture and furnishings set a household back an average of £17.30 a week, and clothing and footwear is £17.50 a week.

The sum of both of these for 52 weeks is £1809.60 - over £1,000 more than Jamie-Lee's yearly £750 spend thanks to her savvy habits.

Jamie-Lee said: "We need to try and leave behind the idea of 'I want it, I can have it now'."

"I love Amazon, but check back regularly on places like Vinted or Facebook Marketplace, and let the item come to you."

"A couple of hundred saved on clothes, toys or furniture is the equivalent to a family day out in the summer holidays."

"Little bits you can pick up can add up to big savings."

JAMIE-LEE'S TOP TIPS FOR BAGGING A SECOND-HAND BARGAIN:
- Don't be afraid to rummage in sales racks and bins
- Check everything in charity shops for signs of damage before buying - volunteers are so busy, they may have missed things
- Go with a plan of what you want to buy, don't just buy because it's a good deal
- Take your time online, if there is something specific you want, save your search and give it a few days, the algorithm will see what you want
- Check sellers ratings to ensure they are legit and have good reviews online