Debra

Debra in Marchmont is for sure one of the best charity shops in the city. It’s tiny and higgledy-​piggledy inside, yet somehow seems to constantly get in really good stuff, probably because everyone who lives in Marchmont is middle class. Most of them are students as well, who therefore love to shop in charity shops, meaning that there’s a very high turnaround of items and so always something new.
Clothes are what is best here, but you can also get good furniture — usually displayed on the street because it won’t fit inside — as well as books and DVDs. I’ve actually had to stop myself going there too often, as I’ve noticed that I’m incapable of leaving with less than three items, and even at thrift store prices that starts to add up!

Debra has been my first stop for charity-​shop hopping for at least 3 years now. I’d say it’s because it’s my favourite, but that’s not totally true. It’s because it’s around the corner from my house. However, quality and proximity are not mutually exclusive in this game. My flatmate, once upon a time, was having a bit of a hard time, so another flatmate and I popped down to Debra and bought him a guitar for 15 squid. Maybe it was 20. But it wasnae more than that.
Also, because Debra can proudly say that it’s the only charity shop in Marchmont, and students are, say, lazy, lots of their foregone goods end up finding their way to Debra’s racks. Obviously, it’s not just student’s second hand clothes, but you get what I mean, right? The prices are standard charity-​shop prices and the people who work there are always up for a chat and for giving you a hand. Maybe if you twirl, they might compliment you on the flow of your skirt. I haven’t tried that yet, but they seem like that kinda folk.