WITH Christmas just around the corner and the social calendar filing up, it can be an expensive time of year for everyone.

That's why I decided to venture out to one of Wrexham's many charity shops to see whether I could find a 'Christmas outfit on a budget.'

What I love most about browsing charity shops is that you never quite know what you'll find. But one thing's for sure, you'll always find a great bargain while doing your good deed of the season.

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Nightingale House Charity Shop, Regent Street, Wrexham is quite the store. It's so much bigger than I remember it being. Admittedly, I hadn't visited in quite some time. But that's about to change.

I visited the store with a £10 budget in mind. Now, even with all the Black Friday deals in the world, I'd still struggle to find an entire outfit for a tenner. But not here...

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As soon as I entered the clothing section (it's that big the store is generally split into homeware and clothing), I was faced with glam and glitter.

Their displays have been arranged so beautifully, it actually makes it much easier to see how pieces could be styled which is always the hardest part! The window displays especially are very enticing. In fact, I challenge you to walk past without being tempted to go inside.

An almost exact replica for one on 'Next' retailing at £25!An almost exact replica for one on 'Next' retailing at £25! (Image: Newsquest)

The store has rails and rails of clothes. I mean, you wouldn't know where to begin. But I was immediately drawn to the sequins and sparkles, and found several dresses and tops that just screamed Christmas. I particularly liked the gold and black jacquard-style top to be worn with tights, jeans or boots. Subtle, but perfect for a night out during December. And the best part, it was only £8. Slightly close to my budget, so I kept looking. 

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I then found a navy blue glittery slip dress, perfect to layer over a black top and tights to add a little sparkle to an everyday look. And I had to check twice, but it was £4.50! It was also paired with a stunning cropped silver-sequin shawl. 

Perfect for a Christmas night out for your essentialsPerfect for a Christmas night out for your essentials (Image: Newsquest)

There was also an array of accessories matched perfectly to the items, including silver belts, necklaces, rings and clutch bags, all for as little as a few pounds meaning I certainly wouldn't be going over my budget. 

I was also drawn to a whole rail of Christmas jumpers. I don't know about you, but I can never find the right one. They're always too 'tacky' or annoyingly play a Christmas carol that never seems to turn off. Some even light up! But I loved the ones on display, classic reds and festive green colours, each with a playful design on the front perfect for a more casual and lowkey occasion. They were also wonderful quality; thick and not bobbly as many often are. Once again, the average price was £6 - what a steal!

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I had never thought about trying to find a Christmas jumper in a charity shop before, but it made so much sense being the type of item you'd only wear once a year. If you have any lying around that you've outgrown, why not donate them to your local charity shop?

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my shopping experience. Seeing the items displayed beautifully against a green backdrop made the shopping experience so much easier, and being able to envision an outfit saved me the usual shopping stress. Plus, you're spending so much less than you would in the online panic, and we've all been there - ordering something last minute, spending £5+ on next-day delivery alone and praying it looks like the model on the website... 

With charity shops such as Nightingale Hospice, the hard part is immediately taken away. You can leave in half the time with a perfect festive outfit and the reassurance that your money is going towards a fantastic life-changing local cause.