I went to the UK’s biggest car boot sale with £50 and bagged a huge £320 haul

BARGAIN hunting at car boot sale can unearth some real savings – and we can reveal the items worth buying and the ones to avoid.

I spent £50 at a car boot sale – and came home with a haul worth more than £320.

I bagged brilliant finds for my family, as well as items I plan to sell for a profit online.

There was a sea of eager buyers already ahead of me when I arrived at the Hook Road Arena sale in Epsom, south London, at 7am as the gates opened.

The event has been described as “‘the daddy of car boot sales” so I was eager to find some great deals.

Armed with a wodge of notes and some change, so I wouldn’t miss out on bargains because I didn’t have the right money, I started looking around the stalls.

As I hadn’t been to a car boot sale for years, expert Ellie Macsymons – known as the “car boot queen” to her colleagues at NetVoucherCodes – had shared her knowledge with me before I set off.

She said: “Car boot sales are a great place to find reasonably priced items for the family that would typically cost much more in regular stores.

“One of the largest groups of sellers are families who are looking to sell on items that their kids have outgrown, so you’re sure to find anything from dining tables and prams to children’s books and fitness equipment.”

She was spot on. There were hordes of families who had had a clear out and were hoping to make a few quid from their children’s cast off.

I spotted school shirts and dresses, heaps of shoes and trainers, tons of toys like Lego and Nerf guns and piles of cycling helmets.

There were also bigger items like dolls houses and play kitchens that younger kids would love.

Natalie Morrisse, 32, from Sutton, south London, was selling things that her children Imogen, 12, and Harper, three, had outgrown.

She said: “I told them both that if they want new things then that have to give up some of their older stuff, so they’ve chosen the things we’ve brought to sell.

“Whatever money we make, we split between them. Last year we came three times and they made around £90.”

I boosted the family’s coffers by buying a Lakeland Cake Pop machine from them for £3 for my baking-mad daughter Isla, 16.

Discontinued in the store, I spotted similar machines for sale on eBay for £25, so I thought it was a good deal.

My next buy was my best. On a table of mixed household items, I found a family selling a set of five Kilner jars, with distinctive orange lids, for £10, which would look fabulous in my kitchen.

I did a quick check on my eBay app before agreeing to the price and decided it was a good deal.

Looking properly later, I discovered these were vintage 1970s jars, made by Ravenhead Glassware in north-west England.

They were a steal at £10 for the set as I saw the same jars had sold for around £10 each on eBay, so I could make a £40 profit if I decided to sell.

MUST-FOLLOW TIPS TO FIND DEALS

While shopping, I tried to keep in mind Ellie’s car boot sale best buys.

She said: “Buying bicycles at a car boot sale is a savvy money move.

“You can also find swings, slides and playhouses for a fraction of the usual cost, as families are looking to get rid once their child has grown up.

“Car boots have a wide selection of books and family board games, often in excellent condition. Just make sure to check that the game has all its pieces before buying it.

“Tents, sleeping bags, and other camping essentials are common finds meaning you can equip your family for a camping trip at a very reasonable price compared to buying new.

“And look out for things like footballs, tennis rackets, and even golf clubs.”

Ellie was right, and I also spotted a lot of fishing equipment, pots and pans and garden items, from rakes and spades to pots and plants.

Remember though, you can only buy what you can carry. I had a backpack and two big bags, but if you’re on the lookout for bigger items like garden planters or furniture, bring a friend so one of you can take your haul back to your car.

GREAT DEALS ON KIDS CLOTHES

They were some great deals on kids clothing. I picked up a blue F&F hoodie for my son, Sam, which was unworn and still had the £12 labels on. I know he’ll wear again and again.

I also found him an unworn Gap coat, lightweight but warm, which had originally cost £44 new. It had a few marks on the inside, so I tried some respectful haggling, asking for £1 off the £4 price. In the end, I got it for £3.50.

I found some kids’ books that cost £2 for three, so I bagged a set for some bedtime reading. Looking later online, the same books were selling second-hand for £3.50 each.

There were hundreds of families out trying to bag a bargain.

Sally and Charlotte Best, from Reigate, Surrey, were visiting the car boot sale with Charlotte’s son, Oliver, four.

Charlotte, 39, said: “This is the first time we’ve been to this one and we’ve had a great morning.

“I always come with a list of things I want to buy, but often end up buying totally different things.

“We were looking for lifejackets, but my best buy has been a kids’ Joules coat, which was a steal for £3 and it’s never been worn.”

Oliver was also clutching some new toys that he was very happy to show off.

Charlotte said: “Car boot sales are a brilliant place to buy for children.”

If you know your stuff, you might also be able to pick up collectables that you can sell on.

Akhtar Dalal, 71, from Dorking, is a regular at the Hook Road Arena car boot and this week he found a money box made by renowned pottery, Spode.

In mint condition, it cost him just £1.

“I should be able to get between £10 and £15 by selling it on eBay.”

He also pulled a Pampered Chef cake stand from his pull-along trolley, which also set him back £1 and he’ll sell for £10. His third find was a box of chocolates.

“All this buying makes you hungry,” he joked.

I took a leaf out of Akhtar’s book and snapped up a vintage milk jug. On sale for just £2, I saw it was marked with the words Masons on the bottom.

Further investigation showed that this came from Masons Ironstone Pottery, likely made in the 19^th century, and a similar jug recently sold on eBay for £9.

It’s a pretty little jug, though, so I might keep it for myself.

I reckon I made a few rooky car boot mistakes too. I bought a pair of red Converse All Stars for £7, is the same price they go for on Vinted.

And one seller who was selling Lego minifigures talked such a good game that I felt bad walking away with nothing.

I paid a £6 for a figure from the collectable Disney 100 collection for my son, and was relieved when I saw that I was the same value they sell for on eBay so at least I hadn’t lost money.

Next, I had a look through the clothes rails and found a pretty blue and pink Boden dress for £6, which appeared unworn and is perfect for a summer party I have coming up. The exact same style was for sale for £35 at Vinted.

I was just about to head home when my eye was caught by a two-person pop up tent.

This would be perfect for my daughter will soon be heading to her first festivals.

At £10, it seemed quite a high price for the car boot sale, but a quick online check revealed the same Regatta Malawi tent was still for sale new – it had originally been priced at £120, now reduced to £71.95, so I handed over my tenner feeling confident of another good deal.

As I headed to the exit after just a few hours, I bumped into Robert Leach, 74, who is a regular at Hook Road Arena for the Sunday boot sales that run from late March to October.

Robert, the deputy mayor of Epsom and Ewell borough, said: “It’s a brilliant place to come to get great stuff at bargain prices.”

He was pulling a trailer packed full of finds including a large George Forman grill which he got for £4, a pile of CDs, which were three for £1, a fan, for when the summer heat arrives, costing £4, and a music stand for £2.

His final find was a set of two Golden Anniversary mugs – perfect when he and his wife celebrate 50 years of marriage next month.

As I headed to the exit, I was carrying three full bags and a tent.

I’d only spent around £50 but, as I headed home to check how well I’d done compared to buying the same things new, I was hopeful that I’d snagged some savvy buys.

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