Kentish Town doesn't have a huge range of shopping choices, but that has never deterred me. In a way I'm grateful - if our offices were in the West End, I'd almost certainly be broke all the time. But one thing Kentish Town does offer is plenty of charity shops.

The great thing about charity shops is that you never know what you're going to find - and when you do find something, it's hardly ever what you were looking for. I quite like the idea of my shopping experience being left to fate. With Spring already here, it would seem NW5's residents have had a good old clearout and distributed their weird and wonderful unwanted items to the various stores down our road. I might be what you would call a big-spender: on average I think I spend over £70 a month between four stores - run by PDSA, Help the Aged (did you read that they can now claim Gift Aid on donated items?), Oxfam and The Hornsey Trust.

Among my most recent purchases is a set of Jungian tarot cards. Only £2, a bargain - surely everybody should have a deck of tarot cards?? Give me a month or so and I'll be reading them like a whizz... Also an old desk globe - essential for planning my next holiday.

But I think my favourite item yet has to be the gift I received on Tuesday. As I was doing my weekly rounds (stock changes often, and you have to visit regularly if you want to find the gems), I came across an enormous papier-mâché sunshine, hanging on the wall. The Manager insisted I take it: he said it reminded him of my smile, and that it should be with me. I couldn't help but blush, but a smile crept over my face. It is a rather odd piece of art, and it was a real feat getting it home, but it is already hung in my room, and every time I look at it now, I can't help but smile as I recall how it came to be mine.

That sunshine reminds me every day how easy it is to spread goodwill from one person to the next, and how long lasting the affects can be! Charity shopping makes your money go further. It supports the causes you care about. And my goodness, you can find some treasures that money just can't buy.

Meghan McRae