By Mary Madigan

Copyright news

The St Vincent de Paul Society is a Catholic charity that operates second-hand clothing and furniture stores to raise money for vulnerable Australians, with over 650 locations across the country.

The 29-year-old revealed that his jaw was on the floor after he tried on a jacket at Vinnies and then checked the price tag.

“I love to shop but in the cost of living crisis I’ve reverted back to Vinnies which is normally really good,” he told news.com.au.

Mr Churi, who just launched his new podcast, The Mitch Churi Chat Show, pointed out that he is currently wearing a pair of Gucci sunglasses that he nabbed at a charity shop for under $100.

On the weekend however, he popped into his local Vinnies in Caringbah, NSW, and spied a blue biker jacket that he immediately fell in love with.

“I tried it on and it fit me and then I checked the price and it was $200! I was gutted,” he said.

“I know the Shire is old white money, but the biker that died in that jacket wouldn’t have paid $200 for it.”

The 29-year-old didn’t give up. He tried to get creative and figured he could haggle the jacket down to an affordable price.

Mr Churi said that even though he felt genuine “shock and horror” over the price tag, he figured there was room for bargaining.

“I went to haggle and I was like, ‘can I get this for like $100?’” he said.

Mr Churi was informed that Vinnies don’t do any haggling on prices and was told there was no “wiggle room” on the $200 price tag.

The popular podcast host was left baffled by the whole experience and didn’t buy the jacket, but two days later, he still can’t get over the asking price.

“I only shop things on sale and it has to be upwards of 50 per cent off, if it is 30 per cent off, I don’t even bother,” he said.

Mr Churi isn’t alone in switching to op shopping during the cost of living crisis.

Financial comparison website Finder has found that a third of Australian households are turning to charity due to cost of living pressures.

One in five Australians are sourcing second-hand clothes in op shops as household funds are exhausted by rising costs.

The survey found that 8 per cent of respondents are seeking donated items on social media because they can’t afford to purchase items new.

In a statement to news.com.au a spokesperson for Vincent de Paul Society pointed out all the good work they did.

“The principal purpose of Vinnies Shops is to raise much-needed funds for the St Vincent de Paul Society’s many services for people experiencing disadvantage,” the statement reads.

“These include homelessness services, domestic and family violence shelters, health services, and the work of our members in communities all over NSW by supplying food, clothes, and everyday essentials to people in need.”

Over 200,000 people were supported by Vinnies NSW in the last financial year through the members, specialist services and food vans.

In FY23/24 – the Society NSW spent $96.4m in homelessness, housing and mental health, disability and inclusion service provision, including $13.7 million in direct financial and material support.

Mr Churi admitted to news.com.au the cost of living crisis has started to dictate so much more than just his shopping choices.

The 29-year-old is still living at home with his parents which is partly due to the housing crisis.

The median rent in Sydney is now rapidly approaching $800 a week, and the median house price exceeds $1.5 million.

“I am at my parents’ but they aren’t normal parents, they are like roommates. I work from home, and everyone else works full-time, and we only have dinners together,” he argued.

“I have my own granny flat, and financially, I’m saving a good amount of cash.”

Mr Churi admitted he is turning 30 this week, so perhaps he’ll need to finally “bite the bullet” and move out.

The podcaster agreed the price of rent in Sydney is “wild” and added that there’s no way he could afford to live on his own.

“There’s no way I’d move out on my own. I’ll move out with my partner, and we can afford it, but there’s a sacrifice,” he said.

Mr Churi argued that if you want to rent somewhere that “doesn’t give you mould poisoning” you’re looking at over $800 a week.