Bargain Hunters – Hit the Streets

Every shopper likes to bag a bargain, and in Rio de Janeiro there are plenty to be found – as long as you know where to look.

Forget the shopping malls of the Zona Sul and the vintage clothes stores of Lapa and Santa Teresa, if you want to get a really cheap fashion fix, you’ll need to hit the streets.

Despite the city council’s negative attitude to street sellers, Rio’s entrepreneurial spirit cannot be dampened, and the city streets are lined with individuals hawking whatever wares they can get their hands on.

And, although much of what you will see amounts to little more than thrown-out tat, it’s possible to spy some real bargains among the tatty wigs and broken alarm clocks.

Everything from rare vintage vinyl and second hand books and magazines (yes, sometimes in English) to cast-off Havianas flip flops and cute bags can be found spread out on blankets alogn the streets, and very often the seller will ask a staggeringly cheap price for their finds.

I’ve picked up genuine leather bags for R$2, rucksacks for R$4 (with another smaller rucksack thrown in for free), and Converse baseball boots for R$7. Ok, so occasionally you’ll need to give the goods a good wash, but true bargain hunters know that you need to get yoru hands dirty in order to get a really good deal. One word of caution – while most street sellers are honest, others are not averse to selling items that may have been procured by less than honest methods. Be wary about buying expensive-looking cameras, phones etc on the street, as these may well have been stolen.