What is your charity-shop weakness?

Hobsons_Choice

I got the latest (hardcover) Stephen King book last week for £1.35. It's still in the top twenty and not out in paperback yet so I was well pleased. It will be read and sent back to CS.

mi_jardin

books are my CS downfall too. Whenever I go, which isn't often, I have a good rummage in the 20p basket. I do think some of the larger CS companies do overcharge for books and clothes sometimes. I know they have to make money, but when you see A*da clothes with price labels and they are priced more than double, it seems daft. Seriously, who is gonna buy that?

lally666young

ohh Kitchen stuff, i cant get enough of it!!! Also clothing and bric a brac. Were we live we have a charity shop and the clothes are buy one get one free and nothing is usually over £5.50 and you get some really nice things. I did get a childs sewing machine today for £3.99. And it an electric one. so I was well chuffed. But I cannot understand why CS shops insist on charging over the odds for Asda and Primark. Half the time its rubbish anyway. Why dont the just charge a flat rate of a Pound for items that come for these places? They would make far more money.

ivfmummy

I love clothes and have a fabulous per una coat from a local CS. Some really nice jeans also per una.

I get all my glasses from there because we have a high breakage rate and they are really good quality.

I always rumage through all the toys and have got some of my sons favourite toys very cheaply.

Nicepeach

Mostly clothes but I look at EVERYTHING if I've got the time & patience. I've also started being brave enough to ask for what I'm looking for if I can't see it & have been pleasantly surprised to find staff are usually really helpful & will check to see if they have it "in the back". Recently needed a tin opener & was presented with a variety when I enquired.

Like other posters I've noticed the prices really increasing lately though. I saw a coat last week priced at £24.99 (think it was Per Una if I remember rightly) but I was really shocked & thought it was very expensive.

My mum put a book back a few weeks ago as when she got it to the counter it was £2.50 for a paperback.

Latest acquisitions (over last week) include the following:

Spaghetti jar - 85p (been on the look-out for one for ages - knew I'd get one eventually!)

Box of sewing "stuff" including lots of different coloured reels of cotton (can't continue sewing buttons back on in just white cotton & colouring them in with felt tip to match garment!!!:eek:) needles, button etc £3.99 (thought it was expensive at first but reasoned that 15 reels of different coloured cotton made it a bargain - some of them were very old Sylko ones - priced up in old money (one was a lovely old wooden one).

Best of all BEAUTIFUL vintage black lace petticoat with pink netting underneath (very full type as worn under "rockabilly" type dresses) for £2.99.

Actually any tips for cleaning above petticoat gratefully received, was going to just swish it around in warm water & washing up liquid but don't know if I dare. It's in good condition but looks to be quite old early to mid 60s at the latest- has hanging loops on either side saying "Saxon lingerie"? So don't want to spoil it!

If anyone has any suggestions or thinks I'd get better response elsewhere please feel free to move my post (still feel like I'm putting posts in wrong place as don't do very many).

DundeeDoll

Was books but since going OS using library. Still go to CSs but now for presents. Always have several hampers on go, always lookingfor bargains. Last month got ecco boots for a fiver and very nice black coat £12 with blue silk scarf £2

auntymabel

Nicepeach wrote: »

Best of all BEAUTIFUL vintage black lace petticoat with pink netting underneath (very full type as worn under "rockabilly" type dresses) for £2.99.

Actually any tips for cleaning above petticoat gratefully received, was going to just swish it around in warm water & washing up liquid but don't know if I dare. It's in good condition but looks to be quite old early to mid 60s at the latest- has hanging loops on either side saying "Saxon lingerie"? So don't want to spoil it!
.

These used to be stiffened, as far as I remember, to make them stand out though you might not want this effect. I think there used to be something you dipped them in after washing and rinsing rather than actual laundry starch. I should think washing up liquid would be fine.

Nicepeach

Thanks auntymabel, really kind of you to respond.

Always feel like I'm putting the wrong thing in the wrong place on here & dread being told off or putting something which upsets someone. Joined last year but hardly post as by the time I've plucked up enough courage to post some sort of disagreement seems to have happened so I go back into my "lurking" shell.

Shame really, I've picked up some really, really useful info. & don't like to feel like I'm just "taking" all the time.

Anyway, thanks again, think will give petticoat a quick swish in warm water & washing up liquid at the week-end. In the meantime, it's hanging up looking GORGEOUS. Now need to find lovely, full-skirted frock to put it under ... another little ramble around the CS shops...

BitterAndTwisted

Last week I snagged a beautiful pair of unbleached tab-topped cotton curtains. Full-length ceiling-to-floor and brand-new for only £15

Yesterday I bought a cream short-sleeved linen blouse for £2.99

I love kitchen bits and pieces and have picked up plain white tea/side pates for 20 pence each and a set of lovely cake-forks for a friend for 10 pence each.

Hobsons_Choice

Nicepeach wrote: »

Thanks auntymabel, really kind of you to respond.

Always feel like I'm putting the wrong thing in the wrong place on here & dread being told off or putting something which upsets someone. Joined last year but hardly post as by the time I've plucked up enough courage to post some sort of disagreement seems to have happened so I go back into my "lurking" shell.

Shame really, I've picked up some really, really useful info. & don't like to feel like I'm just "taking" all the time.

Anyway, thanks again, think will give petticoat a quick swish in warm water & washing up liquid at the week-end. In the meantime, it's hanging up looking GORGEOUS. Now need to find lovely, full-skirted frock to put it under ... another little ramble around the CS shops...

Ignore any disagreements, they're few and far between anyway on this Forum. Mostly folk are only too happy to share tips etc and never mind anyone asking for advice. Keep posting Nicepeach!

When I had stiffened (net) underskirts in the fifties/sixties, I'd spray them with hairspray to keep them stiff! Now that's giving my age away - in fact, it was called hair lacquer then:o