What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

bossymoo

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Twenty quid frocks aren't on my radar: it's the linen or silk designer ones that I'm interested in. Some of the people who price up the clothing in charity shops don't know their Prim@rks from their elbows or don't care. Luckily for me. Which is how I got my grubby mitts on the most beautiful cotton and linen Edina Ronay spring/summer coat for only £7.99 which has been garnering compliments from all and sundry.

I made an exciting discovery not long ago which is that my local Sally Ann Thrift Shop sells all bags for 50 pence regardless of condition, material or design. It's all getting a bit out of control here in North London. Greed and acquisitiveness is an evil thing. Evil!

£20 frocks might not be everyones cup of tea, but she's only 19 months old, linen or silk not a good idea

BitterAndTwisted

19 months old! Bless. I bet she looks so very, very cute in her lovely twenty quid frock. Who buys new twenty quid frocks for a toddler? Who eats crayons and chalks, gets into anything bright-coloured and staining and then dribbles down the front of everything? Mental, but good for you that they do and then get shot of them.

I had to venture to a new area on Monday for reasons unrelated to charity-shop stalking. Of course, I just had to pop into the Oxfam that I passed on the bus. A couple of choice kitchen-type items but horrendously over-priced. Almost as dear as buying new. Bonkers. I'm all for supporting worthwhile charities but not paying much more than things are really worth. I can't afford to.

Anyway, I also visited a different CS down the road from there and they had an "Everything One Pound" rail which naturally attracted my attention. Snatched a really lovely pair of dark teal/something-like-that linen trousers. Oh! How I wish the summer weather was here, I've got loads of lovely things to wear and am itching to wear them, darn it!

If we never get a summer this year, it will all be my fault for putting a hex on it. I just need to ensure I don't pile on the pounds so I won't have to re-donate them and then look for things another size up......

janb5

Found a large cushion yesterday. I already have one exactly the same ( from same CS!) Cost £2.50 - supposed to be dry clean only but washed it in WM. It`s come up really well and it is now awaiting a new cushion pad as original is past redemption.

Down in S. London, we rarely come across bargains in CS - they are always more than a pound. I can only think of one animal charity which prices at a low cost.

Yesterday I did the trawl of CS with my friend but as is always the way, when you do loads of them there are very few bargains. Did pick up one M & S cookbook that will replace broken one for my friend.

bossymoo

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

19 months old! Bless. I bet she looks so very, very cute in her lovely twenty quid frock. Who buys new twenty quid frocks for a toddler? .
..

Lol I have no idea but clearly they didn't want the dress to be ruined, I don't think it's even been worn by the look of it...

My mil gets dd completely kitted out from cs for just pennies. Hmm how come there's never any untrashed boys stuff for DS? Haha. Boys!

boltonangel

After telling my DH about this thread while I was at work today he visited a local CS.

He bought me a DKNY handbag for £10 and an as new Fiorelli bag that we're giving to the SIL for her birthday soon for £1!

savingqueen

I recently bought an 'as new' gorgeous M&S sofa for £89 from local charity shop.

We have been making do with an ancient one (originally bought new) which looked really battered and had an out of shape cushion seat after an unfortunate accident potty training a couple of years or so ago (didn't leave it to dry on completely flat surface after sponging it heavily). We have so many other more pressing things to save up for, we were resigning ourselves to putting up with the old sofa for a long time to come. I feel less 'deprived' now and more focused on getting back to our serious saving plan now we have our new (to us) sofa.

Our boys (5 & 7) cried in the CS though - upset that they were loosing our old sofa as we had it (way) before they were born. I had to suppress my laughter and then felt a meanie - shows how sentimental and unmaterialistic they can be. My lovely friend(who calls me a tree hugger ) is going to make some cushion covers from the old seat cushion covers (the fabric will complement the new sofa.) Pleased to be be recycling part of old sofa and boys are delighted with the idea too. Now I'm thinking is any of the fabric from the loose covers any good? the zips? the seat cushiony bits themselves? (currently being used as an OS indoor trampoline for 2 small boys) :j and :j

I can't bear throwing anything out if it has use left but we have no spare storage. Get a grip girl.... must venture over to the decluttering threads I think...

goodness I can ramble, just supposed to be a quick post to say I found a sofa in CS!:o

sq:)

BitterAndTwisted

If you've an ounce of skill with a needle and thread you'll have the fabric from those loose covers made into something. I'm thinking something cute for maybe your boy's beds. So they can cuddle up to a bit of their darling old sofa and keep it close. Used as a cover over some of that wadding-stuff to make a little blankie each?

Zips always, always, always come in handy for something or other eventually.

"They cried". That is soooooo sweet.

princessfufu

Accidently (!!) stopped outside my favorite CS yesterday and because the car was parked on the doorstep I just had to buy the gorg blanket box and lamp table as well as the brand new warehouse coat that fitted me like a glove. All of that for £20. Made my day. I just love the ladies that work in this shop and i see customers popping in and out and everyone is greeted so friendly and many by name - i dont see that very often in high street shops.

Happy rummaging!!

OrkneyStar

bossymoo wrote: »

Lol I have no idea but clearly they didn't want the dress to be ruined, I don't think it's even been worn by the look of it...

My mil gets dd completely kitted out from cs for just pennies. Hmm how come there's never any untrashed boys stuff for DS? Haha. Boys!

When DS was a baby up to about 2 there was always quite a lot of stuff for him. As soon as they reach the crawl/out playing/nursery stage, so many of the clothes get wrecked, even with careful washing etc. Sometimes I am lucky enough to find new or nearly new things that clearly haven't been worn, but that is more often tops than bottoms imho.

BitterAndTwisted

My advice to anyone on the lookout for decent boy's clothes is to head for somewhere quite a bit posher than where you may live. I was over in Crouch End recently (middle-class and trendy to the max) and the sheer amount of good-quality, barely worn kids' stuff was mind-boggling. And cheap. Mind you, I don't have any kids myself nor do I have any pals with young children so I wasn't looking very closely. Any posters who have a dire need or want and aren't too fussy can pm me and I'll keep my eyes peeled and could pick things up for them. I don't have a job right now so I have plenty of time on my hands for scouring.