What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

andymandy

I bought my granddaughter a Boofle Bear yesterday. It is the large one for 50p. All soft toys were the same price. I had looked at it in Clintons earlier and it was 9.99.

Nicepeach

Hi All,

Wow more great finds & wow Rose Wood - well done to you on your weight loss! I'm an 8 too, but have been genetically lucky & haven't managed a fantastic achievement like you! & it's not all it's cracked up to be if you are also errrm "vertically challenged"! But, like you I don't mind buying things & having them altered (can't do it myself, I've tried a couple of times ended in total disaster so will stick to wonda-web as my limit).

Went into town on an errand today & had a small accident... Fell into the RSPCA shop & bought a Laura Ashley "dress", strange affair, top half a dress, bottom half colouttes (sp?) type thing. Nearly dismissed it as couldn't get head around half dress, half trouser affair but looked really smart on & will be great for work £4.95. Another £3.95 on a very nice leather handbag that went really well with it (fantastic window dressing of both together lured me in!). Also got a lovely lined fleece top, ideal for walking, it's got kind of a lining in. By "Merrell" - lady said a good name - what do I know? It fits, good quality zips, lining etc. so fit for purpose & mine for £3.50. Much more than I usually pay for items but all in excellent condition & good quality.

You see B&T. You were good & stayed home, I strayed into town & fell hook, line & sinker! Should've listened to my own advice but am on a high today - just heard got a new job!:

To the person looking for toys - there's no rhyme or reason (sorry forgotten who it was) - just have a look in them all!

Thanks for posting everyone. Enjoy your bargains! x

BitterAndTwisted

Nicepeach wrote: »

Went into town on an errand today & had a small accident... Fell into the RSPCA shop & bought a Laura Ashley "dress", strange affair, top half a dress, bottom half colouttes (sp?) type thing. Nearly dismissed it as couldn't get head around half dress, half trouser affair but looked really smart on & will be great for work £4.95.

Oh, those were all the rage a while back. You can do two things with it: one, leave it as it is and know that you will never inwittingly show your kickers to a stranger in a stiff breeze or two, split the front and back seams up to the waist, cut a bit off each to a straight line and join them up and make a skirt.

Another £3.95 on a very nice leather handbag that went really well with it (fantastic window dressing of both together lured me in!).

Also got a lovely lined fleece top, ideal for walking, it's got kind of a lining in. By "Merrell" - lady said a good name - what do I know? It fits, good quality zips, lining etc. so fit for purpose & mine for £3.50. Much more than I usually pay for items but all in excellent condition & good quality.

Merrell things are rather expensive. I like their shoes and they're ruddy pricey.

You see B&T. You were good & stayed home, I strayed into town & fell hook, line & sinker! Should've listened to my own advice but am on a high today - just heard got a new job!:

New job! New job! That's most definitely a reason to celebrate. The only miracle is that is was so modest.

To the person looking for toys - there's no rhyme or reason (sorry forgotten who it was) - just have a look in them all!

Thanks for posting everyone. Enjoy your bargains! x

True, there doesn't appear to be any rhyme or reason. Perhaps the places you are looking aren't putting them out because they don't think they're good enough for someone to buy. The best way to find out is to have a nice chat with the volunteers. Most of them are helpful and will very likely keep an eye out for you. "Don't ask, don't get" is my watch-word(s).

In the Oxfam shop the other week there was a loud wailing and a gnashing of teeth as one mother was trying to unweld a sweet little toddler from the little push-along/ride-along thingy she'd obviously taken a huge shine to. So cute

princessfufu

GreyQueen wrote: »

I was beaming yesterday as I lucked onto a mohair shrug-type thingy, beautifully soft and warm and will pack down to nothing for when I'm travelling or going out in the evening and want a cover-up. It's by "Kew" whoever they may be. I shall handwash it and dry it flat over a towel stretched over the top of the clothes airer. It was £3.90 and seems unworn and I've been after something similar for abut 3 years!

I also got 2 candle holders at 40p each which made me very happy.

Does anyone else find that they consistantly get the dood stuff from particualr c.s. whereas other ones, sometimes literally yards away, NEVER turn up anything you want despite you looking in them just as frequently?

Hi Greyqueen,

I wonder if there are certain charities which attract certain items. I notice that our local hospice shop (my local cath kidston!!) which seems to attract a better quality of clothes. i feel that once you have spotted a good label it is often the case that there are more to be had. Ask the ladies on the till if they have anything else in that certain make-that may work.

I know from my personal experience (done 2 shifts now in my charity shop) that the staff dont really take any notice of what goes out - they just want to get it out. My shops steam irons everything they put out too.

Keep eyes peeled

Nicepeach

Splitting the "thingy" & making it into a dress is a brilliant idea & hadn't even crossed my mind! However, the possibility of not flashing my knicks to the general public did...

I speak from experience as a woman who once thought all the horn parping of passing cars & excited waving, whilst extremely unusual, could possibly have been down to the extra effort I'd put into getting ready that night to meet my friends...Nice summery dress, hair & make-up done... Only to be asked when I met them if I knew my "frock was tucked into your drawers". Oh, the shame! . They still remind me about it now... almost 10 years later...

So, I'll stick with the two legs (even though it feels a bit weird as the crotch is somewhere between my thighs) for a while but will definitely consider it as an option. Just looks like a dress with a floral top & a very high waisted black skirt IYSWIM! I do remember them being around a long time ago but this looks quite modern (by my standards anyway!) & is certainly not an old style Laura Ashley label.

Thanks for the good idea B&T x

Ooer, just thought, I'll have to virtually undress every time I "spend a penny" in the "thingy" though won't I?... A call to my sewing lady friend is imminent methinks...

GreyQueen

princessfufu wrote: »

Hi Greyqueen,

I wonder if there are certain charities which attract certain items. I notice that our local hospice shop (my local cath kidston!!) which seems to attract a better quality of clothes. i feel that once you have spotted a good label it is often the case that there are more to be had. Ask the ladies on the till if they have anything else in that certain make-that may work.

I know from my personal experience (done 2 shifts now in my charity shop) that the staff dont really take any notice of what goes out - they just want to get it out. My shops steam irons everything they put out too.

Keep eyes peeled

That's a good point. There's one particular shop where I do esp well (where the shrug came from actually) and I've often wondered if they have another woman of my height and size who regularly turfs out her wardrobe. I'm a skinflint and most of my wardrobe orignates in the c.s. so unless I've made daft choices, I wear it until it's fit for the ragbag (and then I de-button it, remove any trim and put it in the recycling).

B&T I so know what you mean about drinking glasses. I refuse to pay more than 20p a pop for glasses or mugs and some c.s. want to sell a bog-standard glass for 80p when you can get 4 new ones for £1 in the bargain stores. I have one c.s. which is my best-beloved place which is sort of the last chance saloon for things which didn't sell in a range of other c.s.s of this particular chain. With a remit like that you'd expect the stuff to be a load of old tot but it's very good stuff and books are all 50p. I'm on really friendly terms with the volunteers there and we have a lovely time. I'm a "face" in all the cheapiest parts of town.......:rotfl:

I've a background in textiles and can isolate most quality fabrics at a glance; a quick stroke and I'll tell you the fibre and make a fair guess at the percentage blend. There are some gems among the tired F & F and Primarche items but you need to look regularly. If I have to pass a c.s on a day when I haven't time to stop I am not a happy bunny.

I have an East wrap dress. It's LOVELY and I was standing beside the rack when the assistant put it out for the first time. 5 seconds later and it was in the changing room with me and then off to the till and down the road. Best £9.49 I ever spent.:D

Merrell are an expensive brand of footwear and outdoorsy stuff. The girl done good. I had a pair of their trainers once from TK Maxx but they've been gone for years......sob!

andthethreebears

Hi! Long time lurker, first time poster!
Especially pleased with today's purchase - Autograph black cashmere jumper! A teeny bit bigger would have made it perfect, but it's a pretty awesome find for £4.75 considering I was going to buy one at almost 10 times that!
Also a Pr!cis Petits skirt for my mum, looks like its never been worn, 99p!

Isis_Black

Sadly no CS bargains yet this week :-s

Only bargains for me was today in tesco where I got some plants that had been reduced 3 geraniums for 54p!!!
1 pack 3 fuschias plants at 54p then 4 more 3pack fuschias plants at £1.25
Can't ya tell I'm trying to get my garden looking nice lol

Well back into town tomorrow so fingers crossed I may find a bargain or 2 in the CS :-)

Sounds like some of you lot keep finding great bargains!!! Keep it up,but send a few my way ;-p xx

BitterAndTwisted

I'm sure charity-shop bargain-finding is often just down to timing. There's no reason I can think of why a very useful plain pink linen shirt in my very-common size should have been languishing on the rail, which I snapped up double-quick when I spotted it on the reduced-to-one-quid one. Even at the original £2.75 I reckon it was bargain. Nowt as queer as folk.

Great bargains on the lovely plants Isis Black. Now, all we need is a proper summer to come along some time soon.

empressemma

back in the strut shop this week... 2 more Sophie Kinsella books and another item off the 50p rail, another mighty 90p spent!!!

In Horncastle last saturday, forget which shop, another laura ashley dress, but £9.95 this time!! (i remember it being in Laura Ashley only a year or so ago) My other half picked up a couple of cassettes, as his G-reg truck only has a cassette player, we re-live the 90's when we're out!!

Wore at the weekend, for ma & pa's posh 50th anniversary celebration, my monsoon silver silk dress picked up in a CS for £9.99, felt great in it, and it'll be worn again for a wedding next month.

doing well at the moment.... will it last??? :rotfl:

xx