What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

Byatt

I saw but didn't buy, an Anne Harvey leather jacket, my size, for £10.

I didn't buy because I didn't really need it.

louise3965

Not in CS but at the boot sale - a pair of new with the tags for £50 still on - Bertie green satin wedges! For a quid! I'd never spend that amount of cash on fluff but one pound

thehappybutterfly

Right people! I need some persuasion to start buying in CS's! I've popped in in the past but I'm always put off by the smell Oh God, now I sound like a snob..... Plus my hubby and kids would never tolerate it.

Something which may be putting me off - I once collected for a jumble sale and a friend's mum gave me a bag of stuff which I proceeded to sort out and (now I feel like barfing) I turned out a pair of jeans and there was a dirty pair of knickers stuffed in the front pocket...... and THAT's what I think about when walking into a CS!

Do the CS staff only accept clean things? I remember watching Mary Portas a while back when she was trying to revamp the good old thrift shop and the ladies there seemed to make an effort.

louise3965

happybutterfly with 32k worth of debt, I'd suggest slapping yourself and treating it like an adventure - you just never know what treasures you will unearth. Dont buy anything really manky, most things wash and the first time you find a Joe Browns dress with the tags on for £2, you will be hooked, I promise x

wondercollie

I started out with things I needed for around the house. You know how you find yourself needing a couple of glasses to replace broken ones, or you need a mixing bowl just that bit bigger than your biggest?

I've had some great pyrex bowls at really great prices.

Worked up to books for holidays. I tend to leave them behind me.

Recently I've started finding uniforms for work there. Often they are still new with tags on but they all go into the washing machine STAT.

lizzyb1812

Happybutterfly - the shop I donate to has a washing machine, ironing facilities and a steamer and would never put out dirty stuff. I may be lucky but the shops round here don't smell - if they did there are plenty of others.

bestestmum

For years i've lived frugally due to lack of money and growing family. Before I buy any clothes or household equipment I look in the charity shops first. I save a fortune doing this and never realised how this has rubbed off on my children over the years. My eldest daughter whose going to uni this year, automatically searches charity shops before buying new and it makes me very proud that i may have sown the seed which will help to keep my kids debt free in adult hood. Yesterday bought 2 vests tops (h&m), jumper (next) and jeans (m&s) all for £9 and they were in fab condition from a local charity shop.

thehappybutterfly

You do make it sound appealing! I suppose I should look at it in another way - I would never put anything to the CS that I wouldn't buy myself so I'd like to think that most folk would think like that and only hand in decent clobber. Hmmm. Perhaps a foray into my high street next Saturday is in order. I wouldn't think twice about household items - it's just clothes that worry me. But judging by the bargains some of you have had, I need to get over myself. I didn't accummulate £32k of debt by trawling for bargans!

Byatt

Butterfly, go for it, it is seriously addictive though! I have several friends, in fact I think all my friends, with ages from middle 30's upwards who love trawling the charity shops when we meet up. I've recently been very lucky in finding clothing which I not only like and are in my style, but my size also, and very good names. Most of the items have been brand new with tags. I always wash everything anyway. Good luck and report back!

bestestmum

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

You do make it sound appealing! I suppose I should look at it in another way - I would never put anything to the CS that I wouldn't buy myself so I'd like to think that most folk would think like that and only hand in decent clobber. Hmmm. Perhaps a foray into my high street next Saturday is in order. I wouldn't think twice about household items - it's just clothes that worry me. But judging by the bargains some of you have had, I need to get over myself. I didn't accummulate £32k of debt by trawling for bargans!

My daughters all like the fact that the clothes are unique and that most of the time they wont see people wearing the same outfit. I must add that alot of people compliment me about what I wear and how homely my house is. Its not cluttered and isnt old fashioned but its all on a budget. We're lucky that we have a furniture charity shop run by british heart foundation and I bought a G-plan suite in fab condition for £200 which normally retails for £2k! it always pays to have a trawl round several shops as I find some are better than others and I prefer shops which lay out the shop in size rails rather than colour rails. each to their own x