What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

C_J

My bargains this past week :

Two large oblong Pyrex glass baking dishes in perfect condition for 50p each. I like to batch bake for the freezer, especially time-consuming things like lasagne or moussaka, but then I find I have used my Pyrex dish and it's tied up for several weeks in the freezer so a couple of extras will be very useful indeed.

Ten large black plastic planters (each about 18 inches high x 18 inches diameter), 6 seed trays, and 11 brand new seed tray inserts for the grand total of £3.

A Dymo letratag label maker, brand new and sealed for £2. I already have one of these (it's great for making seed labels with) and this particular model retails for over £25 so it was a fab bargain for two quid: I sold it immediately on eBay for £18 plus postage so I'm very happy

Floss

C_J wrote: »

My bargains this past week :

Two large oblong Pyrex glass baking dishes in perfect condition for 50p each. I like to batch bake for the freezer, especially time-consuming things like lasagne or moussaka, but then I find I have used my Pyrex dish and it's tied up for several weeks in the freezer so a couple of extras will be very useful indeed...

If you line with double-foil before cooking, you can then remove as a block when frozen and wrap up & label - saves your dish being frozen & saves space in the freezer.

Pollycat

C_J wrote: »

Two large oblong Pyrex glass baking dishes in perfect condition for 50p each. I like to batch bake for the freezer, especially time-consuming things like lasagne or moussaka, but then I find I have used my Pyrex dish and it's tied up for several weeks in the freezer so a couple of extras will be very useful indeed.

In addition to Floss's helpful suggestion, I use the plastic containers that Chinese/Indian takeaways come in for freezing batch meals.
They have lids so perfect for stacking in the freezer.

I have 2 sizes, small is perfect for single portions (e.g. chilli), large is great for double portions of bol, shepherds pie bases etc.

Once frozen, the food comes out easily so I can bag it and wash the container for re-use.

VfM4meplse

Pollycat wrote: »

In addition to Floss's helpful suggestion, I use the plastic containers that Chinese/Indian takeaways come in for freezing batch meals.
They have lids so perfect for stacking in the freezer.

Agreed. I try to avoid using the large Pyrex containers as they take up so much room in the freezer. 0.6L plastic containers are so much more flexible space-wise, as they can be tessellated

Atm I have a huge Pyrex container full of rice pudding in the freezer. It's full of expensive nuts so there is no way I am going to throw it out, but I've quit sugar so won't be indulging myself. I'll wait until I have a party of at least 10 guests in the summer before I can liberate the space.

A bit off topic I know! What I'm on the look out for is a mini-whisk. They often come in hot chocolate sets with a big fancy cup and marshmallows, neither of which I need but are the kind of unwanted gift that ends up in the chaz. The whisks themselves are cheap enough so perhaps I should buy new?

C_J

Thank you all for your fab suggestions re freezing stuff efficiently. If I am portioning-up something (such as a curry or chilli) before freezing, I do put it into takeaway tubs (or the Poundland equivalents, as we don't often have takeaways).

But I do find that when I'm dealing with something large like a family-sized lasagne it's a bit of a faff for me to freeze it, remove it from the dish, wrap it, stack it, then have to unwrap it and re-fit it into the dish before re-heating. It's so much easier to just grab the whole dish out of the freezer first thing in the morning to defrost slowly while I'm at work, then whack it into the oven to bake.

I feel ashamed that I'm a bit of an OS let-down now, or lazy, or something

CathA

Woo hoo! Curtains for the lounge (when we finish the building work etc), 2 years we've been doing up this house and we've nearly finished! Anyway, long red curtains-£2.99! It will go nicely with the glass tv table we acquired whilst visiting the tip on Sunday, but that was a free one!
Soon (please! ) I won't be picking brick dust out of my hair.

UnluckyT

2 small terracota herb pots at a £1 each. perfect for the kitchen window sill.

MoaningMyrtle

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I like that concept, you're like a modern day Robin Hood.

However I doubt I'd buy from a chazzer that pricey.[/QUOTE

Indeed. :j

Pollycat

Rocha John Rocha tunic £3.49.

Jasper Conran cardigan, fuchsia pink with navy spots and navy trim £3.99.

Both from Barnados.

tibawo

Mine has to be a onesie. Be after a cute one for daughter and picked it up. Happy to pay the 2.99 as looked spotless. Took the till and was told it had the wrong price and should be 1.10. Whilst she was sorting this I noticed the original tag still on it.