What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

prepareathome

building_with_lego wrote: »

I got a money bag full of cream and white buttons for £1 one day last week, and used it to make something like this for my mum for Mothering Sunday in an IKEA £9 box frame. She loved it. And I still have a load of buttons left.
Edit: I've just noticed that this is my thousandth post :j:j

That is beautiful, never seen anything like it but the price :eek: I have lots of beautiful buttons I inherited from OH auntie years ago and have barely made a dint in the collection so I am going to buy one of those box frames and have a go at making something like this for my friends birthday in June, its her 70th so was wondering what to do - might even find one of those frames in a CS - I certainly will look, a few years ago I found a lovely one with tiny ornaments making up a house which I bought for £1 and then saw exact same in a shop in London with a price tag of £125 on it.

I picked up a beautiful hat on Saturday, as need one for May, its actually very similar in style to the one the Queen wore yesterday, just body is a bit shorter. I did pay £9.99 for it but similar in shops are around £40. I want another couple of hats so this time of year is always best time to find them as they have them all out ready for the race meetings.

I have been so very lucky with finds these past 6 months, lovely padded white pure cotton duffle coat for winter - even the quilting is cotton but was so warm and kept me totally dry even on the worst days - I have always had a thing about duffle coats I just adore them. My brand new expensive dresses, some lovely curtains and oh don't know what else. I think 90% of my wardrobe is all CS buys and most good names and more than half of them were brand new still with all the labels on them.

Yesterday wore the new Per Una Speziale skirt I got on Saturday when went for blood tests and the phlebotomist complimented me on my outfit ( I was wearing a top GD had bought me for mothers day and a necklace I received in a knitting swap, all very 1970's, I used to wear similar clothing then), she loved the skirt and I told her where I had bought it and how much, and her mouth literally dropped open. She said she had never been in a CS in her life, she had always thought they were a bit like jumble sales full of tat, but she plans going to them on her next day off. So might be another convert

mrsyallop

I picked up the board game cranium this week for £3.50. Been wanting it for ages so I was well chuffed!

serious_saver

Ooooooooo! This thread makes me happy

Nicepeach

serious_saver wrote: »

Ooooooooo! This thread makes me happy

Me too, love hearing about everyone's bargains, tips & good ideas. :j

Really don't like the sound of the "greeter" on the doors of the CS which some posters have been telling us about. I think it would definitely put some people off going in. They probably see it as an opportunity to get an additional donation, especially from people who haven't found anything they want & so don't make a purchase on that visit. But they must be careful not to put people off or put the people who aren't in a position to donate under pressure to do so. To be honest, I would probably ask to speak to the Manager or Supervisor in private if it happened to me to discuss it from the "shopper's" point of view. Not in a horrible, aggressive kind of way but just to politely put my point across.

I've been good today, haven't set foot in any CS at all after yesterday's marathon! Can't promise I'll last the week out so, up to press, my bargain of the week was my lovely Damart thermal vest for a £1. Gave it a quick slosh around in the sink yesterday to freshen it up & it's like brand new, really don't think anyone's ever worn it. It's so pretty too, with a lovely wide band of lace across the top.

Keep posting & reporting back everyone!

mishmogs

Ohhh what a great thread!! am really enjoying reading about everyones finds.

I started a college course about 4 weeks ago and there are about 8 charity shops in the town. Am I in heaven or am I in heaven?
I got a jam pan for £8 (a tad expensive but defo cheaper than the shop) and it still had its makers sticker on the side. A large selection of tweeds and check materials which I am not sure what to do with them (did think about a large handbag) but as they are all good sized pieces, am sure the inspiration will hit me soon. Prices varied from 50p to £4.
A lovely hand painted ceramic pill box for £3, the assistant even gave me a £2 reduction and I dont know why!!
Some broken necklaces made with indian silver beads for 30p each.
An old fashioned solid metal frying pan unused for 99p
and a sewing thread storage box for 50p.

Mother introduced me to CS and jumbles when I was a nipper and have frequented them ever since. The amount of books I have purchased and kept or recycled back again is anyones guess.

I think some CS seem to have stopped selling the unusual and odd bits and only sell 'good' stuff. I like odd, I do odd! I agree with others that the high street CS are more expensive than the local ones.

My OH says put me in a new area (I like to go with him for a trip out when he goes to meetings in different areas) and I can sniff out charity shops happy days...

Kaz2904

I haven't had many good buys recently. I don't bother for clothes any more because there is never anything in my size that I can afford (I buy it all from ebay instead ). I was bowsing the other day though and found a pineapple slicer and corer. We love pineapple in my family and I bought one of these from the £1 shop a while back but it was rubbish. My neighbour got hers from John Lewis's which is 20 miles away and is always shut when I go near it so I was happy to find this one for £1.50. Heck, I'd probably have paid full price for it

MoaningMyrtle

My best buy this week is a lovely tan M & S Autograph bag. This was from the BHF shop and was £9.99.

I thought it was worth is as it's immaculate condition. Probably £70.00-£80.00 new. When they charge £5.00-£6.00 for artificial leather it it a good deal.

[Deleted User]

My local charity shop is a cheap as chips, run by local elderly ladys, most things under a fiver, in the last few weeks , I have had a gucci bag as new £1.00, a louis vitton bag as new, £1.00 East black beaded tunic hand embelished new with tag cost £49 paid £2, White trousers £90 price tag on paid £2.00 Top shop shoes new with label,£50, paid 50p , Royal doulton china x 4 pieces, excellent condition, 5op each, the list goes on and on, I have kept most of this myself, and sold a few pieces as I am in debt, but I am not gonna buy new bits again, I am hooked on charity shops:j

building_with_lego

zepsgal wrote: »

That is gorgeous!! I will add it to my list of 'things I want to be able to make but will probably never bother doing' :rotfl:

prepareathome wrote: »

That is beautiful, never seen anything like it but the price :eek: I have lots of beautiful buttons I inherited from OH auntie years ago and have barely made a dint in the collection so I am going to buy one of those box frames and have a go at making something like this for my friends birthday in June, its her 70th so was wondering what to do - might even find one of those frames in a CS - I certainly will look, a few years ago I found a lovely one with tiny ornaments making up a house which I bought for £1 and then saw exact same in a shop in London with a price tag of £125 on it.

Go on- it was so easy! Last time I was in IKEA I bought three of the small (25cm square) box frames, knowing that a project would turn up. Gluing the buttons down took all of 15 minutes- a quick, effective, VERY pleasing little job. Go on!

DundeeDoll

Fab idea re button picture. Have friend's 60th next saturday. Any advice on type of glue?