What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

maman

prepareathome wrote: »

Bit O/T but over the years ( am 56) I have washed many, many dry clean only garments - only if they are very special outfits or have a special finish I do not bother. I bought in CS about 5 years ago a lovely long ( down to ankles) pure wool coat and yes wash it on the wool cycle ( or lowest temp) very short light spin and then just hang it up to dry usually in bathroom as they drip, never put them out in full sunshine but maybe an overcast dry day ( never have to worry much as sunshine so rare these days:rotfl: ) then lightly press with a damp tea towel and its as good as new.

Have quite a few skirts that say dry clean only on them and some trousers that I wash, dry and press the same way.

I started this not because it cost so much, years ago it was quite cheap to dry clean but because I hated the smell, seemed to linger for weeks.

Thanks for that. If it's still there tomorrow I might well treat myself.:)

dogstarheaven

last CS buy was 2 wks ago, by chance i was on my way to get a freecycle item (10 heavy terracotta pots that I had to carry back on 2 buses!!) and found an Age Concern shop in an area that I don't frequent that often*. Saw a French Connection top that I loved for £4 (but more than my normal spend for CS tops/bottoms, but coz I loved it, it was worth it despite weighing up the pros and cons (major con - am so skint that i shouldn't be spending anything frivolous as i am scraping by on my o/draft til payday 2 weeks away- eek!!) and a lovely, sturdy pair of walking sandals that would replace the Teva ones I bought 8years ago for £55 which aren't as comfortable and supported as these. They were £1.50. Worn these to work a couple of times despite the fact they wouldn't go with my usual office garb, but hey, I don't care! Well worth the cost. Worn the top once, and really like it. It's rather hippyish which is my style as i love print (flowers) on clothes.


*best thing about visiting CS that you don't go into often (last visited this shop probably a year ago) is that you find proper finds that you least expect. finds that you really love and want. The top was something I would love to wear as it's rare for me to find something as nice as this (love my prints!) and was in a light cotton material. The sandals were a good replacement to my old (still usuable) ones as they were more comfortable and more enclosed. I should be more cunning with my CS visits and spread my radar a bit more widely, rather and rely on the ones in your local (altho' my 'local' still means 2 buses away!)

prepareathome

Not really a cs buy but still - actually was at a market on Tuesday, we had a day out and for a change were we went had a market and it was on that day, usually where ever we go market day before or next so rarely go round them. This was one with a nice mixture of new stuff and old tat with odd gems among them.

I had been wanting an old Sad Iron - just love the look of them but only ever saw them in antique shops costing the earth and found one on a stall with its trivet and although needs a bit of cleaning was whole and I got it for £5 which I have since been told was a bargain. Also picked up one of those old drills - the type you turn the middle of, as I did have one but its vanished and sometimes its so much bother to get big electric drill out for one hole, same stall and again just needs a clean, works perfectly and only £2. So I was happy - we did go into 4 cs in the town but I didn't see anything that grabbed me ( I think having the iron and drill for such a good price stopped me buying anything else just because - if you know what I mean) but granddaughter got a couple of well known ( expensive) make tops for a couple of pounds each and hubby got some CDs for 50p each, so we all came home happy.

maman

maman wrote: »

Thanks for that. If it's still there tomorrow I might well treat myself.:)

maman wrote: »

I saw a lovely tailored red, wool skirt in a CS today. It was Country Casuals in perfect condition. I didn't buy it because it was dry clean only. Now I'm thinking that for the money (£5) it was almost disposable. I've more shopping to do tomorrow...:undecided

Just an update: I went back today and skirt ws reduced to £4! So I am now the owner of a lovely, red wool skirt.:D

mumonashoestring

Picked up an adjustable wooden stairgate today with all it's fittings for £2 from our local hospice shop

rubytuesday

No clothes for me yesterday - tried a few things on but nothing looked that good and most of the really lovely stuff was for the size 8's.

I did buy a lovely old plate, a Cornish ware jug, a weekend project gardening book and a photo album though.

CupOfChai

Where was this good stuff for size 8? I never find ANYTHING! (in defence I am a shortie).

I never find anything good in charity shops, so was rather pleased with myself earlier in the week. We just moved and had practically nothing, so I've been after a unit for the TV and then found one in a local charity shop. It's like brand new still, I think I've seen the same one still on sale new for twice the price, AND I didn't have to put this one together!

OH once found a £2 vinyl record by Europe in a charity shop. Turns out they have other songs as well as Final Countdown

rubytuesday

Oxfam Dalston - usually more small sizes than larger - I'm between 14 and 12 now although I was a size 8 for years - medication.

Also St Vincent's Dalston has a lot of smaller sizes.

CupOfChai

Ah, bit far for me, I'm in Essex and the travel would wipe out any savings haha. Will keep an eye out in places I pass anyway.

I just realised it's really bad that I sometimes feel the need to defend what clothes size I am, especially when sizes are usually complete nonsense as well. Going to try and stop doing that, it's daft.

Elliesmum

Hi All

I found a lovely pair of jeans for £4.09 in my local St Gemma's. I tried them on but ummed and arred as they are straight leg not my usual boot cut. I decided to get them as they are really, really comfortable...

They turn out to be a really expensive designer jean brand - Notify...

Some of these jeans are over £200 a pair :eek: Also got a lovely Jane Norman top for £2.99 so very, very happy

EM xx

PS I love, love, love CS shopping