What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

Floss

luvchocolate Per Una down coats wash really well - tumble dry on low with a couple of tennis balls, it makes a racket but redistributes the filling

Pollycat

luvchocolate wrote: »

Before I retired last year after 25 years as a retail manager for my local hospice I have not been in a charity shop.......until this morning when walking past a R.S.P.C.A clearance shop, so popped in and got a Per Una down coat in cream, a bit gruby but worth the £4 in the hope it will come clean.

I'd have taken a punt on this too.
I looked at a pale grey Per Una down jacket in BHF yesterday.
Minus the hood and pricey at £15.99.
I might have splurged if it had been a different colour (or a lot, lot cheaper) but I have the same one in dark grey.

Bargains yesterday from the 'everything £1.00 Air Ambulance':
Weird Fish lightweight 100% cotton pale brown marl top with grandad neck. Will go with a couple of pair of patterned leggings.

Ann Harvey plain biscuit colour 3/4 sleeve jumper, looks great with my tartan trousers. 75% silk, 25% nylon. Label says 'Dry Clean'! :eek: They're having a laugh.

ETA: the Ann Harvey jumper is actually Ann Taylor.

dolly84

VfM4meplse - well done on your bargains.

dolly84

C_J wrote: »

I've had an amazing day cs-shopping today. I thought I was doing well when I got a large carrier bag full of Duplo for £3 for baby grandson, and a brand new ELC wooden abacus for £1 ......but then came the best bargain of all. We are in the throes of redecorating the living room and I have been longing for some Laura Ashley curtains which would be perfect for the new colour scheme, but the size I need costs almost £200 a pair (and I need two pairs). Imagine then, if you will, my utter disbelief and joy to find two pairs of EXACTLY the curtains I want in the Blue Cross shop for £7. For both. And they seem to have been freshly dry cleaned. I did a little dance in the shop I was so happy. The CS Fairy must be smiling on me today!

How amazing, lucky you.

dolly84

My DS has a lovely pair of Boden PJ's which I bought him for Christmas last year (that boy loves PJ's), they have a red tartan bottoms in flannel and I was saying to him that I wanted those bottoms in my size. Well yesterday I spotted a pair of very thick flannel White Stuff lounge pants for men in green tartan, drawstring waist, concealed button fly for £2. I don't care that they are mens, they are super cosy, size small and very long (why do manufacturers think men have long legs and women have short legs?).

I am so happy that I didn't succumb recently and buy some much thinner flannel ones from Long Tall Sally for £25.

I also got a Laura Ashley lambswool and Angora cardigan in cream, v neck style with cable knit and mini pom poms for £4.99.

Pollycat

dolly84 wrote: »

My DS has a lovely pair of Boden PJ's which I bought him for Christmas last year (that boy loves PJ's), they have a red tartan bottoms in flannel and I was saying to him that I wanted those bottoms in my size. Well yesterday I spotted a pair of very thick flannel White Stuff lounge pants for men in green tartan, drawstring waist, concealed button fly for £2. I don't care that they are mens, they are super cosy, size small and very long (why do manufacturers think men have long legs and women have short legs?).

I am so happy that I didn't succumb recently and buy some much thinner flannel ones from Long Tall Sally for £25.

I also got a Laura Ashley lambswool and Angora cardigan in cream, v neck style with cable knit and mini pom poms for £4.99.

Will you wear the tartan trousers outside?
I think I would, maybe with an over-sized jumper and ankle boots. Or am I misunderstanding the style?

VfM4meplse

I had a chat with my Mum this morning about charity shop clothes. I usually stick them straight in the washing machine once I’ve established they are a good fit, but my Mum had whipped yesterday’s finds from me to give them a handwash. Her method is to agitate and then soak in lukewarm water and to look at the water after 5 minutes. If the water is clean, she’s satisfied that no soap is required. She did this the other day with some cushions (or rather the covers) I bought her rather than getting the steamer out. She was stunned that they were immaculate.

Again, my dress, cardi and jeans were perfectly clean and are drying nicely on her washing line. It does make sense that the charity shop workers sort and clean items before putting them on display, otherwise the retail space would smell unpleasant. But I also think that the volunteers do a lot more behind the scenes than we might initially realise.

VfM4meplse

Went for a little wander earlier and bought another 6 books, a 6-pack of pop socks for 99p, some BN earmuffs for 99p and a wrought iron triptych mirror for a bargained down price. BHF also has brought out the new £1 shaped trolley tokens, I picked one of the classic Union Jack heart design.

Pollycat

VFM
Love the steamer & the mirror sounds interesting.

From £1.00 Air Ambulance:
A viz-a-viz fuchsia 3/4 sleeved top - I'm short of plain tops
Indigo dark plum fluffy cardigan, lovely and soft

A bit of a rant:
went into BHF and there's a woman stood in the doorway asking if I want to buy a raffle ticket.
I hate being asked if I'll give to charity. :mad:
BHF seem to be the worst for this.
I'm in your shop & I might buy something that you've been given for free. That's my donation!

Miró

Pollycat wrote: »

VFM
Love the steamer & the mirror sounds interesting.

From £1.00 Air Ambulance:
A viz-a-viz fuchsia 3/4 sleeved top - I'm short of plain tops
Indigo dark plum fluffy cardigan, lovely and soft

A bit of a rant:
went into BHF and there's a woman stood in the doorway asking if I want to buy a raffle ticket.
I hate being asked if I'll give to charity. :mad:
BHF seem to be the worst for this.
I'm in your shop & I might buy something that you've been given for free. That's my donation!

Oooooh....I'm so with you re the raffle ticket thingy! A couple of the charity shops I go to has started doing this now and I hate it. Also the BHF chazza near me has started having a poor soul standing just outside of the doorway shaking a bucket asking for money donations....I hate that too!