More Charity Shop Bargains for 2018 & beyond!

pattypan4

osbornbiscuit wrote: »

Now I know that you are all a bit confused by the title but bear with me.
I volunteer in a charity shop and for the last two years we have been fortunate to be the recipient of donatations of clothes and accessories from a donor on behalf of someone. These came in bin bags full of clothes a majority of which still had the original price labels on. Now we aren't talking primark, these were Autograph, Per Una, designer track suits and priced in the £100s. My point is that she never had the joy of wearing them which I found so sad and I am forced to admit that my wardrobe does have stuff with labels that I bought on a whim, 'just in case. too beautiful to leave behind'
Her donations really got to me and I am having a huge sort out of my wardrobe and seriously look at what I want to keep. To be fair my kids have informed me that when I depart this earth a large skip will be parked outside the house but hopefully not for a while yet.........
We all love a bargain and this is the back story to some of our donations that come into the shop.

That really affected me. I am going to re-vamp my clothes tomorrow. Thanks OB

FluffyDog

Deleted_User wrote: »

Why were the Sally Army taking dollars?

Because I live in Canada

pattypan4

Today is tomorrow and I haven`t forgotten. Out with the old and on with the new and best. Going to be a satisfying day, also going to sort baking tin storage. I might get a bundle together for the charity shop. Nice to have a purpose on such a windy grey and wet day with lights on all day. Bopping uplifting radio or alexa recommendation


I bought a big wooden box from animal cs the other day, £8, I took it apart, I wanted the lid, the rest was not worth keeping, the lid is pure nice wood and would have cost a lot more

dolly84

Had some fantastic buys today.


First was a book called 'When I Were A Lad' by Andrew Davies, subtitled snapshots from a time Health & Safety forgot. It has the most gorgeous black and white pictures in and little captions - 49p.


A pair of Next navy blue cuffed pyjama bottoms with stags with tartan bows and gold antlers, perfect condition, proper drawstring and pretty long too - £2.49.


A M&S blush pink supersoft faux fur infinity scarf, it is beautiful and immaculate, I have several of these and really love them - £2.99. It looks especially good with the next bargain.


A Tog24 (designed in Yorkshire apparently) coat, it is called the Rocket jacket, it is a parka style, fully waterproof outer, taped seams, half borg lining and quilted taffeta at the bottom, hood with removable fur trim, in a pale teal colour, really gorgeous quality, good long sleeves, RRP £150:eek: - £7.50 paid.


BNIB pair of Totes Toasties reindeer slipper socks - £2
2 x 300ml BN bottles of beard moisturiser for DH £1 each


The best things were found in a CS that only opens 2 hours a week. I haven't been in ages but I wasn't doing anything else this morning thanks to the rain. I found a Crew Clothing navy blue sweatshirt, then a handknitted long Arran cardigan in cream with pockets, in the v neck style (grandad cardigan) looks unworn, I have been looking for one but wasn't prepared to pay the price for them I plan to style this with a dress, thick tights and boots. The best bargain and probably my favourite ever CS purchase was a Fjallraven Kanken backpack for DD. These are very trendy and very expensive, she has one that I bought her on ebay 2 years ago which she uses everyday for school. I just saw it hanging there amongst other shopping bags and fell upon it, there are a lot of fakes about but having one I knew what to look for, it is black, hardly used, all zips working, it had a mark on the bottom that looked like hot chocolate which has sponged straight off. This CS don't price their items individually and I was charged £5 for all 3 items.


Just an update in this long post on the Russell & Bromley chelsea boots I was going to dye. Well I cleaned the boots with meths and then saddle soap, left to dry whilst I waited for the dye to come, I applied 3 coats in the end and several coats of dark brown polish and they have come up very well, they are a sort of antique brown finish. I now have enough leather dye to do every pair of shoes I own though:D

bexster1975

Fabulous bargains dolly!

Had a few things recently, but am going to a local " posh" town tomorrow for a mooch.

I have recently left two armchairs at my local Myton hospice shop. They are Laura Ashley and look like new. I know the manager and the lady who donated them gave her the invoices £815 each! Less than 2 years ago! Selling for £250 each or £400 the pair! Myton will deliver too. I just have no use for them so in the window they stayed!!


Bexster

Magpie100

:wave:

I love reading about everyone's bargains! I've had a few crazy days of CS-focussed browsing. Warning: this may be long. Bring a cup of coffee. Second warning: prices quoted may make you fall off your chair. Stay calm!

On Thursday I got the chance to go to some CSs in Pimlico. I'll be working near here in 2020 and have been told they are a good hunting ground. They are - if you can stomach the prices! I went to an Oxfam, a Fara, Trinity Hospice and Octavia housing trust. EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE was designer-ish. Prices started at £10 (where they end, in my home town!) and went north of £100. There were some lovely, lovely things, and if you find the right thing, or something that you absolutely want and in your size then I suppose it is still a bargain, but for example there were several lovely Geox waterproof jackets in one for £45 each. Jumpers from Jaeger, Whistles, etc between £30-50 - which is a lot given you can probably get them in the sale for about that. There were some real designer pieces, too - nearly all of them in very small sizes. It was fun to browse, and I really wanted to buy a lovely long-line black jacket with silver detailing all over it for Christmas - but it was £30. If it had been £15 I would have gone for it. I did buy a pair of bright red Ralph Lauren gloves for £6 (I love love love gloves) and a pair of legging for £2.50 which I found on a sale rail. These are actually amazing - they have no label in them but they are teal with black shiny stones on the front pockets. They fit beautifully and are incredibly flattering and if I could find out who made them I'd buy some more! It was a fun couple of hours and I will definitely go back, but it's clearly an area where there are lots of good quality donations and I imagine the Charity shops send high-end stuff there knowing people will buy it. But there is not going to be unearthing of gems there - I suspect the managers there really know their brands and what they can charge for stuff.

After that excitement, yesterday I headed to Cambridge. It was a grey and horrible day but once I had found the street with all the CS's on I had a great time. There are about 10 shops on the same street, so it was very easy to go between them all. I bought a LOT.

For the first time I bought a dress that I might sell. It's this one: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yanny-London-3-4-Sleeve-Lace-Shift-Dress-Nude-Size-UK-14-RRP-195-Box46-87-N/192873845690?epid=2100839874&hash=item2ce82d53ba:g:dC4AAOSwcUBYSqdc but in a size 10, which sadly won't fit me. It's so beautiful though and it was £10. If I can sell it for £30-40 I might even buy one in a 14 - it would be great for a summer wedding.

I found a dressy jacket in the first Cancer Research branch I went to. It's by Mandy Marsh, and everything online labels her as 'Vintage'. It was £4 and is black with silver overlaid on it. It's got 80s shoulder pads and everything! I want to wear it over black dresses/jumpsuits for Christmas.

My absolute bargain of the day was this: https://images.app.goo.gl/8goSM1Y3FvEBrXK58
I LOVE Maison Scotch so the second I saw the label I grabbed it. It's immaculate (looks unworn) and was £7.50.

A dress by Nathalie Vleeschouwer. This is a Belgian brand. It's a sort of geometric pattern, short-sleeved, very flattering, great condition. £10.

Another dress by a brand called 'Marissa and MArie'. Can't find much about them online but the dress is beautiful - silky material, dark yellow with a pattern of large flowers on it. Incredibly flattering and looks very high-end. I got it for £6!

A black pleated midi skirt from Urban Outfitters. For work, will go with everything and I hope update my look - I am mid-40s so worry about looking like I am trying too hard, but I think this will be great. Also £6.

This Oasis top: https://images.app.goo.gl/umXUwDjsjrtdgtrK8 I got for £4.50. Perfect to go with the skirt for work. There were 2 of these in BHF - one small, one medium, so I got the medium.

A Hush long-sleeved t-shirt for £4.50. I've never bought anything from Hush but it's nice soft cotton and long and will go under things for the winter.

A pair of maroon boots. These are nothing special quality-wise - they aren't leather and are 'made in China' but they are unworn and on-trend, so for £7.99 a good way to update my wardrobe.

A Lululemon top. No label, but I recognised the logo on the back of it. To add to my workout wardrobe and for slouching around the house in. £4.50.

I also had two minor fails. I bought a Coach New York mac from Oxfam. It's lovely and I've wanted one for a while - it will roll up and go in a bag for when I get caught out by rain. Coach are obviously a high-end brand. I paid £8.50 but noticed when I got home it's got a rip in it by the pocket. It's not huge, and I can probably repair it, but a bit annoying. Similarly I also bought a bright pink Nike dri-fit top and didn't notice it also had a small hole in the seam. Not the end of the world, but I need to check things more carefully.

So Cambridge I think hits the CS sweet spot - plenty of young people, affluent people and indeed young affluent people - so lots of bargains to be had. A couple of the shops had 'designer' selections - one had a beautiful Jil Sander coat but they wanted £100 for it! But also plenty of bargains to be had - a real mix of labels. I could have bought a couple more dresses (there was another Nathalie Vleeschouwer one I left for £10) and I nearly bought a beautiful Cos skirt but it was too big.

I really must now stop buying anything until Christmas! M100X

Pollycat

Magpie100 wrote: »

@pattypan4 I've no idea. But I refuse to feel bad about not buying new clothes, recycling what already exists and donating to charity in the process.

+1 to this.
It really is nobody else's business how many clothes you own or how often you buy. You should not be made to feel bad about what you buy.
I re-donate regularly - that helps charities twice.
And I know that a lot of posters do the same.

I've read some mean (imho) comments on here from people who say someone has paid too much for whatever.
I always respond with 'if you're happy with the price you paid, it's a bargain'.
I enjoy reading about other posters' purchases and their comments about my purchases.
And I found your observations about prices in Pimlico interesting.

dolly84

Magpie/Pollycat/Barny - I agree. I have way, way more than I need but everything comes to me pre-loved and is redonated when I no longer want it if the condition is up to scratch. If I was going to Primark every week and buying a bag full of stuff then imo that would be wrong but buying what already exists and not creating a new demand is the sustainable way and it donates to charity too.


Pattypan4 - how do you do your shopping?

Pollycat

dolly84 wrote: »

Magpie/Pollycat/Barny - I agree. I have way, way more than I need but everything comes to me pre-loved and is redonated when I no longer want it if the condition is up to scratch. If I was going to Primark every week and buying a bag full of stuff then imo that would be wrong but buying what already exists and not creating a new demand is the sustainable way and it donates to charity too.


Pattypan4 - how do you do your shopping?

Just to say, dolly84, that I love reading about your bargains too.
And thanks for your comments about my coat.
I bought it Thursday, put it through the wash as soon as I got home, wore it Friday and Saturday and was toasty warm and completely dry - even after waiting for a bus for 35 minutes.
I popped into the charity shop to show the ladies and tell them I've already had my £1.00 worth.

And it goes perfectly with my DAKS rain hat which is khaki, red and cream.

As I've had lots of bargains for Air Ambulance, I've just completed a Direct Debit to pay them a little every month (gift-aided too).
Shocking that something like this has no government funding. I feel the same about RNLI (which I also donate to on a monthly basis).
But enough from me on my soap-box...:o

I'm not sure pattypan4 buys from charity shops:

pattypan4 wrote: »

To spend money on myself. Had a very poor childhood, loads of tenacity and aspirations, married for 48 years now a widow. I have a new very comfortable house, not pretentious at all but lovely. I don`t like holidays abroad, don`t fly anywhere. I eat good food. Buy nice plants. Don`t need or want any more clothes. Have given plenty away to children and grandchildren. No idea how to spend more on myself, coach holidays are not expensive. I will be getting a brand new car when the new model comes out. I had a cruise, once, did not like being confined. No more cruises


What can I spend my hard earned savings on?

Maybe she misunderstood the purpose of this specific thread...

pattypan4

certainly right there. I am a giver to cs and to charity, especially to air ambulance. I am comfortable these days and see no need for aquisitive greed, to have just because. My childhood days, I was lucky to own just one dress, luckily that feeling of not having it never stayed with me, to rule my head. Buying for need is a whole different ball game but in that case who needs designer? Anyway I apologise to magpie, wrong thread for me. I don`t believe I have ever bought designer in my life and envy no-one and don`t understand the thinking