More Charity Shop Bargains for 2018 & beyond!

Owain_Moneysaver

missychrissy said:

do I need it and will I use it? I would add: is it beautiful? will I treasure it? will my grandchildren enjoy playing with it? do I want to read it or listen to it? does it enhance my life in any way?

Can I flog it on ebay and make a profit?  :-)

dolly84

Owain_Moneysaver said:

Meanwhile, The Scottish SPCA is appealing to for urgent donations of new blankets and towels for animals at its Aberdeenshire rescue and rehoming centre.

The charity has been unable to accept used or hand-knitted items due to contamination risks linked to coronavirus.

“We would ask that only brand new items are donated due to potential risk of contamination from used items."

https://www.scottishspca.org/news/scottish-spca-issues-urgent-appeal-for-blankets-in-lanarkshire-and-aberdeenshire

Am I the only person in the world who thinks everyone has lost the plot?  Why can't animals have used towels and blankets?  If they  think it might be contaminated with this elusive virus, leave it for a few days after receiving it.  What scares me is how the hysteria has whipped up to this level.

dolly84

suki1964 said:

Some of our charity shops are opening this Friday as are all our shops

Well I don't know why Im smiling about all shops, other than its a step further towards normality. Im going to see if mum wants to go down to the one she volunteered in for a little while for a natter whilst I browse. She's not been out of the house since the beginning of March

I hope your mum enjoys seeing her friends again.  When you get to a certain age it is all too easy to lose mobility and confidence and many might find they hardly go anywhere again, you have to wonder if having barely any life at all for fear of what is out there is worth it, initially I understand it but as time goes on you have to re-evaluate, people face risks every single day without batting an eyelid.

A few months ago I was walking on the moors, on the way up there a couple of cows were stirring up trouble and calling all the other cows up a hill, in the next few fields there were dozens and dozens of sheep, they all started bolting across the fields to see what was going on, one after another they jumped through a gap in the wall and when they got there they stopped and looked around with dazed expressions as did the cows - like they were saying 'what did we do that for'.  A question we will be asking ourselves for many years to come I imagine.

Eenymeeny

missychrissy said:

I live in North Yorkshire near Selby but I babysit in Castleford and Harrogate on a weekly basis. Whilst I have found bargains in all locations, Harrogate is a cut above.  Every charity shop is there and you are spoilt for choice. However, Martin’s mantra still applies: do I need it and will I use it? I would add: is it beautiful? will I treasure it? will my grandchildren enjoy playing with it? do I want to read it or listen to it? does it enhance my life in any way?

Yes I agree with you on the Harrogate charity shops. We are from further up north but often enjoyed our little forays into Harrogate's charity shops. Those were the days... Hopefully we'll be allowed back soon Amongst other locations a mooch around Ripon on market day along with Leyburn and Thirsk are on our bucket list!

Living_proof

I was just saying yesterday that I am looking forward to the time when we can go up to Harrogate in the camper van and visit Harlow Carr. The charity shops will be the icing on the cake!

Sayschezza

dolly84 said:

Owain_Moneysaver said:

Meanwhile, The Scottish SPCA is appealing to for urgent donations of new blankets and towels for animals at its Aberdeenshire rescue and rehoming centre.

The charity has been unable to accept used or hand-knitted items due to contamination risks linked to coronavirus.

“We would ask that only brand new items are donated due to potential risk of contamination from used items."

https://www.scottishspca.org/news/scottish-spca-issues-urgent-appeal-for-blankets-in-lanarkshire-and-aberdeenshire

Am I the only person in the world who thinks everyone has lost the plot?  Why can't animals have used towels and blankets?  If they  think it might be contaminated with this elusive virus, leave it for a few days after receiving it.  What scares me is how the hysteria has whipped up to this level.

Totally agree dolly and they are unlikely to get many brand new items surely. If they are that desperate they could try washing them.

Living_proof

I too agree with Dolly. There are too many people who simply don't live in the real world and presumably those are the people who influence how the charity's funds are spent. There has been all sorts of nonsense talked about how to get rid of the virus on fabrics, etc. Surely if it is the soap which dissolves the casing of the virus when you wash your hands, the washing powder will do the same thing on towels etc? Or is detergent different? Certainly one could boil-wash towels and I am sure the dogs won't mind if the colour runs slightly!

Sayschezza

I think it's the friction that breaks down the virus casing and washing machines will do that.

Rosa_Damascena

A long weekend in Yorkshire has been on my list for ages, chazzers in Harrogate are an extra incentive

MrsStepford

Latest charity shop bargain arrived today, a Williams-Sonoma burger press. We'll be able to make our own burgers :0 Also nabbed a 1958 book on slimming to review on my blog, by Professor John Yudkin, and a 1965 WI recipe book with spiral binding.