More Charity Shop Bargains for 2018 & beyond!

moneyonmymindsam

Bag out today donated to Sue Ryder - no issues and super friendly. 

2 in's

1 cashmere/silk jumper black with 3/4 Sleeves and gold zip back.

T-shirty /modal type fabric long sleeve top (also black) so just a couple of nice quality wardrobe basic items for me, so £9 for both. Probably wants not needs but am sure will get plenty of wear now that I've decluttered.

Could have brought a lot but Revitalise had Ted Baker, Gant etc at £40 so way out of my price range. Sue Ryder had T shirts at £5.50 no particular brand.
Did have to wipe my glasses to make sure I read the prices correctly :-) and not due to foggy mask. No other shoppers (!) 
Sam x

Mrs_Ryan

Just a heads up to all you chazza loving peeps (it might be a bit obscure but bear with me) if any of you live or know anyone who lives anywhere near Hinckley in Leicestershire and may need plus size- I’ve just donated 9 full black bin bags to the Emmaus shop. There was all sorts in there including a lot of Hollister, Superdry and Jack Wills. There was also quite a lot of men’s XL stuff that both belonged to me and OH. It seems such a lovely place but they didn’t have much- we took it there as they were the only place we could find in the area accepting stuff and they had loads of room for storage. Thought that might help someone- there’s some real good stuff in there (but sadly I don’t think I’m going to be a size 16 again any time soon ) There’s no doubt going to be some bargains in there. 

Matron_Midge

goldfinches said:

Matron_Midge said:

Congratulations on the new pooch. Top tip, tire the brain not the body! I play “find it” on my walks - as we go along, I throw titbits (cheese, chopped up hot dogs, dried sprats - the stinkier the better) out of their eyeliner and then tell them to “seek” It takes them a wee while sniffing out the treats but sniffing really tires them out (it is also very calming for them.
Walking shoes must be the “in thing” on the chazza circuit Magpie. I was delighted to pick up a pair of Merrel walking shoes this morning. They were £8 but I don’t think they have ever been outside on someone’s feet. I also got a mint condition of Delias Frugal Food. It felt very good to be back shopping.

Well done you, I snapped one up earlier in the year and can recommend pages 187 - soured cream and onion tart, 188 - leek, carrot and potato pie and 196 - chilladas in particular. I am finding it really useful for inspiration generally too.
And same to Floss as well, I've just read the rest of the messages above and seen that you've found a copy too.
Does make you wonder about the donors not using a cookbook that is ideally suited to most people's current domestic situations though.
I happened to be walking past the window of the BHF shop in the centre of town today and there was a foot pump suitable for a balance ball on the shelf nearest the window, it came home with me and will be helping me to keep up my physio recommended exercise regime.
I also bought some planned Christmas cards from the same shop along with a bag of shaped Christmas biscuit cutters and a pair of fingerless gloves with grippy palms ( for keeping hands warm while grasping therabands etc.).
That little haul came to £10.47 and the budget is entirely and completely blown but it was nice to be browsing again.

Thank you for the recommendations. I will be trying those out soon. It’s got loads of recipes I like the sound of.

goldfinches

Matron_Midge said:

Thank you for the recommendations. I will be trying those out soon. It’s got loads of recipes I like the sound of.

Oh, great to hear, will look forward to reading your recommendations too.
I have a couple of notes about the sour cream and onion tart that I scribbled down for future reference. When you're blind baking the pastry base do it nude rather than covered with paper/foil/beans etc. otherwise its very wet and needs extra time in the oven and when cooking the onions in the pan before putting into the case, cook them really well so they're at the brown end of golden IYSWIM. Somehow the addition of the combined creams means that the onions don't get much further cooked at all so aim for overdone rather than underdone before you do the assembling to give a nicer result. I discovered this through reheating half of the tart one cold evening and accidentally setting the oven too high, it came out rather brown at the edges but tasted delicious, far better than it had originally. 
Anyway, further to the whole budget subject, I've decided that charity shops are one of my Covid consolations as they provide a regular human contact for me that I value tremendously so I have duly decided to increase the charity shop budget and to create a pot for it in my banking app.
I am also considering volunteering in one myself and would love to hear from others who do/have done this about what to discover before taking the plunge.
Sorry for the essay, TIA, goldfinches.

Lucy5781

Friday's jaunt found me the large men's Xmas Jumper for £2.50.
Then a scavange in the local hospice outlet branch. They had a lot of Tesco F&F sample stock in, Tesco HO is local and they donate to the charity. Always nice to see.
Found 3-4 nice lightweight jumpers for myself (my preference to wear under waterproof coats as I don't drive and walk kids/buggy up to 25km a week in pretty much all weathers!) for £2.00 each.
Felt a bit odd not going through town this morning as I went home for my hairdresser visit instead. And tomorrow is B&M trip.

Sayschezza

Goldfinches I have volunteered for my local Hospice since I retired in 2004. I have worked in both the warehouse and several of the shops. I now work in our local shop and it's the only CS I actually buy anything from as we only have 1 other in our little town and it's a private business that donates to charity so not for me. I always go into work about 20 minutes before I am due to start to have a look round as otherwise I only see the good stuff when customers come to the till to pay. So frustrating. The Hospice gives us a  discount but I always donate back so a lot of what I buy is sold again. I love working there and the busier the better.

moneyonmymindsam

Just laughing at this... 
@goldfinches
When you're blind baking the pastry base "do it nude"...     
Sorry lol
Sam x

Miró

*Wail*.....I wish I has somewhere nice to go over Christmas!!!!!

Yesterday in the hospice shop they were having a stock clearance sale and I got a Country Casuals dress for the outrageous price of £2!  Its one of those ever-so-comfy jersey dresses, black background with a white and purple abstract pattern and ruched into a buckle sort of arrangement at the waist.  Found one on EBay..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Country-Casuals-CC-Purple-White-splash-sheath-dress-size-medium/352917568624?hash=item522b86bc70:g:-KMAAOSwnw5eDhfl

Then today the community shop were also having a sale and I got a Phase Eight velvet dress in a grape colour for £3.  Found that online too....(the skirt, on me, covers the knees - just!)

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/stella-velvet-wrap-dress-204970610.html

Now I have a bit of a dilemma and would like to ask for advice before I commit myself to making a big mistake!!  The Country Casuals dress has gone through the washer and emerged looking pristine.  The Phase Eight dress, however, definitely needs a 'refresh' but, you've guessed it....dry clean only!!!.. There is no way I'm gonna pay for a £3 dress to be dry cleaned so do you guys think it would survive a wash...hand wash/machine wash???  The fabric composition is 52% polyester, 36% nylon and 12% elastane with a 100%polyester lining.  Would you risk it?  Helppp pleeeaase

DigForVictory

Yes, but as soon as the cycle's done, out with it & be ready to shape it in case the lining has gone a different path to the dress fabric. As if it all goes horribly sideways, (a) you still have the Country Casuals number & (b) betcha Albert looks sensational on grape velvet...

Potternerd

Moro I would do a delicate machine wash . It usually works ok.
My £45 sofa arrived yesterday. Turns out it’s Laura Ashley and it’s v comfortable.
Todays buys:
George knee length denim shorts. I previously had the same ones but in a larger size. Now I am less large I am delighted to have these for £2.
white racer back Hiit PE vest £2
Avenue fleecy navy with white stars trackies/ pyjama trousers £1
Accessorise blue and cream stripy fingerless gloves £1
A bright green short sleeved M and S kids sweater with  a white Lacy collar £2.