Charity Shopping - bargains galore for 2021!

Miró

nightsky224 said:

Anyone used Olio, its a bit like freecycle but with photos I have found a few nice bits for free that I can collect locally on my walks. Also has a section for food waste, worth a look

I downloaded the app on my phone when it first started up but nobody around here seemed to bother with it.  I posted  loads of surplus garden fruit and veg but didn't have many takers!

Lucy5781

I need to donate lots of bits. Have been able to give some of the kids clothes to the nursery/preschool (DS and DD went back this week) for them to use for spares when kids need extra spares after accidents etc, they also often supply them to parents in difficult situations etc, but there's all sorts of stuff I've 'cleared out' that's now awaiting a new home in our porch or tucked away in the corner of our bedroom etc.
Hubby's clothing needs a serious sort out.

Rosa_Damascena

Lucy5781 said:

SO, 12th of April.

Not before the...

I miss the thrill of the chaz.

DigForVictory

Pollycat said:

More info required please, DFV.

The chaps have decided that once the house is mostly sorted, we should then find a puppy for Youngest to extract him from his room, walk him regularly, require him to make small talk with other dog owners & make an attempt at being a social human being. (Us his family have not noticeably succeeded, after all.) His father's spec is "purebred mutt" as in no discernible breeding in a desperate attempt to avoid breed standard inherited ailments & to keep the cost of insurance down, the lad is quite smitten with pictures of spaniels (an idea which has been ruthlessly stomped on - sis had a spaniel & it was an overbred undertrained Idiot) & I wonder if he will ever manage to leave home given the number of places that won't let you rent with a visible pet. I have met & got on excellently with various Great Danes but those pups are priced at their weight in gold. 
I gather charity shops also do toys which dogs can chew rend disembowel etc thus saving a bundle on Official Pet Toys. I 'm beginning to think Denby a simple relatively harmless hobby.

luvchocolate

The staff will be very busy re merchandising..when they closed they were full winter clothing and they will need to do a big change to spring. 
Glad I've retired!!!

General_Grant

nightsky224 said:

Anyone used Olio, its a bit like freecycle but with photos I have found a few nice bits for free that I can collect locally on my walks. Also has a section for food waste, worth a look

Seeing your post I wondered what this was but see it must require a smartphone as it seems to require an app to be downloaded.  Is that correct?

goldfinches

General_Grant said:

nightsky224 said:

Anyone used Olio, its a bit like freecycle but with photos I have found a few nice bits for free that I can collect locally on my walks. Also has a section for food waste, worth a look

Seeing your post I wondered what this was but see it must require a smartphone as it seems to require an app to be downloaded.  Is that correct?

I believe so. I have seen @Mrs_Cheshire mentioning using it on the Grocery Challenge threads last month and during Dec. '20 I think and gathered it was a way of obtaining free or very low cost food that would otherwise go to waste but that's the extent of my knowledge. 

Pollycat

General_Grant said:

nightsky224 said:

Anyone used Olio, its a bit like freecycle but with photos I have found a few nice bits for free that I can collect locally on my walks. Also has a section for food waste, worth a look

Seeing your post I wondered what this was but see it must require a smartphone as it seems to require an app to be downloaded.  Is that correct?

I looked at it too - on my laptop.

Apparently it's:

the "#1 free sharing app.

On OLIO, you’ll find millions of people giving away food & other household items to their neighbours, all for free.

Fight waste. Help your neighbours. Save our planet. Feel amazing!

with 2.6 million users (I think that's globally).

According to the website,

In the UK the average family throws away 22% of their weekly shop, which is worth £730 per year.

I'd guess not many of us posting on this board are included in that.

There's a list of places in the UK that Olio is active.

I've clicked randomly on half a dozen (I'm suffering lockdown fever aka boredom) and there's nothing available.

But in my town there's 3 things listed - 2 food related, 1 picture.

Maybe it works better in cities.

I looked at Birmingham, there's a few things like sandwiches but they were listed about a year ago.

And a small tub of tomato soup that says 'use by 7:30pm' (Eh??) also from a year ago.

And 3 empty jars (from 10 months ago).

It's really confusing to me - as though the offers are not being refreshed and removed once they're gone..

Footpather

I have Olio and Too Good To Go apps on my phone. There is often bread/confectionery and veg on Olio but not really close enough to make it worthwhile or eco friendly. On the Too Good to go they have 'Magic Bags' at various places. These are usually £3-£4 and are basically the reduced items that are left over I believe. They look like some of them are worth it. Again they are either not viable for distance or I have missed them. These are put on regularly throughout the day. 

D123456789

I used olio today for the first time, had some fridge items I knew we wouldn’t use and within 4 minutes of posting, a local lady said she would like them and within an hour there was a contactless collection from my doorstep. It was very easy.