Shop Charity in '23!

Rosa_Damascena

There was an article in Thursday's edition of The Times detailing how you can do Christmas on the cheap by way of the chaz. The prices the author was bragging about made my eyes water, well beyond my threshold for impulse expenditure.

Having said that I had some time off this week and used it to tidy up and review my expenditure. At least 50% of my receipts were from charity shops, and I am surprised how much I have accrued - in fact the sheer volume of it is stressing me out. Hence I am now giving stuff I haven't used and don't need away on Olio and Gumtree, hopefully it will make Christmas a little bit easier for some people. 

What I can't bear to part with are my books unless they are an unwitting duplicate / triplicate copy!

Miró

Dressed like Nanook of the North I braved Northallerton today and came away with a Viyella jersey dress in a camel colour, appears b/n.  From the Blue Cross chazza and £8.  Not sure if it has trendy 1950/60’s vibes or  just  has fuddy duddy, middle aged lady vibes but anyhoo I love it! 😁

Brie

Was looking for some info in my various art books and have discovered that I've got a duplicate....both bought used so not big expenditure but annoying.

Coxy11

Hi all,

I have started my new job - one week in and not exactly loving it BUT there are 2 CSs within walking distance so at least somewhere to go at lunchtime. Both seem a bit on the pricey side though (£3 for a supermarket mug that was probably £3 new....) Ho Hum.

I did get a BN 0.8 Retap water bottle yesterday though - 49p in Oxfam. Not sure if this is one of their new ranges that they sell as it was the only one on the shelf alongside the bamboo reusable cups etc. Will be used for work. 

https://www.nordicnest.com/brands/retap/retap-glass-bottle-08-l/?variantId=17569-06&country=GB&msclkid=57362d97ef2b18f8e0cc48fba22e1baa&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=bb-uk-shopping&utm_term=4583863981827109&utm_content=Ad%20group%20%231

Lovely dress @Miró 

Floss

Not what you'd expect to find in a charity shop 😳😳

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-67589010

Miró

Age Concern, Bedale this afty….bnwt Osprey purse in tan, £10.  Went to the Chrimbo Fayre/Market/Llghts Switch On and couldn’t resist calling into the two chazza shops that were open.  Think the mulled wine went to my head……pricy & didn’t need!  *adds to gift box* 🙄

Rosa_Damascena

Floss said:

Not what you'd expect to find in a charity shop 😳😳

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-67589010

Wow! I love that history is literally under our feet!

For anyone that is interested, there is loads of Philippa Langley (of Richard III) stuff online, plus the recent C4 expose which added weight to the argument that the princes in the tower did in fact survive and attempt to challenge the throne.

Rosa_Damascena

My resolve to stay out of chazzers crumbled today - but to my credit I only bought the one thing for 75p and put it to use in my bathroom window - crucially, in my sightline as I sit in my study - to introduce a bit of hygge to proceedings:

Cherryfudge

That's very pretty, Rosa. I like the colour, it's indeed hygge. 

I think resolving to stay out of charity shops is like dieting - you end up thinking more about it than normal, and getting more tempted.

I have far too many clothes and am slow to donate, though a couple of bulky items have gone recently. Over 2023 I've drastically cut down on the amount of yarn I buy, even from charity shops (encouraged by the wonderful world of Fashion on the Ration). I'm probably verging on SABLE: stash acquisition beyond life expectancy. My charity shop visits are therefore mostly about looking out for particular books or china - and I still manage to come home with stuff.

I was wondering what my favourite charity shop buys of the year have been and whether there are any I've regretted. The one that stands out as real treasure is something that only appeals to a niche group, but it was a notebook of someone's wartime knitting patterns. I've also added a few vintage Denby pieces - I use that set every day but it's been out of production since 1987, so I count them as practically an investment. They've outlived many of their original owners and despite their age, Denby tells me they are dishwasher safe. Oh, and a Le Creuset frying pan that will definitely last forever. Again, I have my feet on a stone hot water bottle - so cosy!

Not this year but last, I got a nearly-new microwave and an Instant Pot at car boots and both get a fair amount of use and are still going strong. Those have been very MS as initial purchases - I think one was a fiver and one was £25. No idea how much they've saved in terms of energy and a cheap way to make yogurt and casseroles, but it has to have added up.

Regrets? (I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention... ) I did go a bit crazy with cosy winter jumpers over the summer car boot season. Two have since been rehomed but, sitting here waiting for a heating engineer to ring back, I can't say I regret being provident.

What stands out to the rest of you in terms of 'treasure' and regrets? I found it quite hard to limit my treasures, there were too many!

Miró

Monday, Samaritan’s shop, Ripon….found these FiFlop boots for £15, as new.  Might go nicely with recently acquired jersey dress.



Apologies for the woodchip....hate, hate, HATE it!