Shop Charity in '23!

mrsjaw

retiredinfrance said:

@Coxy11, I’m 5ft2, like you. I tried some on once and I just looked dumpy - so I’m staying with the skinnies. Even straight ones looked dumpy!
Like many moneysavers I’m a great charity shop fan , but like @Cherryfudge , I’ve got a big stock of 100% cashmere and wool jumpers, some new and sone CS bargains. I’ve been stocking up as I hate acrylics etc and can see wool being way above my budget. But enoughs enough. 

I love reading about and seeing your finds. Here in France I am very fortunate in that there are three very good shops within reasonable distance and very good prices as well. When I go to visit DS in Cheltenham I browse the shops on the Bath Road but the prices are much higher than here. Since I’m also a declutterer I’m trying to limit CS buys, with some success on the nicknack front.
Still, the shops get me out , offer coffee, cake and chat. My dream is to visit Otley!
Happy NewYear to a

I too used to live in France - the Mayenne region of the Pays de la Loire.  We didn't have any charity shops near us at all, the nearest we got were Emmaus.  Have you an Emmaus near you?  They used to be fabulous for pots, pans, bits of furniture etc.  I still use the beautiful cut glass flutes and wine glasses that I got form there and I've been back in England 11 years now.

retiredinfrance

Bonjour, @mrsjaw. Yes, we have an Emmaus near us. I used to buy books, old and new linens, haberdashery and occasionally a piece of furniture. I donate to them but haven’t been in a long time due to better sources for books and we have all the furnishings we need. The new linens I refer to were box sets of sheets  and or pillowcases from the 1950’s with exuberant embroidery on top quality linen or cotton for not much money and the old linens are the old style French linen sheets. The sizes of the old sheets are curious and so I have them all piled up on the top shelf of our walk-in airing- room le dressing in French. I gave some to my sister but she sold them to a dealer ! I know the Oays de la Loire and Mayenne. We are much further south , but I did research the area when we decided to retire to France.Bon Courage and Bonne Année.

Miró

Cor blimey…..battled thro Storm Wotsit to Looe from our Chrimbo hideaway in Devon today and found a couple of chazza shops open 😁.  It would have been rude not to go in wouldn’t it?  Came away with a pair of b/n Jasper Conran burgundy ankle grazer trousers from the BHF shop sale…£3.  Not tried on yet, after all the Chrimbo food + cream teas + pasties may well not fit ☹️

Miró

retiredinfrance said:

Bonjour, @mrsjaw. Yes, we have an Emmaus near us. I used to buy books, old and new linens, haberdashery and occasionally a piece of furniture. I donate to them but haven’t been in a long time due to better sources for books and we have all the furnishings we need. The new linens I refer to were box sets of sheets  and or pillowcases from the 1950’s with exuberant embroidery on top quality linen or cotton for not much money and the old linens are the old style French linen sheets. The sizes of the old sheets are curious and so I have them all piled up on the top shelf of our walk-in airing- room le dressing in French. I gave some to my sister but she sold them to a dealer ! I know the Oays de la Loire and Mayenne. We are much further south , but I did research the area when we decided to retire to France.Bon Courage and Bonne Année.

Oooooh envious of your linens!  I recently acquired a set of French Metis bed linen…..still ‘breaking’ it in but likingi t so far!

mrsjaw

retiredinfrance said:

Bonjour, @mrsjaw. Yes, we have an Emmaus near us. I used to buy books, old and new linens, haberdashery and occasionally a piece of furniture. I donate to them but haven’t been in a long time due to better sources for books and we have all the furnishings we need. The new linens I refer to were box sets of sheets  and or pillowcases from the 1950’s with exuberant embroidery on top quality linen or cotton for not much money and the old linens are the old style French linen sheets. The sizes of the old sheets are curious and so I have them all piled up on the top shelf of our walk-in airing- room le dressing in French. I gave some to my sister but she sold them to a dealer ! I know the Oays de la Loire and Mayenne. We are much further south , but I did research the area when we decided to retire to France.Bon Courage and Bonne Année.

Merci, et vous la meme x

Cherryfudge

I'm carrying this list across from Fashion on the Ration: here are my charity, 3bay and car boot clothes buys from 2023:

2 charity shop balls of yarn
pink cardigan
blue jumper
Fitflop sheepskin boots
Dark red leather bag
Bias binding
Embroidery threads
Scarf
Grey Nike running top
Cross-body bag
Coast dress - was too small 
Trekking sandals
Ribbon
Another Coast dress
Sundry carboot sale items - not listed separately
Trainers
Green embroidered top
Another pink cardigan
Pink pashmina
Blue jumper
Toddler dress
Khaki embroidered shirt
winter weight slippers
Wallet
Blue joggers
Chambray dress
white ASOS tee shirt
Blue and pink M&S jumper
orange cushion
2 tee shirts 
green and white smart shirt
light mustard-coloured chenille jumper
scarf to match
red printed scarf
light blue Fat Face tee shirt
black tee shirt
red merino cardigan
grey wrap
white Craghopper tee shirt
blue polo shirt
Shein jeans
pyjamas
East Shirt, blue linen
Pink lacey jumper
Monsson black sleeveless tee shirt
Blue striped top
Dark grey Primark cardigan

Of those, I've re-donated a pink cardigan, khaki shirt, chambray dress, M&S jumper and polo shirt.

Of course I've bought quite a few other things as well but I wasn't logging those. Looking at it all together, I'm thinking 'What a lot!'

YoungBlueEyes

I agree with @Cherryfudge I don't think it's "cheapskate" to buy presents from chazzers, I think it's down to patience and luck that I can spend £2 on something himself will love rather than £150 for the same thing. I got him a hardback set of Max Hastings war books that are perfect for him and he loves them. I got my posh friend a dinky little beady/jewel-y handbag for £5 that is just perfect for her, and himself's 'orrible sisters got Joules scarves and slippers (bnib) which they love cos they're all about the name. What does it matter what stuff costs? It's good budgeting and common sense imo Himself is learning too - he bought me a book of maps which is pure brilliant. I'll take a pic and put it on here when the sun gets up. 

I hope they keep going with the negative press though, might bring the prices down a bit ha haa! 

YoungBlueEyes

Map book - front, back and a closeup. Lucky I’ve got a magnifying glass! (from a cs, naturally). 

Cherryfudge

@YoungBlueEyes, the maps look fun! There's a company that specialises in curious maps (not Ordnance Survey ): I keep seeing their adverts but of course I can't remember the name.

Yours are in their right place here: I can see 'Pile of Debt' in one corner.

YoungBlueEyes

The whole book's like that Cherryfudge, it's amazing. Honestly one of the best presents I've ever had  

Edit - even though you'd think it'd take years of work to produce it, the lad was only 17 when he did it and it isn't even the first thing he did. His brain is just built the right way for it I think.
Here's his website (warning - it looks like a proper wormhole).   https://www.halcyonmaps.com/