2025 GOALS
19/25 classes
24/100 books
We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Shop Charity in '23!
Comments
-
Well, my chazza fairy seems to be back in residence!!
Called into the St Gemma's shop yesterday and, as handbags are my 'thing', I perused the bag section as usual. I picked up a light tan cross body bag and noticed the name 'Longchamp'* lightly embossed into the leather the front of the bag, *'ping'.... spidey senses alerted!!". Looked at the price tag...£4.75 so instantly thought dupe/replica/fake. Never had a Longchamp bag so didn't really know what I was looking at or for but the hardware looked very good quality, (heavy, no sharp corners, all stamped with the makers name even the zip pulls and rivets), small leather tag inside in the lining had a serial number on it and the lining had the Longchamp name and horsey emblem woven into it. Looked brand new and unused as not a mark on it. Gave the bag a good sniff but it didn't smell of leather so I eventually decided to leave it. Of course I then couldn't stop thinking about it so did a squiz on t'interweb when I got home and found three for sale on EBay for serious money and everything I had noticed about the bag appeared to indicate that it was genuine. (The lack of leather smell seems to be because it was 'coated leather' rather than being the more usual 'natural veg tanned', but that makes it more rainproof, harder wearing and less prone to the colour fading. Sooooo, first thing this morning I'm outside the shop waiting for it to open, heart thumping...YES!!! it was still there.
This is the bag in brown, (mine if a light tan colour).
*Mostly known for their foldy uppy shopping/travel bags that were trendy a few years ago thanks to the then Kate Middleton! Somewhere between Radley and Mulberry in the handbag hierarchy.
Thank you for listening to my TED talk!!!18 -
In stereo!!!!
Lovely bag, Miro!6 -
@Coxy11, I wonder how many charities have benefitted overall from your walk? Not only the ones you raised money for, but the shops you called at on the way! Double win.
@Miró, great find, well done! You must be so pleased with that lovely bag!I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/226 -
wondercollie said:@Cherryfudge, great find. I love bone china and prefer teasets not to be covered in roses!No man is worth crawling on this earth.
So much to read, so little time.5 -
Rosa_Damascena said:wondercollie said:@Cherryfudge, great find. I love bone china and prefer teasets not to be covered in roses!I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/225 -
@Miró the chazzer fairy always returns eventually in my experience. Love the idea of a handbag brand hierarchy: me and DH have similar for gin😂.
Not too many shopping opportunities of late but I did get this Boden dress for £5 That’s not me in the pictures sadly.
12 -
Lovely dress @Potternerd
I found a 100% Cashmere M&S jumper in Age Concern today for £7.95. I thoroughly checked it for holes and glad to say it’s intact. A beautiful shade of pale blue.Cross-stitch WIP: Haberdashery Shop Fiver Friday challenge 2025 founding member 😊 Read 25 books in 2025 17/25 Currently reading The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths8 -
Went out to Ballater today.
Found a couple of bargains in the Clan Cancer Charity shop there.
BNWT Adidas tight black & white gym leggings for £6.50 (£19.99 new from Decathlon apparently)
M&S bootleg jeans for £4.50
Replacement Norah Jones album for 25p (I scratched my other copy)
“I want to be a glow worm, A glow worm's never glum'Coz how can you be grumpy, when the sun shines out your bum?" ~ Dr A. TappingI'm finding my way back to sanity again... but I don't really know what I'm gonna do when I get there~ LifehouseWhat’s fur ye will make go by ye… but also what’s not fur ye, ye can jist scroll on by!6 -
I had a reasonably successful chazzer-experience this week.
I took a break from work on Friday afternoon to run an errand, and dropped by at the Essex Air Ambulance on the way back - buying 3 books for 25p each, a BN bronze hanging rail and a small bell that should clean up nicely, both £1 each. Then I dropped into my favourite chaz (traffic stacking up on the main road back home which I interpreted as a divine instruction to divert) and bought a long summer skirt, a Next smart cream blouse and jacket for work, and spangly top for evenings out on fat days for a grand total of £10.
I didn't set out to visit any chazzers yesterday, but the good lord had other plans for me. So I ended up buying 6 new CDs - including the soundtracks for West Side Story and Frozen, I have others on my list - for £2.50, a couple of wine glasses for 50p and a book for 75p.No man is worth crawling on this earth.
So much to read, so little time.5 -
I haven't bought anything for a while. I was passing the St Vincent's shop during the week, so I popped in, but nothing caught my eye.
3
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.3K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.7K Spending & Discounts
- 244.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.1K Life & Family
- 257.7K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards