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Original poster

Can I just say how much I LOVE charity shops

132 replies

BillyJoe111 · 07/09/2021 13:59

So I wanted to get dd one of those activity center things shaped like a car for her first birthday a couple of weeks ago. Only they are about £80, which we can’t afford. I was a bit gutted, dd didn’t care one bit and was over the moon with a box of wooden blocks.

Walking past a charity shop this morning, guess what was in the window?

Yep, the car activity centre, for £3.50 ShockGrin

All lights and music working perfectly, good as new. Only thing missing was the shapes to put in the shape sorter thing the car door, but, they had a shape sorter for sale for £1 and the shapes are the perfect size Grin

Dd has now been sat in it for 45 mins pressing buttons, and laughing.

So, so happy!

I’m a massive fan of charity shops, especially for baby things, and I always donate when my children have grown out of things and this made my day.

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Bobmonkfish · 07/09/2021 14:08

I love a charity shop find. I donate most things to them too - the things I don't pass on. I like the idea of someone finding a brilliant bargain, though I also worry I get cursed by the charity shop people for all the random crap!

HisSplendidSilentSun · 07/09/2021 14:08

I shop in charity shops far more than regular store, and have done for many years. I enjoy the randomness of will I/Won't I find 'that perfect thing'. Love them.

londonmummy1966 · 07/09/2021 14:29

DD is off to college next week. We found a great charity shop that was selling off glasses at 4 for £1 and chunky casserole dishes for £1 each - took the sting out of the rather costly IKEA trip for essentials.....

BodgertheJogger · 07/09/2021 14:32

I love charity shops too!!
I got an M&S cashmere cardigan for £6 and I love it!

Mabelface · 07/09/2021 14:35

The majority of my clothes and house stuff comes from charity shops

Original poster
BillyJoe111 · 07/09/2021 14:36

@londonmummy1966

DD is off to college next week. We found a great charity shop that was selling off glasses at 4 for £1 and chunky casserole dishes for £1 each - took the sting out of the rather costly IKEA trip for essentials.....
I used to live near a fabulous one that had a huge baking/cooking section. Huge casserole dishes were £2, if I ever needed a certain sized baking tin, I knew I could pick one up there for 50p. I loved that place!
OP posts:
Original poster
BillyJoe111 · 07/09/2021 14:37

@Mabelface

The majority of my clothes and house stuff comes from charity shops
Yes, ours too.

I’ve got a thing for vintage pyrex plates and cookware, I’ve found some amazing bits over the years.

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/09/2021 14:44

I think some people are ‘charity shop whisperers’ - they can find the most amazing things in charity shops - the perfect toy, a lovely garment in their size, a bagful of gorgeous yarn, a stack of books they want to read - and some of us just aren’t. If you have it, it’s a great talent to have!

I have a friend who always found great things in charity shops, whereas I rarely did - I was jealous!

ParadiseLaundry · 07/09/2021 14:44

What a find! Well done op.

I got a VTech Toot Toot garage along with loads of the cars for £2. £2! We gave it to DS for his 2nd birthday. I was so pleased with myself Grin

Original poster
BillyJoe111 · 07/09/2021 14:47

@ParadiseLaundry

What a find! Well done op.

I got a VTech Toot Toot garage along with loads of the cars for £2. £2! We gave it to DS for his 2nd birthday. I was so pleased with myself Grin

Most of my children’s presents have come from charity shops over the years.

I stopped telling MIL, she thinks it’s horrendous and awful parenting. But tell me what toddler cares where the toy they love comes from, ans to be fair, if we had to buy new it would be slim pickings!

My 7 year old loves a good rummage for clothes and books.

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Billandben444 · 07/09/2021 14:53

I've just started as a volunteer in one of our charity shops (after 5 yes of total inertia!) and I love seeing people delighted with their finds! Ever since my grandson was little, we trotted along to donate toys he'd outgrown so other children could enjoy them as much as he had.

illuyankas · 07/09/2021 14:59

I love charity shops too. I bought so many books and toys for my dc over the years.
Best find for me was huge box of lego for £4, Wooden dolls house with lots of furniture for £4.50 and huge box of kinex for £10. Dc spent so much great time with them, and now they went back to charity shops, probably entertaining children at someone's home.

Thanksihateit · 07/09/2021 15:05

This thread is so well timed! Yesterday I got an immaculate John Lewis cashmere jumper for £10, and a Hobbs merino wool jumper for £5. I also picked up a really cute blouse for £4, and an unworn-with-tags Boden long sleeved top for my DS(7) for £4.

CheekyAFAIK · 07/09/2021 15:05

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

I think some people are ‘charity shop whisperers’ - they can find the most amazing things in charity shops - the perfect toy, a lovely garment in their size, a bagful of gorgeous yarn, a stack of books they want to read - and some of us just aren’t. If you have it, it’s a great talent to have!

I have a friend who always found great things in charity shops, whereas I rarely did - I was jealous!

It's purely about how much time you spend looking, and knowing the good ones. Some of them are not worth looking in tbh. You want an area that is affluent enough to have good quality stuff.
Thanksihateit · 07/09/2021 15:07

My best ever find was a Hermés scarf for £4 and a Burberry duffle for £35.

furbabymama87 · 07/09/2021 15:09

I think they used to be good, now the ones by me stock a load of crap and charge too much. Now and again I might find something good.

Skritt · 07/09/2021 15:09

There's no charity shops where I live Sad and it's the one thing I miss! They're so good for clothes and books, whenever I have a rare weekend away a large portion of it will be spent on a charity shop hunt!

Fieldsoftripe9 · 07/09/2021 15:17

I used to love them but finding them far too expensive now. Some of the prices are ridiculous. Little miss book collection brand new is £32 amazon, its £22 in my local charity shop with a few books missing!

SpittinKitten · 07/09/2021 15:20

I've just picked up a mint condition violin in a case with spare strings for a tenner Smile

My neighbours are gonna love me Grin

BodgertheJogger · 07/09/2021 15:29

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

I think some people are ‘charity shop whisperers’ - they can find the most amazing things in charity shops - the perfect toy, a lovely garment in their size, a bagful of gorgeous yarn, a stack of books they want to read - and some of us just aren’t. If you have it, it’s a great talent to have!

I have a friend who always found great things in charity shops, whereas I rarely did - I was jealous!

I'm good at it because my Grandma taught me how to budget and how to go round charity shops. We used to do a tour as a child and say hello to her various friends behind the counters. Doing that with her is one of my most tender memories. She got some amazing bargains and was a snappy dresser. I like to think I'm the same.
BodgertheJogger · 07/09/2021 15:32

@furbabymama87

I think they used to be good, now the ones by me stock a load of crap and charge too much. Now and again I might find something good.
Even as a sesoned charity shopper I definitely get this. There's some definite shit that should be thrown away because it shouldn't be sold and some that is both this and over priced. Oxfam is a bugger for this. I'm killing the vibe here but selling mud caked knackered trainers for £15 is not acceptable. Like I said though, there's some cracking bargains to be had. Got a mini Boden fleece lined hoodie for £1 in fairly good condition
EvenRosesHaveThorns · 07/09/2021 15:33

I bought jeans & a top from two of my favourite brands, fit me perfectly, last week for £8.50. Over the moon, cannot afford shop price and a new outfit is a big deal

Thanksihateit · 07/09/2021 15:38

I'm killing the vibe here but selling mud caked knackered trainers for £15 is not acceptable.

Totally agree with this. Some of the toys in a charity shop near me are excellent but some are in really poor condition - last week there was a large dolls’ house covered in biro scribbles and paint marks for £30, and a toy kitchen that should have gone to the tip. But the same shop sells immaculate-condition books for 20p and I’ve had some lovely clothes in there too

Ladyrattles · 07/09/2021 15:39

Every so often DH and I go and do what we call the 'Charity Shop Run' as there's loads on the same street here. Sounds lame but it's an afternoon out we both really enjoy, especially when we pop into a cafe or bakery at the end. We've been doing it since university as it's all we could afford back then.

Original poster
BillyJoe111 · 07/09/2021 15:41

The ones in my local town are really good - it’s not an affluent area at all, but it’s fantastic for baby and children’s things and brilliant if you like more vintage things as I do, like furniture and crockery.

The best place place I found for charity shops is Worcester. I’m about 40 mins away and I love going there for a rummage every few months.

It’s funny because Dh family are from here and are so stuffy about charity shops, won’t even entertain the idea.

I used to live in a really affluent area and every one used the charity shops. I think they thought I was like them, using them to be green and thrifty and not because I couldn’t afford new Grin

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