Have you ever found exactly what you were looking for in a charity shop?

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On Monday I listened to a Radio play of The Woman In White and it reminded me of how much I love that book and that I needed to get a copy. The copy I wanted was The Penguin English Library Classics version.

The next day I went into a small local(ish) charity shop and the exact book that I wanted was sitting there so I got it, for only £1:50 so I bought it.

It was a very nice coincidence that made my week so I wondered if anyone else has been looking for a specific thing in a charity shop, jumble sale or similar and found it?

We once went to the beach and the DC ended up in the water fountains, as we are not that far away we go to the town rather than just a trip to the beach. Obviously they were soaked, so I ran into the nearest charity shop to pick up some things. I got dd1 a skort, she absolutely loved in and it became a firm favourite, I only got it because it was what they had in her size rather than it being a meaningful purchase.

If there's something I need or want, I usually have a walk around the local charity shops first and it's surprising how often I've found something that's near enough what I was looking for. I've found the exact books I wanted, a lovely waterproof jacket for DH, a vintage brooch for when I had to dress up in period costume, a beautiful vintage teapot that is from the same set as my coffee pot, a small lead crystal vase for cut flowers from the garden, a lovely wooden cantilever sewing box and so many other things over the years. When the DCs were at primary school and we had the standard short notice of a dressing-up costume needed in a few days' time, I'd scour the charity shops and usually found something suitable or easily adaptable. Money saved, if not time and effort!

The museum was selling these exquisite cloches handpainted with flowers. I really wanted one but they ranged from $75 to $150 so that wasn't happening.

One turned up in the local opshop for $15. I also bought a Riedel wineglass for $3. They hold a whole bottle of wine and retail for $90 each. I actually have NFI what they are supposed to be for.

a couple of weeks ago someone on here posted that their Joseph Joseph microwave rice cooker was a great money saver Vs using the hob. We eat a lot of rice so I had one in my Amazon basket to buy but went to the charity shop and there it was! £3! They are £22 new

We have 6 charity shops in our town. I start there and if no luck I buy new.
My adult son has a wardrobe full of designer shirts from our local shop. I used to work in the sector so I know who has what. And I never buy China or glass new. Complete waste of money.

Yea. My mother had a favourite little handbag which wore out. She spent ages liking for one like it, I scoured the internet and in person looking for one…nothing similar around.
I was calling into her from work one day and hopped on a bus, which stopped at a charity shop. Something told me to go in, and there was the bag…absolutely perfect and only €2! She was over the moon.

Yes. Was looking for an outfit for a family party, had the day off work, and decided to have a wander into a few charity shops to look at the books before doing clothes shopping. In the first charity shop I went to, I found a lovely dress from Oasis which fit me perfectly, was in great condition, and was only £6. I was so pleased 😊

Yes 🤣
My sons buggy broke while in town and I thought shit what am I going to do!
Looked left at the charity shop we were almost outside and in the window a brand new buggy (blue with dinosaurs on so one I'd definitely buy).
I paid the fiver and sighed with relief 🤣
In all the 20 years I've lived in the town I've never seen a buggy sold before or after in the charity shop 😳 it's usually clothes only!

Yes - mother of the bride outfit. I couldn't find exactly what I wanted in the shops but did on Oxfam online.

Glass plate for a sea glass project. Just perfect for what I needed and they gave it to me for £1!

My child was due to dress up as a crocodile for a school event. Popped into a charity shop and they had the most perfect green onesie in their size for just £1!

Mirror over my fireplace. Looked off and on over a few years for a mirror. Even had vouchers from Next at one point specifically for a mirror.

Walked past a charity shop and saw the perfect one in their window. £8 well spent 😊

DD vomited all over herself at the beginning of a day out. We went into a charity shop and found nice jeans and tshirt in her size, almost identical to those she'd thrown up on! Cost £2.50 in total.

Yes . A set of duck egg blue Nigella Lawson living kitchen storage jars . We moved house and the removals man tripped up coming down the ramp and dropped the box they were in and smashed the lot . They weren't being made any more , and I searched everywhere, eBay , auction sites , you name it .

And then I wandered into our local Sue Ryder shop one day , and there they all were . For £12 .

I've never handed over cash so fast , and I skipped back to my car like a kid .

When my son was younger he liked a couple of expensive brand names for clothes, I didn’t have the budget to buy them new. Looked through the charity shops every time I went into town and it was amazing how often they turned up and in his size I was able to get him several outfits so he could have the same as his friends. Also I have a huge high and wide bay window in my lounge and had old curtains that didn’t meet in the middle, in one charity shop I found brand new curtains in the size I needed ( they must have been specially made as you couldn’t get the size off the shelf so no idea why they had never been used) in the right colour and for a bargain price, it felt like a miracle.

Yes! I've had a citrus press in my amazon basket for a while but couldn't justify the price, so it's just sat there. Walked into a charity shop two weeks ago and there was one for £2. I snapped it up quick!

Yes, I was moaning about the price of Northface jackets in JD sports as my 12 year old had outgrown his last one, popped into our local charity shop and the jacket in a bigger size was there for 8 quid, fits him perfectly and in tip top condition.

Yes! When dd was 2 she was a ring bearer at a civil partnership. I wanted a comfortable dress for her that felt a bit special. Hadn’t even started looking “properly” and was in local charity shop who were having a 99p kid’s clothes day. I found an age 3 Monsoon dark pink silky dress with little roses round the neckline. Should have been mid length but was ankle length on dd at the time which was perfect for the occasion. She loved it and looked gorgeous. Went on to wear it for two more years until it wouldn’t go over her head - multiple parties, family events etc. DD always wanted to wear her 99p dress. It was in good enough condition to donate back to the charity shop when it was finally outgrown. Loved that dress!

A couple of years ago I was reading my daughter the Harry Potter books. For some reason, one was missing from my collection (Prisoner of Azkaban). On the off chance I went into the only charity shop round here and in its very small selection of maybe 4 shelves of books, the only Harry Potter book they had happened to be the very one I was seeking. Okay, finding the one book out of a set of 7 may not be that special but they probably only had 50-60 books in there at all. And the book in question was almost 20 years after its release date.

Yes! I woke up one morning really wanting a bubble timer toy that I'd had as a child for a sensory bag I was making for work. I went to town a few hours later and the exact one I'd envisioned was on a charity shop shelf for £1. Was a bit spooky!

I was once invited to a fancy dress party where everyone was asked to dress as “something beginning with M” I gave it some thought and decided I’d like to dress as Morticia Adams. Went round the charity shops thinking that I might be able to find a black dress that I could adapt. In the 3rd one was a perfect gothic style “vampish” dress. And in my size! Cost me £6, and no sewing necessary!
I love charity shops!

I did. But actually found it cheaper in a shop near by. When did charity shops get so expensive

A few years ago I decided to re-read the Poldark books but I only had the first 6 and was planning to get the others from the library again. The next day I went into my local Oxfam and found brand new editions of the next three books in the series.

It doesn't happen to me very often though. There are a few old books which I've been looking out for for years!

When DHs grandparents died, we asked MIL for their trifle bowl with matching little serving bowls. She asked DH how many of the little bowls we wanted and for whatever reason he said 4 (to go with a huge trifle bowl, when we regularly have 8 or more at Christmas!).

She saved us 4, and sent the rest to her local charity shop. When she next visited and dropped them off, I had a covid jab appointment on this weird industrial estate with a random charity junk shop. I went in and found 8 little bowls to match the 4 we had. It was a different charity on the other side of the country to where MIL donated them, so not the same ones just a very weird coincidence.

Quite a few times over the years. Most notable was a Denby dinner service from Morningside Oxfam in just the right turquoise shade for my kitchen.

Also remember a Barbour coat for DH when his old one disintegrated, zillions of book titles and the right sized dog basket. And a new leather purse, large enough for cards and things, after my old one wore through.

But mostly, it's the serendipity of finding wonderful stuff you didn't know you wanted.

Why didn’t you pay &3 but then donate the rest back?