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?

Yes, I decided next time we went to the Posh kitchen shop. I was getting an Aeropress with my birthday money. Then I walked into the chazza and there was a Brenda new one for £2!

I got spectacularly lucky. I always wished for a few vintage Indian brass bells, handmade, they're super expensive. I found a whole string of them (about £200 worth) for £3 in my local shop! Also in another shop I saw a brand new Dartington vase for £2. I took it to the till & told the cashier to change the price on it as that model was £70 in the shops. I don't think they recognised it.

DS spotted some party hats in a charity shop window and got very excited as it's almost his fourth birthday. We went in to ask if they were for sale and they weren't. I thought it was so mean!

My mother was rushed into hospital and I rushed across the country without time to pack anything. I then went to Oxfam, where I found, in my size, which is not petite, two nice blouses, a skirt* and a dark green wool jacket with the pockets still sewn shut, all in colours which made a serious looking outfit. I am still grateful for that, though do wonder if the previous owner had slightly predeceased Mum.
*I think the skirt, though I can't identify it as I can the others.

Yes quite recently. I was after a green slouchy hobo style leather handbag. I have so many bags I really couldn't justifying one new from one of my favoured brands. I popped in the charity shop in our village and there was exactly what I wanted, John Lewis leather bag, for a fiver. Looked as though it had never been used.

• justify buying

Kind of. This probably doesn’t count but

Im a huge Manchester United fan. In 2008 they played Chelsea in the Champions league final in Russia. When I was watching the build up, they showed the streets in Moscow, and I noticed lots of pavement sellers were selling Russian dolls of the players (the wooden ones that stack inside each other). I love Russian dolls, and have a couple of Christmas ones, and I wanted this SO badly.

I thought eventually a fan might put theirs on eBay but it never happened. I had an alert set up!

Just before lockdown I volunteered in a charity shop. One day I went in and the manager said he had something for me, and handed me the exact Russian dolls! He didn’t know the significance, just that I love the club. Obviously I gave a big donation.

Couple of months ago, I was watching This Morning and it occurred to me that it might be interesting to read Phillip Schofield's autobiography. I left for the school run a bit early to call into our local charity shop and there it was for 50p. As I reached to pick it up off the bottom shelf, I had a funny feeling. I opened it up, and it was signed by him.

Yes, I wanted a wooden box to keep some fountain pens in, found one that was the perfect size.

DS is obsessed with Nerf guns, and has had some amazing finds, including Nerf Dart Tag blasters and recently a Nerf Vortex blaster, both of which were discontinued years ago. Also a massive one called The Judge, which was a pain as it's a 30 minute walk home if I'm on my own. I now carry darts with me at all times for testing finds like these to make sure they work.