To miss charity shops

[Titterofwit]

Just that .
I miss being able to just go to a shop for no reason and mooch about picking things up and putting them down. Sometimes buying things I dont need and then donating them again several months later.
Having an hour just touring round the local ones and checking out the books and DVD shelves for something new. Trying on shoes - trying on shoes!
I never spent much money but I often spent a few quid each week on little things . A couple of books, a top, a decorative bowl. I wonder how the charities are doing now .My pattern must be repeated in the 100s of thousands over the county.

I really miss charity shops.

I've got a big pile to donate. I keep looking at it thinking i should take it to the tip but I'm holding off for a bit cos it's in good condition

I had a dream about shopping in a charity shop 😥
I miss them so much
And I also miss being able to donate..

Me too

I miss them too, very much! They have always been my preferred venue for clothes shopping, books and home bits. I can't wait for the day we can browse again!

In Melbourne we're out of lockdown now and my God, did I miss what we call op shops. I had tons of good stuff to donate, and love the books and DVDs.

They've been open for quite a while now, though so inundated with stuff they often only take donations on some days and pick though it before accepting. I don't blame them.

Ok this is really evil of me but...

I cannot wait for them to reopen because the amount of people I’ve heard moaning about putting on lockdown weight and all the online shopping they’ve been doing, charity shops are going to be bursting at the seams! Like cherry trees ripe for the plucking

I love charity shops! I don't really like to buy anything new, except underwear, shoes and socks. My DC's read a lot so I'd often donate a bag of books and buy another bag to take home. Everyone around me seems to be saving loads of money during this pandemic, but I've found I've never spent so much!

I've found my people! A nice Saturday for me was visiting all the charity shops on the high street with DD looking for clothes and books.

For those wanting to donate, you can send donations to Shelter FOC

england.shelter.org.uk/support_us/shops/donate_to_a_shelter_shop/pack_and_post

Yes I do
Although, I've downloaded the olio app.
It's like Freecycle.
DS is a nightmare to buy things for due to sensory processing issues. He has outgrown his trainers so I didn't want to buy some online as I've done that before for him to hate them because of a random but in them that his sensory issues take offense to.
Someone on olio locally had a pair of Adidas in his size, and everything on there is free so I asked for them and now he has trainers. That way if he had of found something annoying on them I hadn't wasted money.

I miss them too.

I miss them too, and libraries. I've got loads to donate but I cant wait till I can go and mooch again

I miss them too, I know which shops are best for different things, and I love picking up huge soft jumpers to slob around in, or baggy t-shirts to wear in the garden. It seems wasteful somehow to ruin new clothes painting the house etc.
Charity shops always have plenty of "grandad chic" stuff, and I've picked up several vintage rock band t-shirts for teenage DD too.

I'm trying not to buy new items, especially clothes for myself. I've been putting off purchases as I'm waiting for the charity shops to open.

Yes me too, I used to love the random range of books and DVDs, shopping in any other way just isn't the same!

Yes!

DS17 likes to find his designer/branded clothes there. It's the only reason he has thing alike Levi's 😂

We were the exact opposite, we're a large store and just got inundated with donations, we could accept 3 bags per customer and had 3 pens worth full by 1pm (we were opening at 10am and had people queuing outside). The annoying thing is that some of it was rubbish and we were probably turning away good stuff because of it.

The charity I volunteer for was asking people to make appointments to drop things off, and because we were told we has to quarantine for 3 days, there was only so much we could take and store. We had to limit to 3 days a week for donations, and about 12 appointments a day. That's a fraction of what we'd usually get. I did take my own stuff in though, as I knew it was items we'd sell. And accepted the odd bag from someone who had clearly made the effort to come along specially.

Can't wait to be back though. God knows what we're going to do with all the cards, christmas food and decorations we usually sell in a 50% sale in January - nobody's going to want them in March or April or whenever.

Can't wait to be back though. God knows what we're going to do with all the cards, christmas food and decorations we usually sell in a 50% sale in January - nobody's going to want them in March or April or whenever.

I hope it all goes smoothly when you finally re-open. But also don’t underestimate people’s love of a bargain, there will be people who normally buy their Xmas cards/decs/stuff for reduced prices in the January sales who missed out and will probably be keen to get them when they can. And others who just like a good deal!

YANBU I miss mooching about in them getting books for a fraction of the price. I hate paying full price for something I'll only probably read once.
Roll on a few months time!

Absolutely. Money is tight and I get most of my clothes from charity shops. Books are bought, read and donated back. When the kids were little, most of their toys and books were from our local hospice shop and if I managed to get their winter coats there it was a massive saving. I don't know how I would've coped without charity shops if this lockdown had happened 10 years ago. I really hope they get back on track this year.

@skintandannoyed

YANBU I miss mooching about in them getting books for a fraction of the price. I hate paying full price for something I'll only probably read once. Roll on a few months time!

Use your library !

Ours does "ready reads", they'll out together about 6 books for you, based in your requests.

Free and easy!

Are you sure no charities are collecting in your area?

One of our neighbours works for a charity. Their van came to our road a few weeks ago and collected an entire van of stuff. They have been given warehouse space (may be unused office space) and have a website but mostly getting it ready for their shops I think.

I am sure that other charities are still doing collections?