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Original poster

Found money … what should I do !

502 replies

Brighton5555 · 24/02/2022 21:24

Hi so a couple weeks ago I visited my sister and we went around a good few charity shops like we always do when we see each other.

I noticed a lovely patchwork type of quilted blanket that looked like it was hand made ! I paid for it and it’s been still in the carrier bag till this morning as I wanted to wash it first before use

I was checking for any washing instructions on the labels and that’s when I noticed that in one quarter of the blanket it felt different … the more I pressed on that area the more I could almost feel something move so curiously I made a cut and I’ve found money inside

It’s not old notes , it’s uk money and quite a chunk. Most of it in £50 notes and we are talking over £1000, I don’t want to say how many thousands

I don’t know what to do. Go back to the shop? Or keep it

I’m due to go on holiday soon and it would really help with expenses

OP posts:
LetsGoCrazyPurpleBanana · 25/02/2022 13:30

I think those slating the OP are just jealous. I am :) Enjoy it.

ToffeeNotCoffee · 25/02/2022 13:31

@xxxsuper

Biscuit
Whammyyammy · 25/02/2022 13:31

Convert it to holiday currency and enjoy 🥂

xxxsuper · 25/02/2022 13:37

[quote ToffeeNotCoffee]@xxxsuper

Biscuit[/quote]

Not quite sure what that's for Confused

ToffeeNotCoffee · 25/02/2022 13:38

I can’t and won’t feel guilt because I don’t even know where it originates from

@Brighton5555

Good
You legitimately purchased the item. It's not stealing by finding or even finders keepers. (Never mind all the cobblers about old ladies or dementia patients, sure it happens, but with no evidence in this case I say cobblers)

What is you purchased second hand costume jewellery that turned out to be real.

You've done the right thing. You have made two further donations to the relevant charity and benefitted yourself.

You have:
Bothered to purchase an item from a charity shop.
Found the secreted money i.e. not inadvertently ruined the blanket/the money.
Asked around as what to do with the money. (Got a fair bit of blarney as well tbh)
Bothered to go to the bank to deposit it.
Made further donations.
Spent a bit of it on yourself.

End.

CounsellorTroi · 25/02/2022 13:42

Anything given to a charity shop becomes their property until they sell it. Doesn’t that make the money their property?

RedHelenB · 25/02/2022 13:43

I think if the donor can't be found of course some of that money should go to that charity. Tbh, I'd give all.of it but 50/50 I'd probably what most people would think.

hellithurt · 25/02/2022 13:44

@Boombastic22

Take it back to the shop/tell the police! Can’t believe you’d possibly think of keeping it.
Don't you think the police may have better things to do?

Make a donation to the charity shop, keep the rest.

Blossomtoes · 25/02/2022 13:49

@CounsellorTroi

Anything given to a charity shop becomes their property until they sell it. Doesn’t that make the money their property?
No it doesn’t. They sold *@Brighton5555* the money by that logic.

Well done on doing the right thing @Brighton5555.

nanbread · 25/02/2022 13:52

@Tiredmum12389

The charity shop will have absolutely no way of contacting the owner. I donate things regularly and they never have any clue what is donated by who. Its all emptied into a big room and sorted through.

Keep it, you've done nothing wrong. I've heard of similar stories and the people have always kept it.

Now on my way to a charity shop, going to be feeling all the quilts Wink

I don't think this is true.

They can trace what items were mine that sold and how much extra they can take tax free as a result. They send me letters sometimes with the amount. No idea how they work it out, they ask for my name and postcode when I donate.

If this is true they may be able to work out who donated the blanket.

Why not call the charity shop and ask if they can trace the owner as you've found something you thought they might want, don't say what in case the person you speak to wants it for themselves...

Personally I'd donate half back to the charity.

Joystir59 · 25/02/2022 13:54

Give it to a displaced Ukrainian family

BloodyN0rah · 25/02/2022 14:03

Honestly, I'd keep it and make a small donation to the charity to make myself feel better.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 25/02/2022 14:12

@poorbuthappy

There is no way the charity could trace the donator. If you can make peace with it keep it. Whatever you do you have to be happy with it. Personally I would pay it forward a little and donate and keep some.
This is rubbish...

I've had stuff returned to me as I filled in a gift aid form

Maves · 25/02/2022 14:34

Glad you used it for something meaningful like upgrading your seats.

UnUdderOne · 25/02/2022 14:38

They may be able to track the owner if they filled in one of the forms so they can reclaim tax.

Peas252 · 25/02/2022 14:52

Wow, can't believe how many scummy people inhabit mumsnet these days.

Blossomtoes · 25/02/2022 14:58

@Peas252

Wow, can't believe how many scummy people inhabit mumsnet these days.
Meaning?
SerenTarot · 25/02/2022 15:01

Absolutely keep it. I've volunteered in several charity shops. And that's all I'm going to say on that.

However the item was donated. It was checked over by staff, priced and sold to the OP. The blanket and it's contents belong to her.

OP if you want to make a partial donation to the charity than run she shop (please don't take the cash in is all I'm saying) then that's up to you, but I would have absolutely no qualms about keeping the money.

It's the same as buying a cheap item that turns out to be much more valuable. Happens all the time.

saveforthat · 25/02/2022 15:06

I'm a bit superstitious so would worry something bad would happen to me if I kept the money. E.g. if I was getting on a plane would worry plane might crash.

Loyaultemelie · 25/02/2022 15:22

I can’t and won’t feel guilt because I don’t even know where it originates from

I don't blame you, you bought the blanket as seen and paid for it. The universe has a way of giving gifts when needed and you paid it forward by making donations. Enjoy your holiday I'd say if your last few years have been anything like most other peoples it's well needed.

redlabeltea · 25/02/2022 15:47

They can trace what items were mine that sold and how much extra they can take tax free as a result.

Not sure this is the norm. I've never even given a name or telephone number when donating things, and a lot of stuff does just get dumped by people outside the shop. It may be different if you have to make an appointment to donate.

KirstenBlest · 25/02/2022 15:49

The Quilt of Guilt

redlabeltea · 25/02/2022 15:53

Not sure why people are assuming that, even if it does belong to a deceased family member, that that person themselves knitted it, and the family "care so little" to dump her handmade things.

Just because they owned something handmade, doesn't mean they handmade it. Confused

redlabeltea · 25/02/2022 15:53

The Quilt of Guilt

Grin
WouldIwasShookspeared · 25/02/2022 16:06

Well it doesn't exactly make you a good person. You chose to keep someone else's money when you could easily have done your part in returning it to the owner.

You could have taken it back to the charity shop and then if the person came in they would be able to give it back to them.

Or you could have taken it to the police station and told the charity shop that it was there if the owner came back. The police would ask how much it was so they'd know if it was the right person. If nobody claimed it they may even have released it to you but at least you'd have done the right thing.

Let's hope there isn't a sad face in the local paper about how someone accidentally donated a quilt full of money and they're really struggling. Would you even feel bad or would you not care?

I think it's really sad that so many people don't even believe others would be honest and not keep money that wasn't theirs.