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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:
CornishGem1975 · 27/02/2022 21:39

Keep it. Move on.

LiveintheNow · 28/02/2022 07:46

Wouldn't the charity shop have washed the quilt before putting it on sale?

Whattodoniw · 28/02/2022 08:08

I'd be wary of giving it to anyone other than the original donor.

I think I would be keen to hand it back to them but certainly no one else if I couldn't do that and in that instance I'd be inclined to keep it.

CounsellorTroi · 28/02/2022 09:08

@LiveintheNow

Wouldn't the charity shop have washed the quilt before putting it on sale?
I’m sure they would have shaken it out to check its condition at least.
longtompot · 28/02/2022 10:29

Do you still have the label on it? The charity shop one, as sometimes they have a number on it which corresponds to a donor. If not, then you could keep half and donate half to the charity. I'm not sure it's a police matter. It's not like you found the blanket in the street.

RestingStitchFace · 28/02/2022 17:56

I would call the shop and ask if anyone has contacted them re missing money, if not I would take it to the police, and let the charity shop know in case the owner does comes forward in the near future.

I would do this. If no one comes forward then at least you can spend it with a clear conscience. But you may be right - it may be an elderly person's stash. And with food and energy prices rising, it doesn't feel fair to just keep it.

Casper2789 · 28/02/2022 21:32

That money could of belong to a OAP life savings, and her grandchildren might of got rid of stuff with out her knowing. How would you feel if that money belonged to 1 of your grandparents? And then found out someone been spending out on a holiday etc not acceptable pretty vile of you ask me.

Casper2789 · 28/02/2022 21:33

Bit late the clown has thought about her self and not possible a OAP whos possible lost there life savings money greedy thats all it is

TheGreyWitch · 01/03/2022 15:07

Since your hear asking what you should do, I think you already know your answer. Trust me when I say bad karma is coming your way if you keep that money and not be honest with the shop. Period.
May the gods and the universe guide you to to the right thing and if you don't, may you burn in your karma for the rest of your mortal days!

MrsDThomas · 01/03/2022 16:03

@TheGreyWitch. Its here

What planet are you on?

tactum · 01/03/2022 16:06

I don't know if this has already been said, and I see you've made your decision already, but

I volunteer in a charity shop and we always ask people if they are tax payers and able to gift aid. If so there would have been a sticker/barcode somewhere which would have absolutely allowed the shop to trace the donor. Around 40% of our donations are traceable.

Also to the person/people who said don't give it to the shop, it'll end up with a staff member, that's very rude. We have people who walk in and donate cash. We always fill out a form and run it through the till.

I think you should have at least asked about the donor and if not traceable, donated half the money to the charity shop.

maddy68 · 01/03/2022 16:10

I would ask the charity shop who donated it. I would say there was "something of value " in it and if the original owner comes forward and describes it you would return it to them

ToffeeNotCoffee · 02/03/2022 10:07

This story has made it onto an internet media source, 'The i'

noinorm · 02/03/2022 16:01

It's all over the usual internet "news" sources now...

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/mum-warned-karma-pocketing-more-23260049

(Complete with stock photo Hmm)

CailleachGranda · 02/03/2022 17:30

It took three people to "write" it too

Ellie5341 · 02/03/2022 18:09

Op run and hide!

viques · 02/09/2022 10:12

WiddlinDiddlin · 24/02/2022 21:41

How would gift aid apply, gift aid is for donating money, not goods?

OP you bought the item, I think it is up to the charity shop to check it, not you, this isn't theft by finding, like finding cash on the floor would be.

If it bothers you, I'd go back to the shop and leave your details, say you bought a blanket and there was an object sewn inside that potentially the donator wouldn't have meant to give away.

If someone appears and correctly identifies the object, you'll give it back.

They may well guess its cash but of course then they'd have to say how much/what sort of notes.. so this stops someone who ISN'T the original owner from claiming it.

Then get on with life, spend it if you like if you can replace it should anyone claim it - the chances are they never will, but you'll have done your moral duty.

Gift aid can be applied to donated goods. It’s a valuable source of income for many charity shops and every year I am amazed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer doesn’t curtail it, but am glad they don’t. I know a hospice where the gift aid from their shops pays the equivalent salary of two therapists.

if you are a tax payer please sign up to gift aid, doesn’t cost you anything and is very important to charities.

WakyWally · 24/02/2024 13:30

Dont overthink this. Keep it!!! Jeez. It cant be traced back now to the original owner. It was a rather foolish place to put money anyway.

WakyWally · 24/02/2024 13:35

An option is: go to the charity shop with the blanket and say 'this is a beautiful handknitted blanket, do you know who donated it so i can thank them and ask where they got the pattern from'? If the shop can not trace who gave it to them, keep it. Give abit of cash to the charity

WakyWally · 24/02/2024 13:37

But really, a foolish place to hide cash. A fool and their money is soon parted.

SecretSquare · 24/02/2024 13:40

WakyWally · 24/02/2024 13:30

Dont overthink this. Keep it!!! Jeez. It cant be traced back now to the original owner. It was a rather foolish place to put money anyway.

Zombie

I'm sure it's resolved, nearly 2 years on.

FFS

Darbs76 · 24/02/2024 13:41

Well you’d have never traced the owners, it’s likely it could have belonged to someone who passed away and family donated the belongings without ever being aware. I think that as many elderly people hide money in unusual places. I don’t judge you for keeping it, as likely the charity shop workers might have kept it if you didn’t. Finders keepers as you say. Had there been a chance they’d have known who donated it I’d have said you were unreasonable but no chance they can know

Shopper727 · 24/02/2024 13:43

My grandma used to make patchwork quilts and this is the sort of daft thing she’d do, away to check the ones I have. But if she’d done that and it got handed in to a charity shop I’d want the person to keep it. Enjoy it op, and lovely to donate some and treat yourself

TrickyD · 24/02/2024 14:25

Secret Santa at NYE dinner. £10 max spend. Couple known for their sanctimonious superiority boasted about how their gift was a second hand book from charity shop which only cost £1. Recipient feigned ‘how lovely, thank you’ . Then looked into book and found £100. Donor furious and demanded the money be given to the charity. Recipient ignored this largely because the donor had been so thoroughly obnoxious throughout. Everyone else highly amused.

CounsellorTroi · 24/02/2024 15:02

WakyWally · 24/02/2024 13:30

Dont overthink this. Keep it!!! Jeez. It cant be traced back now to the original owner. It was a rather foolish place to put money anyway.

This thread is 2 years old,! I'm sure the OP has decided what to do by now!