Found money … what should I do !

[Brighton5555]

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

[WiddlinDiddlin]

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.

[ToffeeNotCoffee]

Take the money to the bank to get it exchanged for modern money/current currency.

Otherwise it's useless (or has a an antique value) so no point taking it back to the shop, or trying to spend it as it is presently un-spendable.

[Russell19]

Keep it OP!

[HeckyPeck]

I would contact the shop and ask if they have details for whoever donated the blanket.

PPS are right that it could have been someone who passed away, but they might have relatives who they'd have wanted the money to go to. I couldn't keep it without feeling really guilty.

[Amnotamug]

@FlasherMcGruff

Well, the owner won’t have knowingly given it away with money in, so has it belonged to someone now deceased? I’d assume the charity shop would be contacted in a panic if there’s any sort of error. So you could contact them and leave your info, saying that it’s regarding a blanket that seems valuable and might have been donated in error. If you hear nothing for several months, keep it. Not sure why morally you’d need to split the money as that money wasn’t donated to the shop - the blanket was and you found the money in it.

This …but I would then make a donation.

[GeorgiaGirl52]

@Blush21

I’d keep it. You won’t find the owner. Could be someone’s donated belongings after a clear out or someone passing and is unaware of what’s in the blanket, they won’t miss it if they didn’t know it was there. Perhaps make a donation to the charity and enjoy the rest?

This. It's not as if you found a wallet. You can't find the owner, if they are even still alive. Most likely hidden savings of someone who did not believe in banks. When we did a clean out after my mother died we found a $100 bill stuck in the toe of every shoe that was in a shoe box in her closet and several hundred in unused handbags on a shelf.

[Londondreams1]

Keep it!
If you give it back will end up in somebody else’s hands, definitely not the person who made the quilt, most probably.
I agree it’s a gift—- you appreciated the creativity of the quilt

Or do @FlasherMcGruff’s suggestion and ask the shop to pass on your details to the person who donated it, then give it a few months. Don’t charity shops ask for details from the donator? Second-hand shops (not charity) do.

[JassyRadlett]

@Easterbunnyiswindowshopping

Anyone nice enough to have hand made something lovely surely must BE lovely no? Yabu to not hunt them down and return the money.

Gosh you never met my grandmother.

[Needdoughnuts]

I would contact the shop and ask them to contact you if the donor gets in touch, you don't have to say why. I would also put a post on the local fb page, asking if anyone recognises it. Again without mentioning the money. I wouldn't be happy keeping the money and if there was no response after a couple of months then I'd donate it to the charity.

[Amei]

I would contact the shop to ask if the owner had been in touch, although you would presume that you hadn't purchased the item straight after it had been donated, so there would have been time for the person to get in touch prior to you purchasing it.

Maybe ask on a local Facebook page but if you don't hear anything back I would keep it and maybe donate some to a local food bank / homeless shelter ect to spread the good karma ☺️

[HadaVerde]

Keep it.

[Leah2005]

I'd contact the shop and ask if they can trace who donated it. (I get a letter from our charity shop telling me how much my donations have raised so some shops do keep records). If they can trace, I would give the money back. If they can't I would keep half and donate half to the charity shop. My mum gifted a vase with string of pearls I bought for her 70th birthday in it. She never saw them again.

[the80sweregreat]

If give it to the charity shop to deal with
I couldn't keep it.

[2021s]

Granny has died and they’ve cleared her stuff into the charity shop, the fact they’ve donated a blanket that she made herself means they don’t care for her so much, if it was my granny I would never let something as precious as that go, therefore they don’t deserve the money back. So if you need it keep it! If you don’t, donate it to someone who does. Let granny’s hidden money help someone out, she was maybe hiding it from her family who care so little they put her handmade work into a charity shop.

[ManyManyBiscuits]

@WiddlinDiddlin

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.

When I take items to a charity shop, I fill in a gift aid form. If the items sell, they can claim gift aid and I get a letter to say how much my items have raised.

[GameofPhones]

I wouldn't trust the police not to trouser it themselves.

[Louisianagumbo]

Somebody gave something to charity, ie did a kind thing, and they accidentally left £1000 in it and people on here wouldn't even go back to the shop to make enquiries about who'd donated it? The enquiries might turn out to be futile but to not even bother is pretty low.

[Cherryana]

You bought the complete item. It belongs to you.

Including the hidden money pocket and contents.

I can’t believe the amount of people telling you to go to the police and/or back to the shop. They can’t be located and it’s their carelessness, enjoy your good fortune!

[Lockheart]

I would contact the charity shop and say you've found something important (no need to be specific if you don't want to, you could just say documentation or something) in the quilt that the owner might want back, and ask if they would be able to trace them or if they've had any calls. If they can trace them, great, if not, leave your contact details.

If nothing comes of it in a few months, then I'd keep it and donate say half to the charity whose shop it was.

[thedarkling]

Was it in Devon? Could be my grandmas , we've been looking for that!

I like to think I'd give it back to the charity ship. But honestly if i needed it I'd probably keep it.

[Teaandtoastedbiscuits]

Ring the shop and see has anyone enquired about it.if not have a brilliant holiday. This could be your karma for doing something nice for someone at sometime x

[Lockheart]

@2021s

Granny has died and they’ve cleared her stuff into the charity shop, the fact they’ve donated a blanket that she made herself means they don’t care for her so much, if it was my granny I would never let something as precious as that go, therefore they don’t deserve the money back. So if you need it keep it! If you don’t, donate it to someone who does. Let granny’s hidden money help someone out, she was maybe hiding it from her family who care so little they put her handmade work into a charity shop.

If granny is anything like me she's made dozens of the buggers, I wouldn't expect anyone to keep all my sewing projects! I barely have the room for them myself, I dread to think what my house will be like in 50 years!

[Onelifeonly]

Unless someone suddenly realises they have given away their blanket containing a stash of money and contacts the shop (but why would they have given it in the first place if that was the case?), I think you should do whatever makes you happy with the money.

So you could tell the shop in case anyone asks, but don't forget, someone at the shop has already assessed the sales worthiness of the item and didn't notice the notes themselves. Who is fit to judge where the money should end up? Only the person who knows about it.

I once found a £50 note in the street and pocketed it with glee, since I had just paid a parking fine I was kicking myself about. Felt like the world was trying to pay me back, and anyway, how could I ever find out who had dropped the note?

Do what feels right to you.

[SickAndTiredAgain]

@KatesBush1980

I am a charity shop manager and if you have the tag that was put on there by the charity shop still we absolutely could trace it back to original donor within seconds and would do so

How? Whenever I’ve donated things to a charity shop I just handover a bag and leave. I’ve never been asked for any details at all.

So you could contact them and leave your info, saying that it’s regarding a blanket that seems valuable and might have been donated in error.

I’d do this. And keep it if I heard nothing after a few months.

[2021s]

@lockhart

“If granny is anything like me she's made dozens of the buggers, I wouldn't expect anyone to keep all my sewing projects! I barely have the room for them myself, I dread to think what my house will be like in 50 years!”

😂