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

[Lockheart]

@SickAndTiredAgain if someone has donated through gift aid their items will be tagged so the shop can claim tax relief.

[CherryBlossomCheer]

When I donate clothes to my local charity shop they take my details and I receive a letter a few weeks later saying how much my clothes raised for the charity. So in the first instance I’d see if the donor can be traced. At least if they can’t then you can enjoy the money guilt free.

My Grandad used to hide money behind a loose brick in the garage. I don’t think it’s unusual for some older generations to keep their savings hidden like this.

[Changemaname1]

100 percent contact the shop don’t go into detail just enquire if anyone had been in touch about the item they either say yes or no

If no keep it and maybe give a bit to charity , I would definitely not go handing it over to the charity shop

[CailleachGranda]

@XelaM

Keep it. Whoever said the call the police is clearly jealous

Jealous?

[augustusglupe]

Well I wouldn't give it back to the charity shop to 'deal with'
Keep quiet, keep the blanket and money. It's a lovely surprise! Enjoy!!

[Notdoingthis]

When I donate items I give my details so they can get giftaid. You may be able to find out who donated the quilt if you wanted to. They can't find you though.

[DontBeMean]

Wow can't believe how scummy some people are. I'd take it back to the shop just like anyone with any morals would. There is no dilemma. You are either a scummy grabby low life or you are not 😅

[xxxsuper]

@ToffeeNotCoffee

The money is not old.

[Jada1234]

Treat yourself x

[Lockheart]

[quote 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!”

😂[/quote]
You may laugh but I've currently got 8 pieces which need framing, one quilt that needs backing, and two pieces in progress. Even I don't know what I'm going to do with them. Lockdown has a lot to answer for

[Jedsnewstar]

I would keep it without blinking. If it’s not yours then how would it be theirs.

[Moobootoyoutoo]

Don't do the Facebook post now, people reading this will be all over that!

[annlee3817]

We found £2,000 in a hoody when we were volunteering sorting through donations for a charity donation station, the item had a gift aid tag attached, they tracked down the owner and it was cash he was paid for some work he did, and the hoody had accidentally been put in the charity bag, he was really grateful.

[xxxsuper]

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,

Eh? The world surely you know that the world does not spit £50s out of the earths core and they more reasonable explanation is that some poor person had dropped it!


and anyway, how could I ever find out who had dropped the note?

You could have handed it in to the police. There have been many points in my life where losing a £50 would have been the difference between eating or not.

[Dailytoil]

Keep it but make a donation to the charity with some of it.

[peoplewatching]

They maybe be able to trace the donor through GiftAid declarations, but I wouldn’t let on that you’ve found cash to the shop personally. Just ask if that’s possible as a first step and make a decision from there?

[teaandcake22]

Our local charity shop is part of a local chain of shops and they have a system that you sign up for so when you donate they log your details. You then do gift aid through it and you get notified throughout the year how much your donation has raised. Could be worth asking if they have that system? If not enjoy half of the good fortune and donate half back to the shop.

[TronDeReplay]

I couldn't keep that money without first making a minimum effort to find out where it came from.
Ask the shop if they have Gift Aid records, and ask on a community Facebook page if anyone recognises it. Don't say why - make up a story if you need to, so people don't smell the truth.

If no luck, keep it, give a bit to the charity.

[Graphista]

Legally there is an onus on the finder to locate the rightful owner. When it's small amounts the police tend to look the other way but when it's a large amount then it can be defined as "theft by finding"

If the charity shop knows who bought the item it was in, if the owner realises and comes looking you could find yourself in a spot - legally I mean

Morally I wouldn't sleep at night taking it. Especially a large amount like that!

I would return it all to the charity shop and then it's their problem whether they attempt to find the owner etc

This is a common thing elderly folk do perhaps due to dementia etc they don't trust banks or relatives to look after their money and feel more comfortable dealing with cash

When my gran died we found money secreted in lots of weird and wonderful places totalling over £10k!

What was annoying was she was behaving in life as if she was skint and denying herself stuff! The family made sure she had essentials and even certain luxuries but if she'd had access to that money having remembered she had it then it could have been used to make her life much easier

[cavalierkingc]

I would 100% keep with without a second thought, and I think most people would. Reminds me of a thread just posted asking if you've experienced a miracle

[Popsicle33]

Keep it and enjoy it! Lucky you!

[Averyproperteaparty]

@JaneJeffer

Why shouldn't she keep it? She didn't steal it.

It’s an offence of theft by finding. It needs to be reported to the Police. If it’s not claimed within a certain time period the finder will be able to keep it. It’s immoral to just keep it.

[User5rh]

It needs tracing back to the original donor, probably it's from a house clearout after someone died, I would hope for a reward from the donor though if this was the case. Old people often hide money and it is often not found until after death.

[KirstenBlest]

Would you be asking if it had been a £5 note?

[bouncydog]

I would photograph the blanket and send a copy to the charity shop asking if they knew who had handed it in. If it was the relative of a now deceased person the money belongs to the estate. I would also hand in the money to the police with a photo of the blanket. Am I correct that if the funds are not claimed within a certain amount of time the police would hand it to you so you could keep it with a clear conscience. I couldn’t keep the money as although you paid for the blanket it could be that the owner was unwell has now recovered and is frantic. And I’m really surprised by the number of responses saying keep it - I didn’t think there were so many dishonest mumsnet readers!