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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:
kitkatsky · 24/02/2022 22:18

I'm so curious about this... my gran used to make patchwork quilts- she has dementia now and no memory of them or how to make them. Her husband, my grandfather was a stick exchange millionaire who hid money in undisclosed places around the house to provide for them in their old age but he died before her and she dsnt know where the money was hidden. OP, if you've happened upon one of her quilts or someone else's I agree the money is a gift! I'm curious where you are though if you don't mind saying? No worries if not

MrsSkylerWhite · 24/02/2022 22:18

I’d do 50/50: half to you, half to the charity.

PomPomSugar · 24/02/2022 22:19

I’ve not read the whole thread so unsure as to whether this has been mentioned but it is entirely possible that the charity shop could trace the donor. If the donated item was ‘gift aided’ there will be a record of the donor. Look at the tag of the item, does it have a gift aid note? Or a barcode? If so I would contact the charity shop, but maybe the head office not the shop itself.

Boombastic22 · 24/02/2022 22:19

I was the poster early on saying go back to shop/hand to police. Someone could be frantic with worry and have lost their life savings. Continue to agree with others re contacting shop and police, how can you possibly on good conscious keep it!!!!

WonderfulYou · 24/02/2022 22:19

Probably an old lady hid their savings in their blanket, died and all their stuff got sent to charity shops (in which case it belongs to who ever inherited their money).

This is what I think has happened.
Either she’s died or gone into a care home.

The family could really do with that money and it would be really shitty of you to not try and track down the owner.

It won’t be drug money as they’re not going to just get rid of a blanket knowing they hide their money in there.

Ostryga · 24/02/2022 22:20

Wow op. Amazing

saraclara · 24/02/2022 22:22

There is zero chance they will know who donated it

That's really not true. At both my local charity shops, the price label links back to the donor if they use Gift Aid. And I for one have gone back to one of them when I realised I'd taken something in that my DD had asked me to keep!

So I'd let them know that I'd found something, and if anyone came in over the next few weeks, asking about a quilted blanket, the shop could call me.

GettingItOutThere · 24/02/2022 22:22

keep it! they cant trace the owner anyhow and why should some other random benefit from the money!?

1frenchfoodie · 24/02/2022 22:22

In all conscience you need to do something to try to get this back to the owner /their family. Why not contact the charity shop to ask if they can connect you with the donor as there was ‘family momentoes’’ with the quilt that the donor might want back.

If it was - as some have suggested - from a clearance after a death they may have details in a way they wont from stuff just donated onthe doorstep. Ditto gift aid records may note a handmade patchwork connected to a donation. The shop arent just going to hand out donor’s details to you but may be prepared to relay messages. The worst the shop can do is say there is no way they can connect the quilt with a donor.

NYnewstart · 24/02/2022 22:22

I’d contact the charity shop and make them aware you’ve found money. I wouldn’t say it was in a blanket though. I’d say a sum of money was in something and if anyone is looking for it they can have it if they can describe what it was in. I’d also promise them a donation if nobody claims it.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 24/02/2022 22:25

I do think you need to do something to try and trace the original owner, although disagree you need to contact the police; unless the blanket was originally stolen I doubt they would want to get involved. Personally I would contact the charity shop at which you bought them and let them know you have purchased something and have reason to believe something inside could have had value to the person who donated it. I wouldn’t say more than that but would leave your details and say that if anybody comes in trying to trace a donated item to please contact you for more details. I wouldn’t give specific details that the item was a blanket or specify that the valuable item was money/ disclose how much, obviously if the original owner contacts the charity shop they will be able to confirm the details with you unprompted.

I would then put the money and blanket somewhere safe and leave it for a few months. If you get a call from the charity shop and it’s about the blanket then obviously you need to return it to the owner. If you’re not contacted in the next few months I would keep the money and spend it however you see fit. It would be nice if you were able to pass some of the money onto charity or a good cause but I wouldn’t judge you if you didn’t, you haven’t taken the money purposefully or dishonestly so I think as long as you make some effort to find the owner if one isn’t forthcoming that’s absolutely not your fault and your conscience should feel clear.

erinaceus · 24/02/2022 22:25

Oh wow! Sounds like something out of a novel.

I think in this situation I would do my best to track down the owner. You mentioned you know that the charity shop won't know the owner, but I would at the very least make an enquiry as to whether they have any inking as to whose it is. I don't think I could in all good conscience keep the money.

Pebbledashery · 24/02/2022 22:26

I don't know, I'm on the fence op. If the quilt was donated by a family who cleared a house out for a deceased relative then I would feel wrong taking that money. You won't know the circumstances unless you ask the charity shop you acquired the quilt from. I personally wouldn't keep it to spend on holiday expenses, if you were on the bones of your backside and had bills coming out of your ears and kids you struggled to support then perhaps, but going on holiday suggests you're not absolutely desperate for money and if you are, why are you booking a holiday you can't afford?

Foolsrule · 24/02/2022 22:26

Take it to the police. If no one claims it, you’ll get it back anyway. Or donate it to the charity.

mamaduckbone · 24/02/2022 22:27

I would feel far too guilty to spend it, thinking it might be some old lady's life savings. I agree with a pp - put a picture on a local Facebook page and also contact the shop to see if they are able to get in touch with the donor.

Alwaystheplusone · 24/02/2022 22:27

Keep it

HisHX · 24/02/2022 22:29

I’d leave details with the charity shop without explaining why. If nothing in a few months I’d spend what I needed and donate the rest.
Also - all of these “anyone who’d give away granny’s blanket doesn’t deserved the money” posts - are so judgy. How do you know granny didn’t knit 100 of them? (Actually, just in case, scour local charity shops for similar 🤣)

Chichimcgee · 24/02/2022 22:31

I’m a quilter.
Obviously the person who made it has passed and their loved ones are in the process of donating it.
If you need it use it and pass it on when you can. Or donate some to the charity.
You’ll never find who donated it as people drop bags and stuff off all the time or leave it outside etc

RantyAunty · 24/02/2022 22:31

Keep it. They won't know who it belongs to.
Likely from a deceased estate.
Light a candle and thank the woman who made the quilt and put the money there.
Donate 100 of it to a a women's shelter or something like that.

Guavaf1sh · 24/02/2022 22:32

Yes that’s my money and I’d be grateful if you could send it back !

Beautiful3 · 24/02/2022 22:32

They won't know who donated it, so even if you returned it, it wouldn't go back to them. Just keep it and enjoy it. Perhaps donate a bit to charity.

Notimeforaname · 24/02/2022 22:33

I'd keep it.

Longdistance · 24/02/2022 22:33

Keep it!
You snooze, you lose!

HTH1 · 24/02/2022 22:37

You know what you should do (donate it to the charity) and what you want to do (spend it on your holiday). Nothing anyone says here will change that or what you ultimately decide to do, which I’m guessing will be spend it.

Kerrie21 · 24/02/2022 22:38

My worry is that little old Ethel is distraught her savings have gone thanks to her family helping her have a clear out.

I would put a post on Facebook saying you love the pattern/ anyone any idea where it came from etc and see who contacts, from there you choose what happens with the money ie give to her family / back to Ethel in her care home- or keep it. At least you've got the information to make a fair judgement call.

I wouldn't bother with the charity shop, I'm another that donates and goes!

PS did I say my granny made me a lovely patchwork blanket and 1 patch was a special rustling leaves sound sensory one... I lost it if anyone has seen it lol!