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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:
Bunty55 · 24/02/2022 22:40

OP
You could make enquiries in the shop to see if they know who donated the quilt as you would like another ? If that draws a blank then...if it were me I would make a donation to the shop and keep the rest !

Titterofwit · 24/02/2022 22:40

If the blanket had got damp or dirty on the way to the charity shop it would have promptly been out in the rag bin and nobody would have any clue where it was after that.
I would make some moves to checking if anyone was panicking about its whereabouts. If there is a distraught family looking for the funeral money you have no option but to hand it over willingly.
If nothing comes back within a couple of weeks I would spend the money on something that benefits your life.

Ragwort · 24/02/2022 22:41

Of course charity shops can try and find the owner of the quilt, if it was gift aided there is a very straight forward process to try and locate the owner, even if it wasn't there is a chance that they might 'know' the owner and be able to get in touch. I manage a charity shop and recently a customer left a pair of gloves in her bag of donations... I offered them back to her and she was delighted as she hadn't meant to donate the gloves.

We've found cash in the pockets of some donations and always tried to find the doner and return it to them ... another customer once found cash in a coat he was trying on and immediately handed it over to us before buying the cost. On that occasion we had no way of knowing who donated the coat so the money was recorded as a cash donation.

Phobiaphobic · 24/02/2022 22:44

@Brighton5555

That’s what my instinct tells me to do but I have a nagging voice. I’m imagining some old lady kept her savings in here and somehow it’s got to the charity shop
Only if she died. And since one of her relatives saw fit to give away her handmade possessions - probably something she made herself and intended to be a family heirloom, I feel you deserve the money more than they do. Spending some of it on lovely crafting supplies, if you're that way inclined, and make something gorgeous in her honour.
poTAYtoes · 24/02/2022 22:44

I'd keep it, tbh. Maybe donate some to a charity or on some kind deed for someone in need. Whoever donated it clearly had no idea it was there and won't be seeking it, and if they're as desperate for money as some suggest, why are they donating a perfectly good quilt?

BearOfEasttown · 24/02/2022 22:46

🤣🤣🤣

Blossomtoes · 24/02/2022 22:48

I bet it came from a house being cleared after a bereavement. I’d either keep it or donate it to the charity of your choice @Brighton5555.

Furbaby2842 · 24/02/2022 22:48

At my local charity shop when I donate items I have a gift aid fob that they scan. It has my name and address on.

User310 · 24/02/2022 22:48

I’d go back to the charity shop and inform them that the person who had donated the patchwork quilt had donated something that you’re sure they weren’t meant to. I would then leave my contact details and tell them they can pass them on if the owner comes in to enquire.

I think I’d wait a few months and then if I heard nothing would keep it.

HollowTalk · 24/02/2022 22:49

Shops never know who donated anything! People just bringing bags of stuff and walk out again. Why would they know somebody's name? It's likely it was in a house clearance and some poor lady had been saving it for a rainy day but died. I would keep it.

Sisiwawa · 24/02/2022 22:49

If you still have the tag, it might have been an item that is a 'gift aid' donation where the shop does have a note of the person's name and address to claim the tax back on the item, so the shop could trace them from that, or just keep it and make a donation

minimadgirl · 24/02/2022 22:50

I would contact the charity shop and enquire if they knew who had donated it as something personal to the owner had got tangled up in it, don't mention thar it's money.

Years ago I was manager of a charity shop and someone had donated a load of stuff, tucked in it was a load of pocket watches, it was obvious from the other contents that these had been well hidden and weren't meant to be donated (they were tucked in socks). Luckily we tracked down the family and reunited them, turned out to be really sentimental to them. (Shame the other people at the charity didn't see my honesty as a good thing as it would have raised a lot of money for them).

Cherrysherbet · 24/02/2022 22:50

No way would I keep it. I can’t believe people would do that.

I’d take it back to the shop. It’s for charity ffs.

So many dishonest people out there. Sad.

AnotherSillawithanS · 24/02/2022 22:53

I would worry that someone was hiding their money.

I remember years ago I saw a film, think it was a film...anyway, the woman didn't want to have a baby so his her pill in the hem/lining of a curtain.

I thought this was genius and I hid a spare key and money in the same way.

Do what your conscience can live with.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 24/02/2022 22:53

Keep it.you will never find the owner

Nelliephant1 · 24/02/2022 22:55

Don't give it to the charity shop as someone there could keep it for themselves and that would be wrong. Keeping it yourself is obviously wrong and you know if otherwise you wouldn't be posting. You just want people to say that it's ok for you to keep it and it's not.

Hand it into the police, they may be able to trace the person who handed the blanket in and whose money it is.

Do the right thing and that's not keeping it!!!

Ddot · 24/02/2022 22:57

I'm sure the person would have not donated the item with the money in it. Probably a house clearance after a death. You could get in touch with the shop and say you found a little money in it. That way if the donater has been in touch and left message you could return. But say it is about a £100 to shop. If nobody gets back then keep. If person does then return the lot.

Nelliephant1 · 24/02/2022 22:57

@JaneJeffer

Why shouldn't she keep it? She didn't steal it.
By keeping it and not handing it into the police she is very much stealing it!! It's not hers to keep!

I can't believe the number of dishonest people on this thread!

Nelliephant1 · 24/02/2022 22:58

@XelaM

Keep it. Whoever said the call the police is clearly jealous
Or clearly is not a thief but is an honest person with morals
PriamFarrl · 24/02/2022 22:58

All the people saying that the shop won’t know who donated it clearly don’t give things to charity shops. When you give a donation you give your gift aid number which traces it to you. If the OP still has the tag then she will have the number.

Starblind19 · 24/02/2022 22:58

Omg keep it it's just the same as buying an antique and not realising in my book. Just a bonus isn't it. Without u being curious who knows if it would have ever of been found

PriamFarrl · 24/02/2022 22:59

@Nelliephant1

Don't give it to the charity shop as someone there could keep it for themselves and that would be wrong. Keeping it yourself is obviously wrong and you know if otherwise you wouldn't be posting. You just want people to say that it's ok for you to keep it and it's not.

Hand it into the police, they may be able to trace the person who handed the blanket in and whose money it is.

Do the right thing and that's not keeping it!!!

Yes, because the police have nothing else to do.
Nelliephant1 · 24/02/2022 22:59

@GeneLovesJezebel

Keep it. It’s yours.
Eh no it most definitely is not!!
Ddot · 24/02/2022 22:59

I handed something into police never heard back. Friend handed in a really good bicycle, saw the policeman riding it a week later

HollowTalk · 24/02/2022 23:00

@PriamFarrl

All the people saying that the shop won’t know who donated it clearly don’t give things to charity shops. When you give a donation you give your gift aid number which traces it to you. If the OP still has the tag then she will have the number.
I don't. I just take bags of stuff in and leave it with a woman on the desk.
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