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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:
joydivisionovengloves71 · 24/02/2022 23:00

@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? I've donated to shops plenty of times and they've never asked for my details.
Blinkingheckythump · 24/02/2022 23:01

I donate stuff to charity shops all the time and I've never had a letter about the amount I've made them in my donations. And sometimes I don't have time to do gift aid info if it's a new charity shop I'm donating too (so obviously I wouldn't get one from those donations). So there is a fair chance that the donor might not be traceable. I mean you should still contact the charity, but I doubt you will as you know you really need it for your holiday 🙄.

DazedandConfused3 · 24/02/2022 23:02

Funnily enough there is a law about this. If you genuinely believe (and the belief has to be genuin) that the owner could not be found by reasonable means then you can legitimately keep the money. If you believe that the owner can be found be reasonable means but do not try to do so, you commit theft by finding.

HollowTalk · 24/02/2022 23:02

@AnotherSillawithanS

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.

Are you thinking of Educating Rita where Julie Walters kept her pills in the floorboards?
StepAwayFromGoogling · 24/02/2022 23:02

Also can't believe everyone saying keep it! At least try to reunite the money with the owner or their family - or donate it to the charity. All of those people deserve it more than you do!

FoodieToo · 24/02/2022 23:02

This happened to a friend of mine . She donated a load of clothes/shoes and then realised she had hidden aboout 3000 euro in cash in a boot !
Three weeks later it was returned thanks to the honesty of the person who bought the boots.
Please return the money as at the very least it should go to the charity.

Nelliephant1 · 24/02/2022 23:03

@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 Grin
I would certainly hope that "most people" wouldn't keep it!!! I'd like to think that most people are not thieves!
Hugasauras · 24/02/2022 23:05

I'm actually quite shocked so many people would just keep it Shock I never think of myself as being holier than thou about this stuff, but I'd at least try to find the original owner via the charity shop or local community FB group or something. I think it's pretty shitty behaviour not to tbh. That could be an elderly person's life savings that they had intended to go to family or that they still need. To not even attempt to find where it came from is just pure greed.

BearOfEasttown · 24/02/2022 23:07

Why did Rita (in Educating Rita) not just bin the pills, or flush them down the loo? Confused Why hide them in the hem of the curtains? Or under the floorboards?

Confused
Hugasauras · 24/02/2022 23:08

She was hiding them to keep taking them in secret as she didn't want a baby but her husband did.

longcoffeebreak · 24/02/2022 23:09

I would definitely try and find the owner!! At least ask the shop if they can trace them!!!

jenn88 · 24/02/2022 23:09

I would contact the shop where it was purchased, explain that you believe the blanket to be of sentimental value and could they either put you in touch with the previous owner or if that's not possible leave your details incase they get in touch. I wouldn't mention the money, it might end up in someone else's pocket!!
Give it a few months and if no contact I would keep it, it's your money now! Enjoy!

Everydaydayisaschoolday · 24/02/2022 23:09

Last year I spent months clearing out my mums house ( she was a very keen quilter as well as a hoarder ). I was glad that her many, many many piles of crap found good homes. If any future purchaser found anything of value in the myriad heaps of shite we passed on I would be very happy for them.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 24/02/2022 23:11

Don't charity shops usually check over / steam clean items before putting them on the shop floor? If they've not spotted it then what else can you do.

It's yours.

WonderfulYou · 24/02/2022 23:12

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.

WTF 😂😂
I love the way people can twist things to make their choices ok.

Do people not realise that when someone dies/goes into a home you have literally days to clear out a rental property.

I think the lady who’s blanket it is could use the money or the family could use it for her funeral or care home fees - someone saved up the money so they should get it back.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 24/02/2022 23:12

And surely charity shops don't keep a list of the items they take in and contact details for the donator?

VanGoghsDog · 24/02/2022 23:15

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

And surely charity shops don't keep a list of the items they take in and contact details for the donator?
Yes, they do.
Highflow · 24/02/2022 23:17

@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 so? Every time I’ve donated I hand the bag of donations over and that’s that
xxxsuper · 24/02/2022 23:18

It's a shame so many people are ignorant when it comes to gift aid. Charities will be missing out on so much extra money!

Happymum12345 · 24/02/2022 23:20

Do what your conscience tells you.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 24/02/2022 23:29

@Happymum12345

Do what your conscience tells you.
My conscience must be basically Eleanor Shellstrop before the truck kills her then as I wouldn't have even started a thread to ask!
KirstenBlest · 24/02/2022 23:30

@xxxsuper

It's a shame so many people are ignorant when it comes to gift aid. Charities will be missing out on so much extra money!
Some of us don't pay tax
Lampface · 24/02/2022 23:36

Post on a community fb group to hunt down whoever donated the blanket (don't mention the money or you'll get chancers). Once you find the person, let them know and return it.

Or donate half to the charity and keep the other half. I don't think I could keep it all though.

Lampface · 24/02/2022 23:38

@jenn88

I would contact the shop where it was purchased, explain that you believe the blanket to be of sentimental value and could they either put you in touch with the previous owner or if that's not possible leave your details incase they get in touch. I wouldn't mention the money, it might end up in someone else's pocket!! Give it a few months and if no contact I would keep it, it's your money now! Enjoy!
Actually I'd do this.

Whatever you do don't mention the money until you're talking to the owner of the blanket.

Maves · 24/02/2022 23:38

I'd feel bad if it was an old persons life savings...but could it be drug money or something if it's in £50s that's strange in itself. Or counterfeit? I dunno but the donations come from all over no saying it was donated to that specific shop. It could be stolen money also so will be marked and flagged up if you try to spend it. There's no answer here really.
BUT it ain't yours

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