Gransnet forums

Arts & crafts

Charity shop bargain

(34 Posts)
watermeadow Fri 08-May-26 20:50:01

I’ve been doing Crewel work embroidery for a year, using a limited lot of colours because the special wool is expensive.
Today in a small charity shop I found a big bag of crewel work wool for £6. There were a dozen big skeins of different colours and the little skeins I buy are £2 each.
I have also found pieces of linen and useful bits of haberdashery in charity shops as well as most of my clothes and books.

Silvershadow Sat 09-May-26 21:27:03

I love charity shops, both to donate to and to buy from. I have lots of roses in my garden and wanted an old fashioned vase with a metal type holder in it for them. I found a beautiful glass vase with a glass separator for only £5. I use it every summer. On the other hand, we have donated lots of nice clean quality clothes to our local hospice shop over the years. I like to donate to local charities rather than Oxfam or Save the Children etc. the local hospice shops rely on donations to keep them going.

Basgetti Sat 09-May-26 22:34:15

I’ve used charity shops for probably 40 years.
I’m really uncomfortable with the idea of people profiting hugely from finds. I’ve read all of the comments but still find it difficult to understand how anyone in all conscience could.
I once found a diamond and ruby ring inside the zipped pocket of an handbag I’d bought for about £3. I immediately took it back to the shop, BHF.
Perhaps I’m odd 🤷‍♀️

Basgetti Sat 09-May-26 22:38:01

(Actually I once walked a couple of miles back to Tesco when I realised I hadn’t paid for the nappies I’d tucked in the basket under the pram. The security person clearly thought I was weird. So yes, I probably am 😁)

Wyllow3 Sat 09-May-26 22:48:19

No not odd, spot on.

I was driving past a charity shop and there was a parking spot so putted in, not one I'm used to.

Its not a posh one, so I was thrilled to find a lovely new perfectly fitting Seasalt blue cotton lawn dress (two layers, lined) ☺️ It was £12, not selling too cheap, but looks great.

Basgetti Sat 09-May-26 22:51:22

That sounds about right 😃

Nannee49 Sat 09-May-26 23:20:29

I don't really think it's profiting if you actually use the bargain yourself, it's a lovely feeling if you're on a limited budget to find something beautiful or luxurious that would normally be way beyond your price range.

There's a Barnado's clearance shop near me and I'm so grateful to have found many pieces there which have enabled me to dress well at minimum cost.

I suppose a not so moral area is when an absolute bargain is sold for a big profit online and no further donation made back to the charity, that always feels a bit mean to me.

Wyllow3 Sat 09-May-26 23:28:41

Basgetti

That sounds about right 😃

I'm frilled.

Deedaa Tue 12-May-26 21:05:54

I'm perfectly happy if I buy something that I wouldn't be able to afford, or justify at its full price. I recently found a very nice Seasalt dress for £9, and I've got a Guess handbag that was £25. If I found something that was really valuable I would point it out.

About 20 years ago I went into a charity shop in South Kensington with my husband. He was 6' 4" and a bit overweight and he said what a pity it was that there were never any men's clothes in his size. The lady in the shop said that a man had come in that week with three Armani suits that would have fitted him, but unfortunately someone had come in and bought them all the following day!