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A different kind of charity shopping!

(20 Posts)
RosieandherMaw Sun 23-Feb-25 17:03:46

I have an “ongoing” charity bag into which I put (mostly) jumpers or trousers a N’s which I have gone off/ grown out of (.!??) / or replaced with a newer alternative.
But today I was very glad the bag had not made it as far as the charity shop as I retrieved a former favourite jumper deciding it still has life in it. I then reconsidered a cashmere mix tunic I haven’t worn for a year and reprieved it too.
If I go on at this rate the bag will be empty and the wardrobe bursting at the seams.

RosieandherMaw Sun 23-Feb-25 17:04:10

N’s = “jeans”

Skydancer Sun 23-Feb-25 17:23:43

I do this too. Good idea to get bags ready but to leave a while to make sure you don’t mind parting with the contents. My Gran used to look at an old garment and say “It’ll do a turn”. She meant it was good for wearing once more.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 23-Feb-25 17:24:28

I do this all the time 🤷‍♀️🤪

Barleyfields Sun 23-Feb-25 17:25:41

I always keep the charity bags in a cupboard for a long time, just in case …

Chocolatelovinggran Sun 23-Feb-25 17:32:43

I put mine straight into the boot of the car to avoid this!

valdali Sun 23-Feb-25 17:33:52

I had some curtains, wasn't sure where they came from but family often offload their cast-offs on me, decided they weren't something I was likely to use & put in a bag for charity shop & on a shelf in the porch cupboard. Luckily I didn't take them & about 6 months later D-i-L couldn't find some curtains she'd borrowed from her parents for her flat (now vacated) & wondered if I had them. I immediately said "oh no I took them to the charity shop" but checked the cupboard just in case & there they were!

RosieandherMaw Sun 23-Feb-25 18:08:22

Chocolatelovinggran

I put mine straight into the boot of the car to avoid this!

Just what I am glad I had NOT done!

Susiewong65 Sun 23-Feb-25 19:21:46

I put them in the boot of my car as well and then proceed to drive them around for months and a good many miles!

SallyatBaytree Mon 24-Feb-25 14:09:14

Mine ride around in car boot for a couple of weeks * just in case I change my mind!

Caro41 Mon 24-Feb-25 15:26:40

Remember that poor or disadvantaged people often rely on charity shops . We should donate decent stuff that was maybe a mistake or no longer fits etc .
Also spare a thought for those who volunteer in charity shops and have to sort the donations .

RosieandherMaw Mon 24-Feb-25 16:13:11

I ONLY donate things I would happily wear myself- sometimes new with tags, just shopping mistakes.

Eddieslass Mon 24-Feb-25 19:03:52

Our local British Heart Foundation shop (and I presume many other charity shops) are grateful to receive bags of clothes that are too tatty for resale. They get paid by people who collect them as “rags”. They just ask that the bag is clearly labelled Rags.

pregpaws3 Tue 25-Feb-25 06:33:30

Many of my patchwork and quilting friends collect up our off cuts/scraps and they go to the heart foundation where they are warmly received.

M0nica Tue 25-Feb-25 08:22:30

I rarely donate clothes to charity. I do not have wardrobes of clothes. Just as much as I need, all of which get worn regularily until unwearable, then put in the recycled textile bin.

I have replaced two tops since Christmas. I thought they would see me through this winter, but had to admit that each sweater had become unacceptably matted and shrunk, so out they went, but not fit for a charity shop, so they went into the textile bank at the tip.

Les1950 Tue 25-Feb-25 11:16:33

Thank-u Eddieslass, u have answered a question of mine. I have underwear, hardly worn which charity won't take, so hope they will take as rags.

valdali Tue 25-Feb-25 21:43:20

I found a bag of rags which my DH had bought, for his business. I don't suppose he paid much, but we tend to wear things until they wear out, then there are pillowcases & sheets that have worn thin, frayed towels - he could have cut out the middleman!

Babs03 Tue 25-Feb-25 22:03:36

We drive around with bags for the charity shop in the back of the car, adding more as time goes on, but I put my foot down when I couldn’t load the groceries in there.
My OH is a hoarder so dithers about offloading stuff. The other week I told him to get rid of a couple of old backpacks, an old cool bag, and some old holdalls. I thought he had done it because the plastic sack they were in had gone. Then I found them shoved in the cupboard under the stairs. Sheepishly he says they would come in handy when moving house. Which is bizarre.

Padine Fri 28-Feb-25 15:48:09

I collect sample sized cosmetics (new) or makeup/cosmetics that are once or twice used and give them to our local CS. Sometimes there are enough to make a few little makeup bags (for Christmas?)
These are donated to Women’s Refuges or prisons. Not mascara and only lipstick tried once. Lipgloss goes into the box never opened as only gloss I use is Vaseline!!

Patsy70 Sun 02-Mar-25 17:31:35

If you put clothes in plastic bags and leave them in the car for weeks, by the time you take them to the charity shop they will possibly be damp and smell musty, in which case they’ll not be saleable.