I just bought this leather settee & armchair in excellent condition from a charity shop. It cost me £245. If it was new, it would probably be near to £3,000. I never used to like charity shops but I’ll certainly be looking in again now I’ve got the bug. The next item I’m looking for is a table & matching sideboard…
So - do you spend in charity shops?
Oh, yes… Definitely. Bargains to be had. I especially like the Salvation Army as they have the bigger stores and can include the bigger items, like furniture, in their displays. I think British Heart Foundation also have warehouse type shops in selected towns 
There’s a Sue Ryder shop near here and they have fabulous furniture and I have seen immaculate mattresses in there too. Their white goods though are very expensive. Apparently they are repaired/serviced by ex offenders or prisoners but my OH is in the trade and says they are very poor. Many have big dents and rust and they ask silly money for them.
Your leather furniture looks lovely @carol
It does feel good to get a bargain. 
I don’t often buy stuff from charity shops these days - since I retired and downsized to a tiny home, I have more stuff than I can use, so I am more likely to be donating stuff to the charity shops.
It is lovely to know that other people can make use of stuff I no longer have a use for - it is so much better to pass stuff on and prolong its useful life, whilst raising funds for a good cause, instead of sending it to landfill.
My wife does. She likes to buy damaged but desirable small antique furniture items and then she gives them her special attention before selling them onwards via an antique centre. I do play a small part; in that I reduce old broken 78 records back into shellac for her restoration jobs.
Looks good Carol, we gave our last two sofa’s to a Charity shop, they were only 2 years old.
That doesn’t seem fair. That’s taking the charity out of charity 
Gosh yes! From a very early age. 1962, house fire, parents lost everything. Myself, just a baby then, lost my baker’s dozen girl kitten and their Mom.
It was the beginning of a long friendship which is still ongoing.
The furniture was from one specialist charity shop. Some items were replaced by the content insurance such as washing machine, fridge/freezer and the cooker via the high street furniture shops.
The clothes for the four of us then was from a huge charity shop. The only thing I dislike to this day – the second hand shoes. Main complaint, permanent damages to my feet and toes. Second complaint from them shoes – frequent athletes foot disease. Yuck!
Otherwise, I find it an amazing shopping experience. Firstly and foremost, you’re helping out these charities. Meaning that your purchases help out other people in need, that’s a great feeling in itself.
Secondly, on a tight budget, it’s retail therapy at it’s best. I’ve found baby clothes for our children that would have been crazily priced in the high streets. It saved money during the critical two first years of my munchkins after I had to retire early due to health.
Gave us the chance as new parents to keep them in funky clothes. One said shop tremendously helped the owner survive and pay for extra cancer treatments. The lady in question survived her sickness for 30 years. That’s pretty amazing!
Nowadays, I gave loads to two charities after hubby died, same earlier after son died.
Finally, as daughter and I have fixed our thyroid problems, we’ve lost weight. Officially for myself, 37 pounds over 18 months. Granted I still have cornflakes box shoulders but I’m down from size 16 to size 10/12 YES!
Therefore, the charity shops have been at the top of the shopping list for over 60 years and I’m hoping that my wee contributions have helped many!
We love mooching in charity shops,had a few bargains too.
