Latest news with #charityshop
The Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I found a Vivienne Westwood top for 40p during little known charity shop event, here's where to head for insane bargains
A BARGAIN hunter has revealed how she picked up a Vivenne Westwood designer top for 40p at a money-saving charity shop event. Becky Chorlton, who posts under @beckysbazaar, visited Care UK for their 'fill a bag for £10' day. 5 5 5 She was able to stuff armfuls of clothes into a carrier bag, for a tenner, and the items were so good that she ended up filling three bags. In a clip which has racked up over 8,000 likes, she said: 'This is my official petition for every charity shop in the UK to start doing fill-a-bag events, because the bargains are insane. 'They were celebrating two years since they opened, and they just desperately needed to clear stock to make room for donations. 'Every bag was £10, and you basically could just go around the charity shop, rummage in bins and look on rails, and put as much clothing or shoes that could fit in each bag.' Her top find was the Vivienne Westwood shirt for 40p, but she managed to completely update her wardrobe in the charity shop spree. She added: 'Honestly, if you're a reseller or you just need new clothes for your wardrobe, make sure you keep your eyes peeled for events like this, because I can't even tell you how much fun.' The event took place at the Warrington store to celebrate them being open for two years, and included items across women, men, children, and babies. Becky admitted the event was 'crazy and chaotic' and also 'super busy', and said you have to be patient and willing to dig to find bargains. However, she did have a top tip for fitting more clothes in your bag. She advised that you should roll the items to make them 'super small', to get the most for your tenner. Every item in her bag ended up costing her 40p, and people were hugely impressed with her bargains. One person commented on the clip: 'I was here for this was sooo good.' Another added: 'I want to attend one of these I love clothes.' A third wrote: 'Brilliant idea id love it.' 5 CHARITY HAUL Becky previously revealed she has made £100,000 rummaging through old clothes and flogging the gems she finds. Becky, from Lymm, Cheshire, started by selling pieces from her own wardrobe on second-hand clothing platforms Depop and Vinted while studying for a masters at Exeter University in 2019. Five years on, she rakes in up to £3,000 a month selling pre-loved goods. One of the entrepreneur's biggest sales was an old leather Red Bull jacket that she found at a car boot sale. 'I paid £30 and it sold for £250,' says Becky proudly. 'That's pretty rare, but it's a good example of what you can find if you look hard enough.' With 269,000 followers on TikTok, 127,000 on Instagram and a booming business, Becky has no plans to throw in the thrifting towel. She has kitted out her flat in second-hand furniture and might branch out into selling homeware in the future.
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm a savvy bride and transformed £25 charity shop find into my dream wedding dress, it saved me £775
FINDING some decent bargains in your local charity shop is about luck as much as it is about having a good eye. But one savvy bride has shown how she hit the jackpot when she stumbled across a classic vintage gown - and turned it into her dream wedding dress. 4 Hannah Penberthy, 23, regularly snaps up incredible bargains from charity shops and thrift stores. Once she brings them home, she often turns them into upcycle projects and makes some alterations to make them good as new. But this time, when creative Hannah spotted a traditional, vintage wedding dress for just £25, she knew it was going to be more than just a project. The moment she saw the gown, she knew it was coming home with her and saw the potential it had to become something chic and preppy. After making some adjustments, the end result was so incredible that Hannah now plans to wear it at her own wedding reception - saving her a massive £775 on a new dress. Speaking to Hannah said her plan quickly came together after she brought the dress home. The bodice had the most beautiful detailing... I plan to wear it as my 'goodbye' dress while I leave my wedding reception venue in a vintage car Hannah Penberthy She said: "I found this traditional wedding dress at a charity store, and what drew me to it was its vintage style. "The bodice had the most beautiful detailing, and, having recently gotten engaged, I plan to wear it as my 'goodbye' dress while I leave my wedding reception venue in a vintage car. 'My idea was to cut off the sleeves and half of the skirt to turn it into a shorter cocktail dress, with puffy sleeves. "After creating a bubble skirt, I used the excess fabric from the skirt to sew together the sleeves and attach them to the shoulder part of the bodice. "I cut out the excess mesh and changed the neckline into more of a sweetheart neckline. This consisted of cutting and sewing a hem. "I tried to keep the identity of this dress and conserve its natural beauty, while updating it to be more my style.' The creative bride-to-be revealed that she saved an incredible £775 in the process of upcycling the dress. Hannah added: 'I had been looking at dresses similar to the one I made, and most were priced between £400 and £800, to buy brand new. "By creating my own dress, I saved a substantial amount, spending only around £25 at a charity shop for the original piece.' And she said that this huge saving, mixed with being able to show off her creativity, is what inspired her to repurpose the dress. Hannah said: 'I decided to repurpose this dress for many reasons: to save money, to be eco-conscious, and to explore my creative side. "Shopping from a charity shop saves money and lends itself to finding such unique pieces. "But it also is a way of supporting more sustainable fashion practices and reducing textile waste. "Thrift flipping gives new life to clothing that might otherwise end up in a landfill, and it promotes a more thoughtful, community-oriented approach to style. TOP ADVICE HANNAH has shared her top piece of advice for anyone planning to repurpose their wedding dress - or other clothes in general! She said: "My biggest piece of advice is: just go for it! "We often spend too much time overthinking, but taking that first step is the hardest part — and it's so worth it. "Sewing might seem intimidating at first, but it's incredibly rewarding and more approachable than it seems. "Once you get the hang of it, it opens up a world of creative possibilities. "Repurposing a dress, especially for something as meaningful as your wedding, adds so much personal value. "There's something really special about wearing something you poured your heart into, knowing it's one-of-a-kind and full of love. "And who knows, maybe one day you'll pass it down and make it part of someone else's story too.' "I also love that it allows me to be creative and work on my sewing skills. I can create anything I can imagine. How freeing is that?!' This project only fuelled Hannah's passion to take on upcycling projects more regularly, which she has loved doing over the past year. She said: 'Over the past year, I've gotten into the habit of regularly buying and flipping second-hand clothing. "It's become a true passion of mine. "I love fashion, working with my hands, and bringing creative ideas to life. "There's something incredibly rewarding about the entire process, especially when I wear a piece out and someone asks, 'Where did you get that?' and I get to say, 'I actually made it!' "I definitely plan to keep doing this and would love to one day turn it into something more than just a hobby.'
Telegraph
09-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Dear Richard Madeley: ‘I don't want to admit my bully of a big brother was right all along'
Dear Richard, I've always had an uneasy relationship with my brother. He is three years older than me and a bit of a bully. We are now in our 60s. About 20 years ago, he was given a nice Georgian desk by his godmother. At about the same time he moved abroad and left a lot of his stuff, including the desk, in our parents' attic, as did I with a number of my possessions. When my parents had to sell their house two years ago, I moved my things from their attic to mine. But when my brother showed up to do the same, an almighty row erupted: he accused me of taking his desk and demanded it be returned. I was absolutely certain that I had not taken it; he was absolutely certain that I had. He went overseas again and we haven't spoken since. My dilemma is this: I've just been up to the loft and what should I find but – you guessed it – his desk. Perhaps my son, who's not party to the saga, moved it – or perhaps it was a senior moment on my part. My wife is proposing various elaborate scenarios in which we photograph the desk in the window of a charity shop or simply take it to the tip. I'm in no hurry to restore it to him, but I don't like to think of it up in the attic, silently throbbing with bad vibes. I don't see an outcome where we use this to 'heal' our relationship; I just want a minimum of drama. What's your take on 'the affair of the escritoire'? — P, via Dear P, I'm afraid you're not going to like it. But however unpleasant and overbearing your brother may be, there is one simple fact here. He was right. You did take his desk. It's not relevant whether you remember doing it, or if your son got it muddled with your other things – his desk is in your attic. He called it correctly – and no wonder he was angry when you flatly and repeatedly denied it. I certainly don't think you should play silly games. And as for throwing it on to the nearest tip... I hope you're not even remotely serious, P. No. Your course is clear. Write to him and make a clean breast of things. Tell him his godmother's gift did somehow find its way into your attic, you're extremely sorry, you apologise unreservedly, and ask him how he would like it returned. He may remain the S-H-one-T you describe him as – but you're better than that, aren't you? And you'll have done the right thing.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vinnies op shop pulls 'rare' $1,000 item from store after 'outrageous' discovery
An Aussie charity shop has come under fire for selling relatively common books for as much as $1,000, advertising them behind the counter as rare and hard to find. Two Harry Potter books spotted in a glass display cabinet at a Vinnies store in Lane Cove, Sydney, caught the eye of shopper Mat, who runs a website teaching Aussies how to flip undervalued products found in op shops. The books — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince — were listed for $500 and $1,000, respectively. The books were labelled as rare first editions, but Mat argues they're actually "far from it". "By the time these two books were published, Harry Potter was incredibly popular, so the print runs were massive," he told Yahoo News. "Deathly Hallows had an initial print run of 12 million copies, making it the biggest initial print run in history," he said. "To be selling one of these 12,000,000 copies as rare and hard to find is just plain wrong," he added, comparing the print run to the size of the male population of Australia, which is just over 13 million. "I wouldn't exactly call it rare and hard to find," he said. He believes these items would list closer to $10 if sold online. The price of first-edition books is determined by a number of factors, including rarity, condition and demand. A first-edition hardback copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first in the series, would fetch thousands at auction because only 500 copies were printed initially. After Yahoo News approached St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies), the charity shop confirmed the two items were pulled from the shelves, admitting that the advertised pricing was made in error. The apparent accident comes as all charity shops are facing scrutiny from everyday Aussies, with some arguing prices are too high, and the stock is of increasingly low quality. Shoppers have reported seeing Anko, a brand exclusive to Kmart and Target, selling in charity shops for a higher price than it was originally sold for. Some items are priced so high that shoppers say, "it's cheaper to go to Kmart" than visit the historically low-cost stores. However, many charity shops are facing an epidemic of low-quality donations, and are regularly inundated with so many piles of used items that they have been forced to refuse new donations after having broken furniture and damaged homewares dumped on their sites. A spokesperson confirmed to Yahoo News that the overpriced Harry Potter books at Lane Cove have been removed from sale due to their incorrect pricing and said the process around pricing of its first edition and prestige titles is being reviewed. When questioned about its pricing policy, a spokesperson for St Vincent de Paul Society NSW told Yahoo News: "Pricing in Vinnies NSW Shops is determined by affordability for customers as well as the quality of the goods on sale. "Our shops use a simple pricing guide based on research on value in the general second-hand marketplace and the quality of the garment." The spokesperson added the "principal purpose" of Vinnies Shops is to raise funds for the services that the charity provides to those experiencing disadvantage. "These include homelessness services, domestic and family violence shelters, health services, and the work of our members in communities all over NSW by supplying food, clothes, and everyday essentials to people in need," he said. Last financial year, 200,000 people accessed support offered by the charity, which spent $96.4m in homelessness, housing and mental health, disability and inclusion service provision, including $13.7 million in direct financial and material early intervention support. 🛍️ Mum's sad op shop theory highlights surging Gen Z trend 😢 Local unleashes over 'disgraceful' act on Aussie street 💎 Woman's 'rare' $2 find at Vinnies op-shop worth $1,000 Charity shopper Mat told Yahoo he spends his days scouring op shops looking for "interesting and unique" items, with a particular interest in books. "Books are a category that's often overlooked by thrift stores despite being a goldmine," he said. He admits to finding and selling popular book series and signed biographies online for profit. "In April, I found the complete nine-book Ringing Cedars series. I spent $4 each, $36 total and sold them in June for $900," he said. Last year, he said he found a signed copy of Olivia Newton-John's autobiography for $8 and sold it less than 6 hours later for $200. The experience has taught him "what to look for" in a book, and shares the information on his website Flip Weekly "so that other Aussies can make some money". "The Harry Potter books weren't reasonable as it was based on incorrect information," he said. "I don't mind if a charity store looks up an item and prices based on its current market value, my issue lies solely with outrageous pricing based on flawed or incorrect research, which is happening more and more." Despite the incorrect pricing, Mat believes that independent charity stores are still a good place to search for hidden treasure. "There's still a ton of treasure to be found in charity shops," he said, adding Aussies can still "get lucky" in stores like Vinnies, Salvos and Savers. "Just avoid the glass display cabinets and anything else they've labelled rare and hard to find," he said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I drove 3 hours to buy Ed Sheeran's pants in a charity shop for £20 – I found a red hair but trolls say I ‘need therapy'
Social media users described Lola's behaviour as "weird" and thought it was "rotten" that you could buy Ed's pants SHEER-ING IS CARING I drove 3 hours to buy Ed Sheeran's pants in a charity shop for £20 – I found a red hair but trolls say I 'need therapy' A WOMAN has revealed that she drove three hours to a charity shop to find clothes previously owned and worn by Ed Sheeran. Just days ago, news hit the headlines that the Thinking Out Loud singer had donated numerous items, including Ipswich Town merchandise, boxers and a bathmat, to a charity shop ahead of his homecoming gigs. 3 A woman has revealed that she drove three hours to Suffolk, desperate to get her hands on a pair of Ed Sheeran's pants Credit: TikTok/@lola_amuah 3 Lola Amuah paid £20 for the boxers and also got a pair of the singer's socks too Credit: TikTok/@lola_amuah 3 And this isn't the first time Ed Sheeran has donated his belongings to charity Credit: PA And Lola Amuah, a mother and bargain hunter from the UK, who 'seeks treasure in people's trash', was desperate to get her hands on some of Ed's pre-loved items. The Ed Sheeran superfan headed to East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) in Framlingham, Suffolk, in search of the 361 items that had been donated. Posting on social media, upon arriving at the charity shop, Lola gave her followers a close-up look at the rails of items and beamed: 'I drove three hours for Ed Sheeran's pants.' As she picked up a black pair of his undies, which were being flogged for £20, Lola gasped: 'There's a red hair on it, d'you reckon it's his hair?' Lola even spotted T-shirts, shoelaces and socks owned by the singer, as she explained: 'I don't know what to get, there's so much choice.' The savvy saver proceeded to sniff a pair of Ed's socks, as she stressed: 'I've gotta get these.' Lola then headed to the till, thrilled with her haul of goodies, as she told fans: 'You get a certificate of authentication with them…My life is made.' Scott Campbell, EACH e-commerce manager, said: "With Ed-mania sweeping through Suffolk, this is a perfect opportunity to maximise funds and raise as much as possible for our charity, while also getting in the spirit and having fun at the same time." Not only can Ed's fans buy his items from the charity shop in Suffolk, but they will even find items he has donated on the charity's online eBay page. Scott Campbell claimed it is going to be "fascinating" to see how much the items sell for, as he recognised: "Once again, Ed has come up trumps with an incredible, eye-catching assortment of clothing and items - from boxer shorts and bongo drums to jeans and jewellery. I spotted a gorgeous LBD in a charity shop for a fiver - when I Googled it I realised I'd bagged a £375 designer frock "Hopefully the momentum, interest and bidding will rumble on throughout the summer - with every pound raised making a difference and helping us continue our vital work supporting families and caring for children across East Anglia." And this isn't the first time Ed has donated his items to charity - he previously donated donated 450 items to the charity in 2022, which raised £30,000. My life is made Lola Amuah Also, when he became an ambassador for the charity in 2014, the musician raised £7,500 after donating 21 items, including a camouflage hoodie and pair of Adidas trainers. Genie Woodcock, retail central support manager, beamed: "What better time or place to snap us one of Ed's donations than in his hometown of Framlingham. "We're seizing the moment, and [are] excited to see what happens when these items go on sale." Top charity shop tips for bagging a bargain Ross Dutton has been a manager for Crisis's charity shops for four years and currently runs the charity's Finsbury Park shop in London. Choose your area - As a rule of thumb, the posher the area, the better quality the clothes that are donated. Don't hang around - If you see something you like, buy it, as it'll likely be gone when you come back Look out for cut-off labels - Some of your favourite high street stores will have deals with local charity shops to donate stock that isn't sold during their own sales. Often part of the deal is that they need to cut the labels off the clothes. Stay at home - While some charities have their own site, like Oxfam and Crisis. many also sell from dedicated eBay stores, such as British Heart Foundation and Scope. You won't get the range of bargains that you would get in a physical store, but if you're looking for something specific it may be worth checking online too. Social media users react But Lola's TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @lola_amuah, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 126,400 views. Social media users were gobsmacked by Lola's clip - but while some thought she needed 'therapy' for smelling his socks, others described buying Ed's previously owned pants as 'rotten.' Stalker behaviour TikTok user One person said: 'If you are serious then you need therapy. Why on earth would you want someone's used undies? Think about this. You are an adult.' Another added: 'As much as I love Ed Sheeran, I don't think I could buy his pants.' A third commented: 'That's f*****g rotten.' Meanwhile, someone else described Lola's actions as 'such weird behaviour,' whilst another agreed and wrote: 'Stalker behaviour.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
