Shopper finds wad of cash on her charity store buy: “It’s quite a chunk”


One shopper has sparked debate online after sharing an unexpected find in an item she purchased from a charity store.

In the London-based internet forum Mumsnet, one woman from the UK shared the story of how she discovered a stash of cash inside a quilted blanket.

The woman was shopping with her sister at a charity store when she came across a quilted blanket with a lovely patchwork-like design. She liked the item and thought it would look good in her bedroom, so she purchased the blanket and brought it back to her house.

But just before she was about to throw the secondhand blanket into the washing machine, she felt something unusual. The woman was checking for washing instructions when she noticed one part of the blanket felt a bit different than the rest.

“The more I pressed on that area, the more I could almost feel something move. So, I made a cut…”

She never expected to find a huge chunk of cash inside the blanket, which totalled to an amount of $1,850 AUD.

“It’s quite a chunk,” she said.

Now that she’s left with a hefty amount of money from out of nowhere, the woman admitted she has no idea what to do with it. She was torn between returning the money to the store or keeping the cash instead.

Even though the astounding amount of money would really help with her expenses, she also kept thinking about how this is a person’s savings kept for a long time and they must have been looking for it.

QDB2vkgRsqzRfZQLPHnmw5_p8dXoqbvsSSe8eirsDRxcX0a1oidlqZ-qrtHnBUCnwWAa0SRB_m93biXxdMPJG9waYOMSinw0RKi-Qt-sQoC0-bPYiw4vYFq_juYwSGVoxOzS3gAX

One woman found a wad of cash inside an item she purchased from a charity store. Credit: Getty Images/Maskot.
Her post on the forum site was flooded with users who have different opinions.

Many suggested the woman should keep the money, instead of returning it. One person even told her she wouldn't find the owner anyway, and they probably won’t miss the money if they didn’t know it was there.

A second commenter made a similar remark! “I doubt the shop could trace it back to the donor. I'd keep it, but give a bit to charity to assuage my guilt!”

On the other hand, many were also suggesting she should return the money to the store, since the item wasn’t hers in the first place.

“Take it back to the shop or call the police! Can’t believe you’d possibly think of keeping it,” said one user.

What are your thoughts? And if you’re in the woman’s position, would you return the money or keep it to yourself?

Let us know in the comments below!

And while we’re on the topic of op shops and secondhand stores, plenty of Aussies have been finding incredible things in them. And most of the time, they’re run by locals too so you know the money’s going to a great place.

Just check out this woman’s shop haul from Salvos and Vinnies Australia! Aren’t they amazing?



Credit: Katieree.
 
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Shopper finds wad of cash on her charity store buy: “It’s quite a chunk”

One shopper has sparked debate online after sharing an unexpected find in an item she purchased from a charity store.

In the London-based internet forum Mumsnet, one woman from the UK shared the story of how she discovered a stash of cash inside a quilted blanket.

The woman was shopping with her sister at a charity store when she came across a quilted blanket with a lovely patchwork-like design. She liked the item and thought it would look good in her bedroom, so she purchased the blanket and brought it back to her house.

But just before she was about to throw the secondhand blanket into the washing machine, she felt something unusual. The woman was checking for washing instructions when she noticed one part of the blanket felt a bit different than the rest.

“The more I pressed on that area, the more I could almost feel something move. So, I made a cut…”

She never expected to find a huge chunk of cash inside the blanket, which totalled to an amount of $1,850 AUD.

“It’s quite a chunk,” she said.

Now that she’s left with a hefty amount of money from out of nowhere, the woman admitted she has no idea what to do with it. She was torn between returning the money to the store or keeping the cash instead.

Even though the astounding amount of money would really help with her expenses, she also kept thinking about how this is a person’s savings kept for a long time and they must have been looking for it.


QDB2vkgRsqzRfZQLPHnmw5_p8dXoqbvsSSe8eirsDRxcX0a1oidlqZ-qrtHnBUCnwWAa0SRB_m93biXxdMPJG9waYOMSinw0RKi-Qt-sQoC0-bPYiw4vYFq_juYwSGVoxOzS3gAX

One woman found a wad of cash inside an item she purchased from a charity store. Credit: Getty Images/Maskot.
Her post on the forum site was flooded with users who have different opinions.

Many suggested the woman should keep the money, instead of returning it. One person even told her she wouldn't find the owner anyway, and they probably won’t miss the money if they didn’t know it was there.

A second commenter made a similar remark! “I doubt the shop could trace it back to the donor. I'd keep it, but give a bit to charity to assuage my guilt!”

On the other hand, many were also suggesting she should return the money to the store, since the item wasn’t hers in the first place.

“Take it back to the shop or call the police! Can’t believe you’d possibly think of keeping it,” said one user.

What are your thoughts? And if you’re in the woman’s position, would you return the money or keep it to yourself?

Let us know in the comments below!

And while we’re on the topic of op shops and secondhand stores, plenty of Aussies have been finding incredible things in them. And most of the time, they’re run by locals too so you know the money’s going to a great place.

Just check out this woman’s shop haul from Salvos and Vinnies Australia! Aren’t they amazing?




Credit: Katieree.

Maybe go back to where she purchased the quilt and ask them if they can track the owner and say she found a “personal” item inside the quilt without revealing it was money. Leave her contact details with the op shop, in case…. If no result there then go to police. If no one claims the money after the mandatory wait time then the money is hers.
 
I lost track of little stashes of money when I had to clear out my parents home...I donated many many things to charity....if there's any money caught up in something, then that's a bonus for the person shopping in the charity shop....just spend it on something useful for your family ❤️❤️
 
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What a quandary!
I don't know legally where she stands, or where the store stands.
The original owner donated the blanket to the Op Shop. The Op Shop put it up for sale at a nominated price.
It was purchased at the price requested by the Op Shop.....doesn't it become the purchaser's?
There is a crime, "Theft by finding", but this lady purchased the item, she didn't find it ....????
I feel as if it doesn't belong to the Op Shop, as they put it up for sale.
I wonder what the law is?
I guess, morally, I'd ask generally at the Op Shop if they knew who the donor had been and try to trace ownership that way.....without specifying any monetary value....although the Op Shop wouldn't be able to reveal details to the purchaser for confidentiality reasons.
If no success there, I'd source information from the Police, seek their advice. If not claimed after 3 months, I believe it would rightfully become the purchaser's.
Does anyone know the legal ramifications?
 
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The owner has probably passed and their family have had to dispose of their belongings, with or without much thought or care, sad I know but it is a fact of life!!
I would sew up the quilted blanket, launder it and display it on my bed with pride! I would then 'silently' thank the owner and assure them that their blanket has a new, loving home and that their money would be spent wisely!
There really isn't much more you can do but be very greatful!!!
 
I totally agree with BJM member, the blanket may have been from an estate where the owner has passed away and like a lot of family members when cleaning out a house that belonged to a deceased family member they are really only interested in what's in the drawers and robes, anything else is tossed away or donated without a second thought, brilliant idea BJM member. The lady purchased the blanket intending to give it the love it once had and she has been rewarded for it.
 
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You'd be amazed at how often thing like this happen. When I managed an Op Shop we were constantly finding cash in all sorts of forgotten things. If it was a small amount we just put it in with the days takings, if it was a large amount and we didn't know where it came from we informed the police and handed it in. If it was returned to us after the requisite three months it went directly to the charity of the op shop, Vinnies.:)
 
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Maybe go back to where she purchased the quilt and ask them if they can track the owner and say she found a “personal” item inside the quilt without revealing it was money. Leave her contact details with the op shop, in case…. If no result there then go to police. If no one claims the money after the mandatory wait time then the money is hers.
That’s what I would‘ve done 👍🏼👍🏼
 
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The reality is the op shop would not be able to trace the owner and it could even be a deceased estate and
the people clearing could have donated to the op shop not knowing the cash was there - the fact is there are so many scenerios, so I say keep the cash and donate some back to the op shop as a thank you for the find.
 
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