My favourite thrifty buy was a $400 Le Crueset roaster I got new in the box for $5. Obviously the pricer had no clue what it was.

In my mother's last days she was delusional and always in a state of dementia. Dad used to take her for her weekly treat to the big local thrift store which she loved - likely because the older items evoked memories for her. She would buy stuff and forget about it when she got home and dad would donate it back. There were multiple occasions she kept re-buying the same thing over and over again.

I have a friend with her own 're-liked retro and vintage' shop and she does quite well and manages to still give a lot to charity by paying herself only a minimal living wage.

I do try to stay away from the big chains myself though, like Value Village which is even on the stock exchange earning billions in profit for share holders giving very little for charity.

I encourage you then to check the charitable status Vs for profit status of the bigger chains before you donate or purchase. Perhaps instead deal directly with the little mom and pop operations which turn over a portion of their gains to local charitable organisations. You would be surprised about the Salvation Army too.

Surprises you might find are organisations which make money for charities only on the weight of recycled fabric.

I myself donate to the local Cummunity Living which provides people with cognitive disabilities jobs and will in turn resale on a sliding scale or even give away furniture and kitchen stuff in addition to clothing to those actually in need.