You know what they say; one man's trash is another man's treasure. And while you could quite literally dig through someone's trash, why do that when the likes of Goodwill, thrift stores, and other consignment shops exist? These places are perfect for picking up a bargain and breathing new life into old objects, but you really do have to pick and choose what you buy. And while some people just don't have the thrift store knowledge, it's safe to say that these people absolutely nailed their Goodwill adventures with the unbelievable finds that you are about to see.
An Alarmingly Good Find
While we may live in a world full of smartphones and watches that can give us the time, there's nothing quite like waking up in the middle of the night and seeing an actual clock next to your bed. And although you can pick up clocks relatively cheaply at your local Walmart, why would you do that when you can pick up clocks like this in thrift stores? This person won the Goodwill lottery with this thing.
This old flip clock is not only in perfect condition, but the retro clock also looks so cool siting on the table like that. Plus, it only cost this person 50 cents!
Time for a Picnic
Many people donate something to Goodwill or other consignment stores when they no longer need it, but just because one person doesn't need it any longer doesn't mean that someone else might relish in the opportunity to whip it out every single weekend. We can only assume that's what happened with this vintage 1940s picnic basket. Sure, someone decided they weren't going to use it anymore - but we bet it didn't take long to be snapped up by someone else.
After all, no picnic is complete without a picnic basket, right? And if you're a lover of vintage things, we bet you'll appreciate the impressive condition of this old picnic basket.
Falling for Faux
Thrift store shopping is very similar to shopping in a department store or grocery store. You have to search through every aisle and every shelf to see if there's anything that takes your fancy, and then you can decide what you want to take home. When this person was strolling through the aisles of Goodwill, they spotted a faux fur blanket in perfect condition on the shelf - and they knew they couldn't leave it there.
All in all, the faux fur blanket cost them just $2 - and an even bigger bonus was that the stray cat that seemed to come as part of a package was completely free!
Fits Like a Glove
Many people shut down the idea of shopping for clothes at thrift stores, but what they fail to realize is that you can really hit the jackpot in these Goodwill bins. In fact, there have been so many stories of thrifters finding expensive designer clothes that would have cost them thousands of dollars if they hadn't been donated. And while this woman's stunning find wasn't designer, it did almost seem like it was designed specifically for her.
The dress she found fit her like a glove, and she knew that she was meant to take the dress home with her. So, of course, that's exactly what she did!
A Real Treasure
Everyone knows Jane Goodall, right? This woman has worked tirelessly her whole life for the safety and conservation of primates, and her love for these animals is truly heartwarming. And while many people would pay thousands of dollars to have a signed photograph of the woman and one of her primate friends, this person found that exact thing just sitting on the shelf in Goodwill. What's more, it was incredibly cheap.
This autographed Jane Goodall print set this person back just $3, and we have to say that we're pretty jealous of this one. We'd do anything to have one of these!
Can't Go Wrong With a Good Quilt
If this picture gives you flashbacks of your younger years, you're not alone. There was once a time when most of us had these quilts on our beds, and many were made by our very own grandmas. But if you've misplaced your quilt over the years, you might want to head to your nearest thrift store or consignment shop, because there may be one hiding in the bins for a very affordable price.
A good quilt is always a blessing, and this person was blessed with such a good quality quilt that we would have assumed that it was completely brand new. Just look at it!
An Expensive Haul
Many thrift stores have started charging customers by the weight of the items they're buying, rather than by the prices of the items themselves. And while this means that you can bulk buy clothes and fabrics for a very affordable price, what many people don't realize is that this also applies to things such as electronics. Yes, that's exactly what this person did - and they bought a whopping 46lbs of electronics for just $32.02!
Anyone who knows anything about electronics, particularly video games, will know that was an absolute steal. Especially as there are so many video game cartridges there with an epic resale value...
Who Wants a $305 Discount?
If you're well versed in the designer world, it may seem counterintuitive to scout around Goodwill. But actually, that's the best thing you can do! So many people donate vintage designer items without really understanding their true value, and it takes someone with a good eye and a good knowledge of designer gear to truly make the most of that. And that's exactly what this person did when they found this duffle bag.
Although this may look like an ordinary duffle, this is actually a Tika leather duffle that is worth an incredible $315. However, this nifty thrifter managed to bag it for just $10.
The Haunting of Boyfriend's Past
One of the things we love about thrift stores and consignment shops is the fact that you really can find the strangest things in these stores. And while the likes of Goodwill aren't practical for those who like everything to be brand new and match perfectly in their house, these stores are perfect for those who like little nick-nacks that add some personality and character to their home. You know, like an urn full of the ashes of someone's ex-boyfriends.
We're pretty sure this bowl doesn't actually have human remains inside of it, but there's no doubt about the fact that the concept itself is pretty funny - and we bet it would look great on a mantel.
Dressing to Impress
Most thrift stores have racks upon racks of old clothes for sale. And while many of these clothes are regular people's cast-offs, sometimes there's a rose amongst the thorns - and it's safe to say that this dress is definitely a rose. The person who spotted this was instantly captivated by the vintage 70s boho prairie lace dress, and knew they had to buy it even though it wouldn't fit anyone in their household.
More than anything, they knew that it was worth so much more than what Goodwill was selling it for. So, they bought it to resell, and we have a feeling that they'll probably be able to line their pockets very nicely after doing so!
A Very Unique Find
Looking at this image, can you tell what this is? At first glance, it probably looks like a rather unusual decoration of a house with removable parts. And while this might intrigue a Goodwill shopper, it seems as though the person who eventually bought it discovered its real purpose. Yes, it's a jewelry box! And we have to say that it's pretty genius - especially if you want to deter thieves and keep your jewelry safe.
While this whole jewelry box is special in its own way, the garage door is what sells it to us. After all, you can dedicate the whole garage to your favorite bracelets or necklaces.
Hunting for Hermes
If you love designer brands, you'll probably be familiar with the likes of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes. And while most people have to spend a fortune to be able to add such labels to their closets, there are some people who win the thrift store lottery and manage to bag these labels for a tiny fraction of the price. Take this person, for example, who spotted an Hermes scarf in a Goodwill bin.
If they had bought this vintage scarf from an official resale site, they would have spent hundreds. But they managed to bag this beauty for just a few dollar bills!
Digging for Gold
If you've ever been to Goodwill, you'll know that the bins are often separated into categories - but sometimes things go amiss. And when a woman was searching through a clothing bin in one of these consignment stores, she noticed a small cloth pouch sitting at the bottom. Upon further inspection, she realized that she was faced with a stamped 925 Sterling ring with a real turquoise stone set inside of it!
Sure, it needs a good clean and a good polish, but we bet this ring will be worth a small fortune when it's been put back to its former glory and ready to be sold again.
The Holy Grail
If you're a toy collector or just interested in cool and unusual toys, you're probably internally screaming right now. After all, thrift stores are constantly bombarded with old toys that people no longer want or need - but most are generic toys that barely fetch any money when they're sold. But this is no ordinary toy. This is a 1977 Disneyland Weebles playset, and that makes it a very big deal for people who love toys.
An icon in the toy world, so many kids wanted this limited edition toy back in the day, but many struggled to find it anywhere. So, to see it being sold for just a few dollars in Goodwill must have been an out-of-body experience.
Yes, They're First Editions
While many people may laugh at scoff at collector's cards, there's no doubt about the fact that these things can make you some serious money. Rare cards and first editions can fetch thousands or even millions of dollars, which is why many people scour thrift stores trying to find those that parents have thrown out when their kids fly the nest. And this person hit the jackpot when they found a whole binder of first edition Pokemon cards!
To give you a bit of reference, the first-edition Pikachu card alone is worth around $5,000. So, we can't even imagine how much that whole binder would have been worth.
The Impossible Oregon Trail
Well, this is a major throwback. Did anyone else play this game at school? It seemed as though we were constantly playing this game during our elementary school computer lab days, and while we enjoyed the challenge that came with The Oregon Trail, there's no doubt about the fact that this game was impossible. Nobody had any idea how to beat it, or how you were even supposed to win the game.
If we had spotted this game in a thrift store for just a few dollars, there's a high chance that we would have picked it up and given it a new home, too.
Time for Tea
You can find anything and everything in a thrift store. And while most people donate to the likes of Goodwill because they no longer like or need these things, that doesn't mean that someone else won't fall in love with them. On this occasion, it seems as though this poster was instantly smitten by a cute miniature tea set that came with all of the pieces and was in perfect condition.
While you can't drink tea out of these tiny cups, we have a feeling that this person would still be pretty pleased with their purchase every time they walk past this little decoration.
An Extra Freebie
In today's day and age, you can't walk down the street without seeing someone wearing AirPods. These Apple headphones are everywhere, but they're certainly not cheap. They'll set you back a few hundred dollars brand new, so you can imagine this person's surprise when they bought a backpack from the Goodwill bins for just $1 and then spotted that the original owner of the backpack had left their AirPods in there!
Let's just hope that the person who bought the backpack checked to see whether the original owner had classified them as lost, as we have a feeling that this was just a case of mistaken donation!
Time for Some Upcycling
If you're looking to deck out your new home with furniture but don't have the money for brand-new pieces, thrift stores are the way to go. You can pick up solid pieces of furniture from these consignment shops - and while they often need some TLC to be restored to their former glory, these upcycling projects can allow you to create something better than what they would in furniture stores. That's what this person did, anyway.
They ought this little oak cabinet for just $3 in a thrift store, and then spent a little bit of money on upcycling it. They replaced the hardware, stained it, and added some LED strips to make something that looks very expensive!
We Like to Roomba
Everyone knows what a Roomba is, right? So many people have this home appliance on their wishlist, but only a few decide to actually shell out for one as they can be extremely expensive. But this is your public service announcement to always keep an eye out in your local thrift store, as this person managed to pick up a perfectly functioning Roomba with the charger still attached at their local Goodwill for just $4!
Although we bet they were over the moon with their thrift store find, it does look as though their cat will take a little more convincing. But we're sure they'll come around.
Time for a BLT
Thrift stores sell all kinds of things, but we bet they don't often have vintage kitchen knives sitting on their shelves. But every so often a kitchen utensil lover finds a needle in a haystack and finds a never-used vintage carbon steel Chinese cleaver - and that's exactly what happened here. They were so ecstatic to find the knife that they instantly took it to the cashier to pay for it.
As soon as they got home, they did what any budding chef would do, and they put their new knife to work, making the ultimate BLT. It does look pretty good, to be fair.
Look at That Luggage
If you love old-school movies and vintage artifacts, there's a high chance that you're obsessed with luggage trunks. We don't blame you, either. Trunks are super cool and often made to such a high standard that it would be silly to pass up the opportunity to own one yourself. Especially when you spot one in your local thrift store for just $1.50! It would be criminal to pass something that cheap without taking it home with you.
While this leather luggage does need some TLC and the lock needs to be fixed, it seems as though the person who bought this new that the $1.50 price tag was well worth it.
Howdy, Cowboy
Thrift stores really are a great place to shop if you're running low on funds. You can find so many things you need in these consignment stores for a fraction of the price, and many of them are beautifully unique in their own way. Take this guy, for example. He was in the market for some new outerwear and made his way to his local thrift store. That's where he picked up this 70’s Lee Storm Rider Suede Field Coat.
If he were to buy this vintage coat anywhere else, it probably would have cost him around $100. But in the thrift store, it cost him just a few dollars!
The Monster Mash
Every home needs a cookie jar, right? And while there's a growing trend of homeowners choosing to store their cookies in a glass jar that gives them the chance to see the cookies inside, there are still some people who prefer to go down the whimsical route. We can only assume that the person who bought this Frankenstein's monster cookie jar is one of those people, as they knew they had to buy it.
Not only was this cookie jar extremely cheap, but it also held a hidden surprise! As well as being a cookie jar, it was also a music box - and we really hope it played 'The Monster Mash.'
A Designer Haul
In the market for some new clothes? Why don't you skip your trip to the mall and head to your local thrift store instead? The contents of your local Goodwill completely depend on the area you live in - and if you live in a fairly well-to-do area, the likelihood is that the contents of the thrift store will be much better. That's why we can only assume that the person who bought this designer haul lives in a very expensive area.
With big brands like Patagonia an Yeti, they hit the jackpot with this haul. They even managed to find a 100% cashmere sweater in near-perfect condition for just a few dollars!
One Very Lucky Gamer
We're going to assume that most thrift stores find themselves inundated with video games and toys on the first week of the college year. That's because most moms probably help their kids 'clean' out their old rooms and get rid of anything they think they no longer need - and unfortunately, video games just don't make the cut. And while that's bad news for the new college students, that's great for video game enthusiasts looking for a bargain.
This video game lover just happened to be at the right place at the right time in this thrift store, as they just so happened to walk in when a whole set of video game consoles were being donated. So, they snapped them up!
Going for Gold
When you walk into any Goodwill or consignment shop, you should always keep your eyes peeled for anything glinting from the bins or from the shelves. After all, you should always go for gold - as you never know whether what you're looking at could be worth just a few dollars, or whether it could be worth thousands of dollars. That's why we have to commend this person for finding this stunning brooch.
Although we don't know anything else about this brooch, we really hope they chose to get it valued to see whether it was a piece of junk or whether it was something much more intriguing.
Grabbing Some Bits for Work
If your employer doesn't allow you a budget to buy things that you believe will benefit your job, you sometimes have to stick your own money on the line to buy them instead. If that's the case, why not head to a thrift store? That's exactly what this daycare owner did, and they managed to walk out with a whole bunch of new toys and books for her kids - and she only spent $48 for the privilege.
If she had bought these things new, she probably would have spent four times that much. So, it just goes to show that shopping in Goodwill really does pay off in the end.
Ready, Set, Bake!
Do you love to bake? If yes, you'll know the importance of a good stand mixer. This tool is essential in making the perfect cookie dough, mixing together the ingredients of a moist cake, or whipping up some frosting. And while most bakers dream of owning a KitchenAid mixer, there's no doubt about the fact that these are often out of people's price range. Unless you find some in the thrift store, of course.
This person managed to find not one but two KitchenAid mixers in Goodwill! And the best bit? They only set them back $22 for both of them. That's truly incredible.
Pure White Hell
Let's be honest; puzzles are a whole load of fun. Sure, they require patience and a lot of free time, but the feeling of completing a puzzle is like no other - and that's why so many people head to their local thrift store to pick up another puzzle to add to their collection. But what would you do if you saw this hellish all-white puzzle on the shelf? Would you snap it up? Or would you run away?
This person decided to give it a go, and legend has it that they're still working on it today. We're not surprised, either. This puzzle seems like it would be impossible.
Going Back in Time
Thrift stores really do open up a window to the past. They're normally filled with vintage products that have been in families for years and lived lives we'll never quite understand. And there are many people in this world who go in search of these specific items. For example, this person decided to trawl Goodwill for some vintage clothes to add to their collection - and then they came across this beauty.
This is a 1945 WWII Ike jacket that they found in the bins at Goodwill, and today you should expect to pay a few hundred dollars for the same thing on normal resale sites.
Let There Be Light
Thrift stores offer so much more than clothes and toys. They're the perfect place to go if you're looking for some new home furnishings for your house, as you can often find cheap but unusual items you'll rarely be able to find anywhere else. Don't believe us? Just look at these lamps! These aren't any ordinary lamps, either, as they're a pair of Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs feather lamps - which means they were once very expensive.
But the beauty of consignment stores means that this person was able to pick up these lamps for just a tiny fraction of their RRP, and they were still in full working order, too!
A Slam Dunk
If you don't know anything about sneakers, one of the main things you need to know is that Dunks are extremely collectable. Many sneakerheads spend thousands of dollars adding rare colors and styles to their collection, and they can fetch a huge amount at resale. But what you might not realize is that you can sometimes pick up sneakers at the thrift store - which is exactly what this person did.
They found some tropical teal Dunks in fairly good condition at the thrift store, and they only had to part with $2 of their money to take them home with them! Then, they just gave them a bit of TLC and a clean.
When You Bag the Bags
You can never have too many purses, right? But while it's easy to pick up purses from department stores, many people around the world spend their days dreaming of the day that they can buy a designer purse from a reputable designer. Of course, these are normally incredibly expensive - but have you ever looked in a thrift store? Sometimes, you can find vintage designer bags in the bins if you look hard enough.
That's what this person did, and they managed to stumble across two amazing Kate Spade purses to add to their collection. We especially love the white, green, and blue purse!
A Super Cool Aesthetic
Every house needs a reading nook, and it seems as though this person knew that. But instead of spending a fortune online on a new light for their reading nook, they decided to take a trip to Goodwill and see what they had on offer. We bet they're glad they made that decision, as within seconds they had set their sights on a light-up canopy that would fit perfectly over their chair.
Not only did it add a cool aesthetic to their nook, but it also offered the all-important light they were after. Plus, it only cost them a couple of dollars!
Pulling the Wool Over Your Eyes
One of the things we love about thrift stores and consignment shops is that you don't need to go in with a huge amount of money to come out with something expensive. Sometimes, all you need is a few quarters in your pocket, and you can pocket something truly extraordinary. And if you don't believe us, just take a look at this $3 bargain! Yes, that is a Pendleton blanket.
For reference, this type of 100% wool blanket can be bought new for around $500 - and if you need a little reminder, this person managed to take it home with just $3 in their wallet!
Time to Power up
No matter what thrift store you can walk into, you can almost guarantee that you're going to come across some of the same things. You'll spot clothes, toys, books, and probably even a few pieces of furniture. But that's not all these stores have to offer. Sometimes you'll see something out of the ordinary - and when was the last time you spotted a fully-functioning power tool in the Goodwill bins?
When this person spotted a Dewalt 18 V Score in the bins they knew they couldn't leave it behind. We would have done the exact same - and we don't think we've ever used a power tool in our lives.
It's Me, Mario!
If you're someone who appreciates vintage games, thrift stores are the perfect place for you to hang out. Sure, you can buy vintage video games online - but there's nothing quite like the feeling of rifling through the bins and then stumbling across something that gives you major nostalgia. So, we can understand how happy this person was when they came across these three Nintendo games just sitting in the thrift store.
We're not sure which game we love more, but we think Super Mario probably pips the other two to the post. Nevertheless, the whole haul is one this person should be proud of.
Time for the Calligraphy Lesson
If you're looking to pick up a new hobby, it might be worth taking a trip to your local Goodwill. You might stumble across some knitting needles and yarn, you might find a hula hoop, or you may even find a calligraphy set! This person found the latter and decided to spend a couple of dollars to take it home with them to practice their own calligraphy skills. That's when they noticed that the person before them had also had a go.
While their caligraphy skills weren't exactly PG, we bet this was pretty funny for this person to stumble across. Especially as they decided to open up the book at 1am when they couldn't sleep.
Super Dooper Exclusive
We've already seen that you can buy countless items of clothing in a thrift store, but this person took thrifting to a whole new level when they found this Disney Parks exclusive dress. As a Disney fanatic themselves, they couldn't believe it when they saw this dress crumpled into a bin. After all, it would have cost a fortune to buy new - but then it was discontinued and started to sell for even more online.
It was at that moment that they knew they had to take it home with them, as they couldn't let the dress go to someone else who wouldn't appreciate it for what it was.