The people we’re featuring today have truly lucked out on the second-hand lottery. From breathtaking vintage wedding dresses to mini furniture for cats, scroll down to see more of the best rare gems that these humans found while thrifting!
While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out a conversation with professional thrifters Kelly Handley and Alison Bossert, who kindly agreed to share their own most memorable catches from shopping secondhand.
#1 I'm An Electrician And I'm Constantly Saving Old Fixtures From The Dumpster, I Have A Whole Collection In My Basement
#2 I Thought This Was Beautiful. A Person In My Apartment Complex Was Throwing It Out And I Grabbed It With A Smile. It Is Wood And Extremely Heavy. I Will Be Polishing It With Orange Oil Later. What Do You Guys Think? Good Find?
#3 So This Happened Today.. I Work For A Major 2nd Hand Store In Australia, This Morning While Opening Up The Store I Stumbled Across The Corner Of This Woodburning Sticking Out
Kelly Handley, a seasoned thrifting and resale expert, author, and founder of Ultimate Thrifting, told Bored Panda that she got into it after moving to a bigger city for university and starting to visit secondhand stores looking for her beloved vintage aesthetic.
“Thrifting really ramped up for me after I had my son (who’s turning 16 this month!), as I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on clothing and toys that would be used for such a short period of time before he would grow out of them.
When I started looking at the women’s clothing, I was shocked by the amazing things that get donated, and soon it became difficult for me to pay retail prices when I could thrift such great outfits for so much less!”
#4 I Found This Fantastic Antique Salesman’s Sample Chair Off Of Facebook Marketplace A Few Months Back. I Knew What I Needed To Do
#5 Finally I Have Something To Share,, My Beautiful Find At Abbie Ann’s In Akron Ohio,,i Am In Love
#6 This May Be The Coolest Thing I Have Ever Found In A Second Hand Store!
In her e-book launching in September, Kelly provides tips for people to uncover high-value finds and hidden gems, master the art of negotiating to get the best prices, identify and authenticate high-end items, and assess their resale value.
“My ultimate guide to apparel thrifting will help you discover the exciting world of thrifting, with expert insights, practical tips, and proven strategies that will help you find the very best deals. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned thrifter, this book is your key to thrifting success,” the Ultimate Thrifting website writes.
#8 My Hoarding Of Old Garage Sale Christmas Junk Finally Paid Off. My Sister Turned It All Into This Masterpiece
Meanwhile, Alison Bossert, a thrifter, online reselling entrepreneur, and YouTube content creator, shared with us that her journey in secondhand shopping started out of necessity.
“I grew up in a thrifting household back before it was called “thrifting.” Both my parents were born in New York City during the Great Depression. My dad, especially, grew up very poor, so it was natural for them to find money-saving ways to meet the family’s needs.”
#10 I Ran Into This At A Yard Sale And I Had To Have It For All My Crystals. What Do You Guys Think. It Came Home With Me
#11 My Grandma Spent Years Collecting Broken Pieces Of Jewelry From Family Members With The Hope Of Creating A Jewelry Christmas Tree
#12 Before And After The Makeover! This Garden Dog Had Seen Better Days 10 Years Ago When I Found It By A Dumpster. The Florida Sun Did Even More Damage. It’s Spot On Now!
Alison further shared, “When they bought their home they furnished it with pre-owned items. Furniture, lamps, even cookware. My first bicycle was from a church flea market. It seemed totally normal to me. I thought that’s what everyone did, so thrifting has always made sense to me. As I got older, I always loved exploring thrift stores and garage sales.”
#13 Found This Sitting By My Neighbors Trash Can, She Thought I Had Lost My Mind Over How Excited I Was And Was More Than Happy To Let Me Dig It Out Of Her Trash. I’ve Named Her Peggy
#14 I've Wanted To Share The Story Of My Special Lamp For Some Time
#15 Saw This At An Estate Sale But Couldn’t Afford It…
Now she documents her trips to thrift stores, garage sales, and flea markets and shares them on her YouTube channel Long Island Thrifter. She visits secondhand locations in Long Island and all over to teach people how to find bargains for as little as $1. “Discover the art of upcycling, recycling, and repurposing while learning unique strategies to make and save money. Let's transform the ordinary into the extraordinary together!” her YouTube ‘About’ section writes.
#16 Totally Forgot To Share This!! Look At The Bookchair I Found At The Thriftstore Here In The Netherlands. And Yes, I Totally Bought It
#17 I Found A Cat Size Couch, I Repeat, A Cat Size Couch (And It Was Only 4.99) Thanks Goodwill
#18 Found This Beautiful Stained-Glass Peacock Years Ago At A Yard Sale
What Kelly enjoys the most about thrifting is extending the life of clothing and other items. “I find it really sad how wasteful and consumerist the world has become, particularly with the rise of fast fashion. Clothing is probably the only household budget category that has seen prices decrease over time - crazy, right? It makes me happy to participate in circular fashion and promote buying secondhand over new.”
#19 I Love Stained Glass And Found This Piece In An Antique Mall. It’s My House Number!! Installed It On Our Front Porch
#20 I Was Always Super Skeptical Of Facebook Marketplace, Then I Found This Giant Tardis Reading Nook For $50
