28 Times People Couldn’t Believe Their Luck In Thrift Stores

My mom flipped a switch after my parents divorced and ended up in jail, eventually prison. Not many things survived my childhood. One thing I made sure I kept safe and hidden was this crystal cat. Always in my socks, inside a sock, inside a sock, a little nesting doll of sorts. My Granny was my everything, she raised me. My mom passed away almost 4 years ago, then my Granny a year later. I rarely wander Goodwill in the "knick knack" section, something drew me towards it today and I found my third crystal cat! (Second kitty was also found at a different Goodwill about two years ago. ) It's not much, but it makes me think of how far I've come out of the darkness and my beautiful Granny everytime I catch a glimpse of those kitties

I finally got around to making this display. My original goal was to have it made for my daughter’s first birthday. She’s now 3 and a half. Better late then never! All pieces were found at estate sales and flea markets.

Left them all there as they need to be bought together, and they are $18 each sadly

I found this door knocker at a jumble sale well over 10 years ago and shoved him in the shed for a later project, I remembered him last week and figured during lock down he could finally be given the tlc needed. Turns out he's the messenger to the gods (hermes) over 150 years old and quite valuable. He's going on my front door this weekend (before and after pics)

Never in my life did I ever think I would own something as beautiful as these opera glasses I saw them at an estate sale last week and as soon as I saw them I knew they had to be mine. I’ve been thinking about getting opera glasses for when I see plays as I can only afford the nose bleed seats so it feels like this was meant to be! They work beautifully. I cannot wait to be able to use these gorgeous glasses!

My mom invited my sister and I to a "Garage & treasures sale" yesterday and my sister had filled a couple bags but I wasn't finding much... I had already passed this by once (it was hidden by a sheet of instructions taped to the front) but was making a second pass when I lifted the page to see what is was. It's a kinetic "Six man clock" sculpture by gordon bradt. It looked intricate and artistic so I did a quick google and discovered there are two on ebay listed for $600 (non-functioning) and $1250. It was $20! I shoved it into my bag without even checking to see if it worked

This little guy has been in my hands no less than three times at my go to vintage mall market, in Oakdale NY, however he had a chip on his left ear and the seller wanted a firm 12.00. Yesterday my guy came with me to help me hunt pyrex ( he’s my bowl spotter, lol) and I asked him to also keep an eye out for a hippo.. Who does he find? The hippo with the bum ear. He is a cutey and frank promptly started calling him Chippo and insisted on buying him for me. Told me to hit the ear with a sharpie and no one will ever notice. I’d say he’s correct and “Chippo” a Lenox endangered animal series pygmy hippo is now very happy in his new home protecting yet another collection of mine my cornflower blue corning ware lol

We picked up this cabinet of old mail boxes a couple years ago at an antiques and pinball machines show in Illinois. I forget now how old this is, but I think it was from the 60’s. It took some work to get the musty smell out of the cubbies. This thing is heavy!!

It was hanging in a wood shop so it was covered with a thick layer of saw dust. I brought it home and cleaned it up really well and it turned out looking really nice. I love whales and I'm extremely happy to have saved this beautiful one of a kind piece of art from being destroyed. It's in it's forever home!

They put in under a blanket to keep it away from dust and I think it has been there for over 40 years. Instead of throwing it away I took it with me and built a bar. You can store 12 bottles in it and turn on the light with the original on/off button hope you like it

Assembled with glue, zip ties, and safety pins, using all thrift store garments and gewgaws, this ensemble came together just in time for a mystery & magic event. Thank you, thrift stores!

My mom picked this up at a yardsale in the 1970's. It somehow survived in our basement tv room through five kids, a few dogs, and a 500 mile move in the mid 1980"s. After my dad passed in 1997, my mom was downsizing and preparing to move again. In the garage sale pile was The Brain. Gasp! Thankfully I happened to be visiting, snatched it up and it once again made a 500 mile trip home with me. It has since survived an additional four moves, kids, dogs, and grandkids. Over the years I have looked for this lamp on different sites. I have never found a match.

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