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30 Times People Couldn’t Believe Their Luck In Thrift Stores, Flea Markets And Garage Sales (New Pics)
One person's trash is another person's new favorite item - and the numbers are there to back it up. According to research from retail analytics firm GlobalData the fashion resale market is growing 21 times faster than the retail market, shown over the past three years. There are many reasons why people have taken to thrifting, from environmental to affordable, but when you look at the one-of-a-kind thrift store finds in the list below - one answer could be where else could you find this stuff?
From photos of doppelgangers to toys from your childhood or an autographed Stephen King novel, you never know what is waiting for you that in a garage sale or a thrift store. Scroll down below to see the best of these interesting finds, and don't forget to upvote your favs!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The Best $1.99 I Will Ever Spend In My Lifetime
BusLady 6 years ago
Years ago, in a Goodwill, I found an autographed copy of "Hotel" by Arthur Hailey. Vintage 1965 first edition. I still have it.
Melissa Nunya 6 years ago
A quick google search, it looks like around 400$
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.gas. 6 years ago
I'm not saying this is fake, but I know both my library (book sales) and thrift store check things before putting them out. They check for signatures, dates, anything that's worth money, and then they either sell them for a fair price, or auction them elsewhere.
MN Free Spirit 6 years ago
Most of the time they do, but my mother in law got a $200 purse for $10, and didn't know it at the time.
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Monday 6 years ago
Jerry probably died or something and a relative didn't notice the autograph....or maybe a spiteful ex-girlfriend/boyfriend.
Load More Replies...The younger generation is possibly the most environmentally-conscious one yet, and to protect our our earth people are taking initiative to reduce waste. Buying second-hand clothes from thrift shops significantly reduces not just waste but pollution as well. No matter what material your clothes are made of the production of garments is detrimental to the environment. To produce synthetic materials such as polyester requires the use of petroleum and byproducts of toxic gases. Post-production even causes a toll through transportation-related pollution. When you buy second-hand clothing the transportation decreases significantly and they are less likely to end up in a landfill.
RELATED:
#2
My $2 Thrift Store Repaint
#3
My New Lunch Box, Thanks Goodwill
Vic 6 years ago
Hahaha.. brilliant!! Carry a rare steak to office.. you will get some priceless reactions at lunchtime..
I dunno lmao 6 years ago
I think this was from theodd1sout from a while ago or let me explain studios or jaiden animations -w- when they where telling a joke about when a doctor brings a lunch and it said 'organ transplant'
Neurotic_Octopus 6 years ago
I have that! Mine even has a brown coffee stain on one side, I get interesting looks and double-takes when I carry it, lol.
Catffirmations 6 years ago
They sell it on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Fred-M-T-Emergency-Transport-Insulated/dp/B007M2OHEY
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Thrifting is not just environmentally conscious but can be socially as well. When you buy from large corporations you know you run the risk of contributing to unethical labor practices, but while you can't unmake clothes you can save yourself from investing more money into these companies by only buying them second-hand. As a bonus, many thrift shores donate or support charities, raising money for their communities or humanitarian aid.
#4
Someone Who Works At A Charity Shop Put Jeff Goldblum In Every Single Photo Frame
#5
Funny Coffee Mug I Found Today
Kaisu Rei 6 years ago
Great for Christians who hate people in Jesus's name despite never having actually read the Bible
Amberly Middlemiss 6 years ago
they should make another one saying 'thats not what i meant' for all the people who take bible verses out of context haha
John Carr 6 years ago
Archaeologists near Mount Sinai have discovered what is believed to be a missing page from the Bible. The page is currently being carbon dated in Bonn. If genuine it belongs at the beginning of the Bible and is believed to read "To my darling Candy. All characters portrayed within this book are fictitious and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental." The page has been universally condemned by church leaders.
Carol Emory 6 years ago
I saw a t-shirt the other day that had Jesus in a hockey outfit that said "Jesus Saves! He passes to Moses. He shoots! SCORE!!"
Zoey Fraire 6 years ago
I’m an atheist but I completely respect the Christianity beliefs I have read the Bible multiple times and went to to church every Wednesday and Sunday morning and evening to help with bible study but it’s very hard for me to believe because of past trauma I’ve had and I’m naturally a very skeptical person but I will never bash someone for their beliefs because if that’s what helps them find purpose and happiness in life then I’m happy for them. I feel like we should all appreciate one another no matter what they do or don’t believe in
We all want to help out the globe, but thrifting cheap things of course has the added bonus of benefiting shoppers personally. Who doesn't want to snag a designer handbag for $5 or a unique vintage jacket that was discontinued for $3 - compare that with a $50 graphic tee that everyone owns and it will make you want to head to your local thrift store right away.
#6
As A 100% Straight Man, I Had To Have This Shirt
ZombieGirl5591 6 years ago
I've seen shirts that say that online recently...check Amazon
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Steve Cruz 6 years ago
Hey 100% Straight Man: I like your sense of humor. It's like my super-straight friend who used to hold hands with me as we walked across the green in college. He said, "My mom is a Jewish therapist and disappointed that she has four sons and not one gay." I told him: "Somebody's gotta have fabulous gay children and it ain't gonna be me! Make yo' mama happy."
Mary Rose Kent 6 years ago
And holidays, but there was no real way to work that in.
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Found A Camera In A Thrift Store That Belonged To A Soldier In WW1. Has Undeveloped Verichrome Film In The Back
Pamela Scott 6 years ago
So is it possible to get the film developed today?
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Rachel Wong 6 years ago
if the pictures survived, of good quality, and are good shots, you'd be a millionaire. LOL!
Robert Pacl 6 years ago
I had my own darkroom back in the 30's and 40's, mixed my own developers, short-stop, fixer. There were many variations on developing, both in the ratios of the ingredients and time. Many different effects were possible by varying exposure times and developing times and formulas. Even how to handle film exposed to heat or too old or a few other things but it was always a c**p-shoot. Fresh film and chemicals. Easy. Otherwise??????
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Thrift shops aren't the only places to find one-of-a-kind items even garage sales have buried treasure hiding among them. Finding something unique is part of the fun but what about when you find something that has way more value than you paid for it? Think Antiques Roadshow, if you think you found something valuable it is possible it is. One woman paid $10 on a painting to find it valued at $15,000
#8
Found These Weird Ass Salt And Pepper Shakers. A Giraffe Eating A Tourist’s Toupee
Mama Panda 6 years ago
hahahaha! This is the type of stuff that would get me started collecting that type of item. These are great!!!
#9
Every Garage Sale Should Be This Funny
Vic 6 years ago (edited)
Excellent!! A year to before I can tell the missus stuff I hate at home..
GroovyDude18 6 years ago
HOLY F*CK I HAVE THAT EXACT DOG PICTURE IN MY BATHROOM IMG-7648-5...40cd98.jpg 
Monika Soffronow 6 years ago
I sometimes put stuff I don't want out with a note saying "Please take me to your home. I have been abandoned by my owner."
Reuse and upcycle! Upcycling is a creative process where you transform an old item or material into something new. Many people go thrifting and put a new spin on vintage clothes or old finds to bring them back to life. Thrifting is a way to flex your creative muscles to express individuality. With upcycling old pieces or materials that may be rough around the edges aren't being discarded but have new life breathed back into them.
#10
Couldn't Resist This 70s Rainbow Kettle For $7
Bettye McKee 6 years ago
There were rainbows long before there was a gay agenda. Don't tell me that they've been stereotyped.
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#11
Best $10 I’ve Ever Spent
Neurotic_Octopus 6 years ago
'Cuz she'd steal it? I don't blame her, I'd steal it too. :p
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#12
Got This Bad Boy Last Weekend For $2 And My Boyfriend Has Yet To Notice It On The Wall. I Might Add In The Extra Batteries So It Meows Every Hour
AloofFox 6 years ago
Me as an auctioneer: Okay everybody, item 274 was for sale, but i've sold it to myself for $700. Person in audience: It's... It's a cat clock. Me: Precisely.
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BusLady 6 years ago
Honey, have you been feeding the neighborhood cats again?
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BusLady 6 years ago
I have the one that has birds. I just had to remove those extra batteries.
I dunno lmao 6 years ago
here Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Meowing Cat Clock - 13"
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$10 At A Local Garage Sale! The Old Lady Didn't Even Remember What It Was At First
Bored Fox 6 years ago
That is a lucky find. :) Really many people are very greedy when they are selling old video games. Here in Finland you probably have to spend nearly 100 € just to get a working NES and the games are easily 10-50 € each. My brother was once super lucky when he found working Commodore 64 and plenty of games with less than 20 €.
BusLady 6 years ago
Just wait until her adult son finds out she sold it for $10. Moooooom!!!!!
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Sodom 6 years ago
I would at least give her more. Only because she doesnt know doesnt mean she dont deserves the money ...
Bettye McKee 6 years ago
Sodom, are you kidding? It might have been m.b.'s mother!
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Kururi.Orihara 6 years ago
Its an old, original Nintendo console! My stepdad got us one of these things a while ago, and also a tiny Nintendo super!!
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#14
I Shouldn't Be Allowed To Thrift For My Clothing Unsupervised
Casper Slinkman 6 years ago
'oh no! Someone is bashing my favourite 90's show ! :O' who you gonna call? SUPER RETROMAN!!
Linouchka 99 6 years ago
I don't see anything since my eyes are bleeding right now !
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#15
I Found A Brand New Version Of My Childhood Teddy Bear At A Flea Market
Dani 6 years ago
I LOVE the idea of using an o with an umlaut instead of :O!!
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Pamela Scott 6 years ago
Oh this is great you get to keep your bear up and pass the new one along. They usually do not survive a second go around!
#16
This Thrift Store Photo Is My Doppelganger
#17
I Think I Maxed Out When I Found This Work Of Art At A Garage Sale As A Child. Now Proudly Displaying It In My First Apartment
FortnitePlayerGirl 6 years ago (edited)
Didn't think Indiana Jones could've gotten any better.
#18
Best Charity Shop Find Ever. It’s Going In My Bathroom. £3
Charlotte Ayers 6 years ago
I like the minimalist ambiguity created by the lack of punctuation. Is the painting expressing the regret of the dog, as in "Oh! C**p."? Or is it expressing a command: "Oh, [just] c**p." Even if the command is intended for the dog, is there not a greater existential command to us all to just c**p and get off the pot? This artist's work should not be languishing in a thrift shop.
#19
50 Cent Pick Up. If You Find Ceramic Frogs Out At Yard Sales, Flip Em Over To See If They Are A Keeper
Melissa Nunya 6 years ago
My mom bought a statue with 3 frogs at a garage sale. I asked her "what are they doing" and she says "I think they are playing leapfrog" flipped it over and on the bottom it said ménage a frog" I don't think they are playing leapfrog mom lol
Casper Slinkman 6 years ago
Imagine giving this as a present to granny who loves animals en never thought about looking at their bellies ;)
BusLady 6 years ago
Oh, man. Now I need to go check all my ceramic frogs. Some of which I've had for decades......🐸🐸🐸
Maria Curtis 6 years ago
My grandfather had these when I was growing up. Thanks for the reminder!
Marek Cieślik 6 years ago
Every time you flip them over, somewhere in the world a little biologist dies.
#20
This Fake Light-Plastic Wrench I Found At The Thrift Store. Gonna Throw It At People
MN Free Spirit 6 years ago
Michelle, I was going to say the same thing!LOL!
Load More Replies... Mama Panda 6 years ago
I had found a bunch of fake bricks that looked like the real thing but were really soft and light. I used them one year while watching my favorite team play my hubby's favorite team on the TV. When my team screwed up, I picked one up and threatened to throw it at the screen. (hubby thought they were real). The next screw up and I threw it at the screen! My hubby almost had a heart attack and I have never laughed so hard!!!! We use them all the time now for random arguments LOL
Flash Henry 6 years ago
LOLOLOLOL I have a fake rock and I've been throwing it at visitors for years.
#21
Found This At A Flea Market While On A Trip In PA
FortnitePlayerGirl 6 years ago (edited)
Stan Lee was a real superhero, and will be forever remembered.
KCN 6 years ago
We've watched Captain Marvel, and if you haven't seen it yet, there is a 30 second montage of photos and videos of Stan. At the end there was a caption that said 'thank you, stan lee'. People in the theater clapped and cheered.
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Analyn Lahr 6 years ago
The ongoing war between D.C and Marvel. Can't you guys get along? And what did Batman ever do to Stan Lee?
#22
Every Year We Spend $20 At Goodwill To Dress Each Other Then Get Cheesy Photos Taken Instead Of Buying Presents. We Did Great This Year
KarmaQueen 6 years ago
I love this idea, good use of $20 and it makes memories for a lifetime.
Carole Strawn 6 years ago
Our neighborhood ladies did this one year for Christmas but we had to wear the outfits out to dinner at a nice restaurant. LOL.
#23
Thrift Store, Three Bucks. Pete Painted This Block Of Wood For 14 Years, Almost Every Day
Liz Mosby 6 years ago
That's actually pretty cool. Just be careful because paint back then had TONS of deadly c**p in it. I wouldn't touch it much or put it in your mouth..
Mark 6 years ago
Why would anyone put it in their mouth even if it would physically fit :) . I assume you meant don't put your fingers in your mouth after handling it.
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Charlotte Ayers 6 years ago
Did he plan this from the beginning? What did Pete do for an encore? What was his vision? Why, Pete, why?
Charlotte Ayers 6 years ago
Either Pete was trapped in the endless shop class or locked up in the county jail.
House of Decker 6 years ago
This is just a sample of industrial build-up/accumulation. If Pete were able to control materials like this, create 90' angles with liquid, he would not dilly-dally with such trivial matters - he would rule the world.
Smargs 6 years ago
You're right, it's stone/crystal build up from cutting then formed in layers in resin. I bought one for my mom, I'll post eventually.
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Grumble O'Pug 6 years ago
There is a guy named David Horst who is a lapidary artist aand uses layered paint to make really cool designs. Ladt I was paying attention he was getting the paint from car painting places. He calls the stuff Fordite. Cool work
#24
Sometimes You Find Treasures, Sometimes Treasures Find You
#25
On This Day In 2011, I Found 36 Stuffed Pikachus At A Salvation Army
meapthealien 6 years ago
All hail the pikachu Lord 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️.. the Pikapocalypse is upon us
Baked Panda 6 years ago
Would start leaving them all over town with a note for who ever finds one to rehide it somewhere else but to post a pic with the hashtag #pikachutraveler
Xandra_thefutureactress 5 years ago
*maniacal laughter* YES, YES, RISE MY LITTLE PIKACHUS, RISE, WE SHALL CONQUER THE EARTH WITH YOUR CUTENESS!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#26
This Bench My Sister Bought At A Yard Sale Without Measuring The Space First
Frozengeckolover 6 years ago
That would be my life's accomplishment. I would never shut up about it, bragging until I died... I'm betting murder would be order.
Ang.stl 6 years ago
OH MY GAWD!!! I have nightmares about that episode!! If it's on, I'd rather watch infomercials!!!
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#27
Browsing My Neighborhood Salvation Army
Andrew Stone 6 years ago
I literally own these! I bought them on stripperheels.com for my drag halloween costume one year. I filled them with change to show what a low tipped stripper I was and because they made a great noise when I walked
Smerv 6 years ago
Prince The Clubowner tried to look Cinderella The New Stripper from everywhere, only thing he had was this plastic heel that she dropped
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Steve Cruz 6 years ago
Chris Rock warns against CLEAR HEELS... "Daddy, your one job is to keep your girl off the pole and from wearing clear hooker heels."
Susan Gardner 6 years ago
She should definitely get a tip just to even walk in those, let alone dance
KarmaQueen 6 years ago
Really hard to notice the "Tips" on the shoe. Guess there is a need for them if you strip. More power to them.
Mewton’s Third Paw 6 years ago
No, it’s just a joke. Strippers make a shitload of small bills. There’s no way you could cram it all in there and have it out by the end of the night. All stripper shoes have huge platform bottoms, so shoemakers get creative. I was a stripper for almost five years. Money goes in garter belts and then gets exchanged for $100 bills at the end of the night. 💫
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#28
This Thrift Shop Sells Thousands Of Random Family Photos
KarmaQueen 6 years ago
Sure, why not. Getting a family member to agree that we actually know the person, priceless.
D-m Keilman 6 years ago
My dad went to a local thrift store only to find a pic of him and his 3 sibs as children. Nobody knows how it got there.
Mewton’s Third Paw 6 years ago
That’s sad but I like that the store gives the photos a chance to be appreciated rather than throwing them out.
#29
Found This Beaut For $16. My New Favorite Sweater
Kristen Bryer 6 years ago
I wish I had a pic of it but in 1986 I actually HAD that exact sweatshirt. It comes in yellow and blue too. We all know why I know that.... the pink one was my absolute favorite. So crazy to see it again.
Simone Henry-Utecht 6 years ago
OMG I had this sweater also in the mid 80's.
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Liz Mosby 6 years ago
The 80s.. A great time for sweaters, athletic wear, and puffer paint.. This is a work of art.. Now you just need a neon unitard with the super high rise g-string over them for the bottoms. Dont forget to pull one side of the neck down to show off a shoulder..
Nadine 6 years ago
I was thinking leggings, because...duh! And a stretchy headband.
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This Is My Favorite Mug. I Got It At A Thrift Store And Have No Idea Who These People Are
Donna Cheung 6 years ago
Clearly he's the one who donated it to the thrift store in the first place.
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Cody Eriksen 6 years ago
I remember this!!! They actually found out who they were!!! It was on Reddit, and I think here to.
Kira Leseman 6 years ago
I remember that. I hope they made a new cup photo with them holding the original cup.
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Gabrielle Domingues 6 years ago
This $5 'Top Gun' fly suit from a second-hand clothing store in Nova Scotia... Fit my 16yo perfectly; he wore it for the rest of our vacation. IMG_2788-5...52fc98.jpg 
Meagan Bennett 4 years ago
I know these guys! They were my friends at Northeastern University in the early 1990s. They were on the hockey team. The names I remember are Daryl, Geoff and Dan.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Danin Larksy 6 years ago (edited)
We didn't find anything famous but 14 years ago my aunt and her friends visited a charitable Book Festival in Brisbane Australia. 20 semitrailers full of books approximately a million books were on tables to be bought. My aunt loves gardening and National Geographics. While she was looking through the National Geographics, she was tappped on the shoulder by a woman who held a photo of my aunt and my eldest daughter taken 18 years prior when she was 6 months old. This woman was going to leave but her son wanted to look at the The National Geographics. Thanks to National Geographic for being such a popular magazine. The woman had previously picked a book up in the childrens section and found a photo in it. And when she looked up and saw the woman in the photo she was amazed and thought it was brililant coincidence to give my aunt her photo back. The childrens book was Hairy Maclary from Donaldsons Dairy.
varwenea 6 years ago
Some items end up in a thrift store for very good reasons. Some items are lost treasures awaiting new righteous owners.
diane a 6 years ago
My best buy at the charity shop was a Chloe Paddington handbag for £4 - someone was not paying attention when they priced it up. Worth at least £400 pre-owned. Couldnt believe it was real - took it home - looked online and sent pics and details to Chloe Paris, who confirmed it was genuine. If I ever sell it will give half to the charity shop chloe-padd...813bb0.jpg 
Kiss Army 6 years ago (edited)
About 15 or so years ago, my husband found a website building software manual that had the unopened software in the back of the book. He bought it for $20 and sold it on ebay for over $1,000. It was like great Karma because we were so poor back then and his car broke down and we had no idea how we were going to pay the $900 to fix it.
tarebear 6 years ago
I was at a thrift store once and found a hand painted block of a Siamese cat... the price tag on it was $2.00 but the owner of the store told me that if I gave it a living home I could have it. 3 years later it proudly sits up above my dining room table and will ALWAYS have a place in any home I have.
diane a 6 years ago
This is my favorite treasure. Carved stone (oriental) 8" high. Incredibly intricate. cost £5 stone-5c9d...308e26.jpg 
Robyn Gardam 6 years ago
For $10 I bought a signed copy of Stephen King's "Salem's Lot" at a local thrift store. Could not believe my luck. Also scored a rare Nintendo game cube for $20, and a Super 8 film camera (that still works!) for $20. I love op shopping! :)
Danin Larksy 6 years ago (edited)
We didn't find anything famous but 14 years ago my aunt and her friends visited a charitable Book Festival in Brisbane Australia. 20 semitrailers full of books approximately a million books were on tables to be bought. My aunt loves gardening and National Geographics. While she was looking through the National Geographics, she was tappped on the shoulder by a woman who held a photo of my aunt and my eldest daughter taken 18 years prior when she was 6 months old. This woman was going to leave but her son wanted to look at the The National Geographics. Thanks to National Geographic for being such a popular magazine. The woman had previously picked a book up in the childrens section and found a photo in it. And when she looked up and saw the woman in the photo she was amazed and thought it was brililant coincidence to give my aunt her photo back. The childrens book was Hairy Maclary from Donaldsons Dairy.
varwenea 6 years ago
Some items end up in a thrift store for very good reasons. Some items are lost treasures awaiting new righteous owners.
diane a 6 years ago
My best buy at the charity shop was a Chloe Paddington handbag for £4 - someone was not paying attention when they priced it up. Worth at least £400 pre-owned. Couldnt believe it was real - took it home - looked online and sent pics and details to Chloe Paris, who confirmed it was genuine. If I ever sell it will give half to the charity shop chloe-padd...813bb0.jpg
Kiss Army 6 years ago (edited)
About 15 or so years ago, my husband found a website building software manual that had the unopened software in the back of the book. He bought it for $20 and sold it on ebay for over $1,000. It was like great Karma because we were so poor back then and his car broke down and we had no idea how we were going to pay the $900 to fix it.
tarebear 6 years ago
I was at a thrift store once and found a hand painted block of a Siamese cat... the price tag on it was $2.00 but the owner of the store told me that if I gave it a living home I could have it. 3 years later it proudly sits up above my dining room table and will ALWAYS have a place in any home I have.
diane a 6 years ago
This is my favorite treasure. Carved stone (oriental) 8" high. Incredibly intricate. cost £5 stone-5c9d...308e26.jpg
Robyn Gardam 6 years ago
For $10 I bought a signed copy of Stephen King's "Salem's Lot" at a local thrift store. Could not believe my luck. Also scored a rare Nintendo game cube for $20, and a Super 8 film camera (that still works!) for $20. I love op shopping! :)
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