Lucky Thrift Store Finds That Were Worth Much More Than They Were Sold For

Striking Gold

You know what mama always used to say, “life’s like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” The same goes for thrift stores. There can always be a diamond in the rough.

Whether it’s antique furniture or awesome tissue dispensers, there’s always something to be found that makes it all worth it.

He Found an Easter Island Tissue Dispenser

Facebook / WeirdSecondhandFinds

Thrift stores are the best places to find unique home goods, like this Easter Island statue inspired tissue dispenser.

You could scour the internet for hours for strange things like this, but thrift stores are always the best place to find things that you never knew existed but that you also absolutely must have.

She Found Medusa’s Headband

Facebook / Bee Ford

This golden headband with snake hair, like the mythological character Medusa, is a show-stopping accessory.

The golden headband is also light because it’s made out of plastic, but that’s hard to tell from far away. This find was located at a thrift store in Roanoke, Virginia, but there’s no word on who made it.

1990’s Pizza Hut Decor is Back in Style

Sometimes you find the perfect item, and other times, the perfect item finds you. This person didn’t so much as stumble upon this ‘90s Pizza Hut light fixture because they were actually looking for it! Luckily they found one in great condition that will absolutely revive their nostalgia for pizza places for years to come.

The Match to Wanda’s 1970’s Buffet

The person who owns this cabinet hutch was surprised to find the matching buffet not in a thrift store, but on their screen!

The ’70s style furniture was seen on Disney’s “WandaVision” and the owner of this cabinet instantly recognized the vintage design because it matched some furniture that they found at Goodwill in Folsom, California for $40.

A Mug That Looked Like Her Husband

The woman who found this mug said that she was “prepared to pay whatever it cost” because it resembled someone that she knew very well.

After bringing the mug home, she added a silver ring to the mug’s nose and suddenly no one could deny that the cup was the spitting image of her husband! The resemblance is really uncanny!

They Found a Dresser and Mirror Set

The great thing about shopping at thrift stores is that one can find just about anything, including a dresser and mirror like this set. This two-for-one furniture piece was on sale for $30 and it made a great addition to this shopper’s bedroom. The price was surprising given that the piece is still in excellent condition and could probably be sold at a boutique for hundreds.

He Found a New Chair

Looking for a new chair? Head to your local Goodwill. You might get lucky like this guy did. After his roommate moved out, he found himself needing to fill up the space in his house with new furniture.

So, after doing some browsing, he found this beautiful used chair for just $25. The vintage style would probably cost a couple hundred dollars at another store!

He Found ’70s Style Furniture

This guy bought a ’70s style home. The only thing missing was furniture from that era, which isn’t easy to come by in the 21st century, at least not at a bargain price.

But he was able to find some awesome pieces that completed the retro look to his home, without having to pay huge prices or get anything custom made.

They Bought NASA Property

It might look a bit like an eyesore, but if you’re looking for a grayish shelf that gives off a military vibe, then this furniture is perfect for you. But what was great about this shelf is that it was actually former property of NASA, so it will probably withstand a ton of use and stay in great condition for years to come.

She Found a Handmade Leather Tracksuit That Fit Perfectly

Next time you’re looking for something cool to wear, you might want to opt for your local thrift store instead of the mall. That’s what this gal did and she ended up finding a handmade leather tracksuit that fit her perfectly for only $10.

Mom Found an Expensive Strawberry Dress

A mom went thrifting and what she found was this beautiful strawberry print dress. What was even more impressive was that she only paid 75 cents for it when the original cost of the dress was $490.

But her daughter, who was very jealous of her mom’s awesome discovery, will have to wait to grow into this dress.

They Found This Signed Photo of the “Harry Potter” Cast

They say that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Well, that would certainly apply in this case. One shopper discovered a framed photo of Harry Potter, Hermione, and Ron. And the best part is that it was autographed by the film actors and on sale for just $2.

They later admitted that the store owner had no idea who the people in the photo were! This photo could sell for hundreds among hardcore fans!

They Found Furniture for Their Gerbil

It’s rare to find furniture, like a couch or even just a chair, that’s made in pet sizes, but this shopper found one at a thrift store.

It’s so cute, too! But not nearly as cute as his pet gerbil, Garbanzo, who is obviously enjoying his new couch, which seems to have been lovingly made and will probably stay in good condition for years. Just like the next incredible find!

They Saved This Emerald Couch

This shopper couldn’t believe his luck when they found this vintage emerald-colored couch at a thrift store on sale for just $10. So naturally, they bought it and drove it home in the middle of a terrible snowstorm. Luckily, it wasn’t hurt at all in the process because this bad boy could sell for $2500 given its pristine condition! Have you ever bought a dress from a thrift store?

She Found Her Perfect Prom Dress

If not, you might want to start! For some teenagers, finding a prom dress is almost as hard as looking for the perfect wedding dress.

That’s why it came as a bit of a shock when this young woman found this gorgeous red prom dress that fit her perfectly at a thrift store for only $11.50. Its quality begs the question of how much it’s really worth! Just like this next item.

She Found a Suit Jacket and Later Found the Matching Pants

Sometimes, we don’t always find a complete collection in one trip. That’s what this young woman discovered when she bought herself this suit jacket. A couple of months later, she was browsing through the clothing section at Goodwill and discovered the pants that perfectly matched her suit jacket.

Now, looking at the outfit and its tailored fit, this expensive style can burn a hole in your pocket these days. Just like building an art studio…

They Bought an Art Studio in a Box

This shopper bought what looked like a wooden closet. But when they opened it, they discovered that it was actually a desk full of cubbies. And it also had a message from the previous owner that read “Your labors will bear sweet fruit.”

It’s a compact art studio! What a great omen for their future creations. These desks aren’t easy to come by today. Just like a $15 designer gown.

She Got Herself a Designer Gown

A Chiara Boni gown for $15? Yes, please! This gorgeous gal is an opera singer who was looking for a new outfit at the Salvation Army and she found more than she could have ever imagined.

Not only would this gown look great on stage, but she didn’t have to fork over the usual $1,000 that the gown costs at a retail store. What a steal! But not as impressive as this next item…

They Found This Abstract Painting Made by a Unique Artist

This might just look like a bunch of random brush strokes done with green paint. But when this shopper took a closer look at the description under the painting, they discovered that the artist was a snapping turtle named Marshmallow, and who wouldn’t want art with such a great story behind it?

And you can bet that paintings just like this sell for millions in the abstract art world!

They Found These Unique Book Coasters

What’s so great about these coasters? It’s probably the fact that in their resting state, they look like old books on a shelf. But when this shopper took one of the books out, they realized that the books magically turned into coasters.

And they were on sale for $2. We think that’s a bargain, just like this next item.

They Bought This Hilarious Crochet Piece

A shopper saw this framed crochet piece that put a smile on their face. It read: “If I can hear you chew, I have fantasized about your death.”

And it was only $2.99! So, they bought it and have probably hung it up on their dining room wall, for all of their dinner guests to see and abide by. But maybe this is car a better buy…

He Found a Toy Car for His Niece

Sometimes, the best gifts for kids can be found at a thrift store because kids have to outgrow their toys sometimes.

This uncle discovered this awesome toy car that kids can drive at Goodwill. And it couldn’t have come at a better time because he was looking for a gift for his niece for Christmas. Toys are deceptively pricey so he saved his bank with this lucky find!

They Bought This Jar That Looks Like a Coffee Maker Come to Life

One would swear that this was a deleted character from the Disney film, “Beauty and the Beast.” But this is just a jar that has one hand on its hip and a cup of coffee in the other hand. The purpose of this jar is to store coffee grounds and it’s so adorable.

It even has a fake electric cord that makes it look more like a kettle come to life! It’s a good find, but a gold diamond ring is even better…

She Found a Gold Diamond Ring

This shopper never imagined she would find a gold diamond ring while on a weekend trip, but she did.

She stumbled on it while she visited an antique shop and it was 14 Karats and from the 1950s, which obviously makes it an antique, and a pretty impressive one at that! This shopper spent $350 but it’s worth thousands!

They Found This Divine Cup

The great thing about this cup is that it appears to have a divine message on one side, but the other side shows the person reading it what the cup holder really thinks of them. And one has to wonder if the previous owner donated it to a thrift shop because they felt insulted. But that definitely wasn’t the case with this next find!

She Found a 1960s Dress in Perfect Condition

This lovely woman was looking for a dress to ring in the New Year and she found one. It was a gold dress with sparkly material, which caught her eye instantly. She then discovered that the dress was from the 1960s and still in such excellent condition, so she couldn’t leave without taking the dress with her. But maybe this next shopper should have left without his ‘unique’ find…

They Found a Bag of Babies

Most people would find very little use for a bag full of tiny plastic babies. But when this shopper found these at a thrift shop, they decided to pour the babies into a bowl and give them to their parrot so it could play with them. Someone’s trash is always someone else’s treasure… we think.

Her Husband Found This Reformation Dress

This wife went to a thrift store with her husband and he spotted a Reformation dress for only $20. So, he took it off the rack and showed it to her. And she instantly fell in love with the flower print on the material and bought it and it looks like it fits her perfectly. The dress is a work of art. Speaking of art…

They Found the Mona Lisa… Sort Of

It may not be the original Mona Lisa, but it’s just as cool. So, naturally, this shopper bought it, framed it, and hung it up on their restaurant’s wall. And now, their patrons can enjoy looking at the various extra features on this painting like the cat resting on the Mona Lisa’s chest and the various faces in the background. We’re not sure how much the shopper bought this for but its unusual style is definitely worth holding on to! Just like this 1980s clothing…

She Found a Vintage Adidas Sweater

Finding a 1980s Adidas sweater might not seem like a big deal to everyone, but it’s a classic as far as vintage clothing goes. So, even though some shoppers might have seen it without batting an eyelash, this shopper fell head over heels in love with her rare sweater find.

These Vintage Plates Looked Familiar

One thrift store regular noticed that some plates that her parents had bought in the ’70s were pretty popular.

The exact same set of dishes popped up in an episode of the drama series “Dexter,” so she decided to take them out of storage and begin using them again. Now, she could easily sell them for more if she wanted!

A Grand, Vintage Wicker Chair

When the person who now owns this chair first laid eyes on it, it was on the side of a stranger’s lawn with a sign on it that simply read “Free.”

They knew that if they waited until after the workday, the chair would likely be gone, so they pulled over, folded down their car’s seats, and still managed to make it to work on time with their classy vintage chair in tow. But this unique find isn’t the only one on the list.

An Old Lunch Spot’s Menu

The man who found this unique sandwich shop sign found it in a different way than most secondhand shoppers. He actually went dumpster diving in Philadelphia while he was working as a sculptor and he found five signs from an old lunch spot.

It definitely has a unique vibe and brings back some good memories of great food for many people. This is a trend that’s taking the world by storm lately, so next time you see a sign, consider their true worth!

A Cash Register From 1901 That’s in New Condition

This antique cash register was originally bought by its first owner in the 1940s for his shoe repair business after it was used in 1901 by a pharmacist.

The owner left it in a shed for years before their grandchildren decided that instead of donating it to a thrift store, they would have it refurbished. And after some repairs, it looks more like something that should be in a museum than a second-hand shop! Just like this 1950’s household item…

Who Needs Instant Underwear?

There are a lot of beautiful things to be found at thrift stores, but there are also plenty of oddities. One person found that out in an instant when this little object caught their eye. Yes, you read that right. This is one pair of instant underpants that will expand when doused with water.

Why anyone would want a pair of wet underwear in an emergency is certainly a point of confusion. Unlike this next item, we’re not sure how much this one’s worth!

She Found an Incredible Couch For Free

The woman who now owns this couch got it after receiving word from a friend that a 90-year-old woman left it behind in a house that was recently sold. The friend offered it free for anyone who could pick it up, so this woman did just that!

She reupholstered the couch a few years later to this gorgeous purple color and her whole family, including her dog, is able to enjoy it. What a find, but is it better than a famous piece of art?

Her Thrifted Painting Had a Famous Past

Art is a good thing to find at thrift stores because even a cheap framed photo can bring warmth and joy to a home.

The woman who found this framed photo of two horses was surprised to find out that the picture had a pretty famous past and had appeared on television on the program “I Dream of Jeannie” in the 1960s. Cool!

They Found a Frightening Candle Holder

To give your home that Addams Family vibe, definitely opt for a candle holder that looks just like The Thing. This eerie addition to the living room is perfect for Halloween, or just scaring your guests year-round.

It also proves that the best time to shop for spooky decor is anytime but October because items like this will be incredibly discounted. Speaking of spooky finds…

She Found an Antique Dentist’s Cabinet

This dentist was surprised to visit an estate sale for the first time only to find out that the person whose belongings she was looking through had also been a dentist!

The antique dental cabinet that she got from the sale was in pretty bad shape, but after a restoration job, it returned to its original glory. The cabinet even included some original glass trays used to keep dental instruments in!