50 Times People Found The Most Amazing Things While Shopping Secondhand

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!” 

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

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.”