Woman picks up cheap lamp from house sale and then realises true value

When rummaging through acharity shop or browsing an estate sale, most people anticipate finding jigsaws stacked up, second-hand clothing crammed on racks, and trinkets once treasured in someone's living room. Yet occasionally, somebody unearths a life-altering find - and itcan sometimes turn into the windfall of a lifetime.

Responding to the Reddit thread, 'What's the weirdest thing you've ever found at a thrift store or garage sale?', one user revealed the extraordinary find they made at an estate sale. At such sales, members of the public are invited to purchase belongings from a property, typically following the owner's passing.

She said: "At the estate sale, not exactly an estate sale. If that makes sense. I think the most expensive furniture in the house was IKEA.

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"But in the corner sitting on the floor was this cute little green lamp. So I grabbed it. Three years later friend who is dating a guy who owns an antique store offered me $9,000 for it because it's an original Tiffany lamp."

She continued to describe how they kept hold of the piece, now proudly displayed in their bedroom.

Reacting to their post, one user said: "Turning down $9,000 - oh man. My friend (veterinarian, high cost of living area, living paycheck to paycheck) would love for a $9,000 life event to fall into her lap. The fact that you turned it down would baffle her."

In reply, the woman explained how she and her husband are "sitting on it" as a financial safety net should they ever need the cash. Meanwhile, other viewers shared their own unique discoveries.

One viewer revealed: "I found an old love letter in an Army dress uniform jacket pocket in a thrift store.

"It was steamy and very detailed. I hope I have that kind of chemistry in my future relationships."

Another chimed in with: "I found a party record called 'Hollywood's Come Freaks Copping Joints Galore' at a church basement sale.

"It was in a plain white sleeve and I had no idea what it was, but for 25 cents, I took it home to find out.

"Party records are blue/obscene comedy albums that would be sold under the counter at record stores. It was the silliest, dirtiest thing I ever listened to. What a find!".

However, not all thrift store experiences are positive. Another user recounted: "My mum was at a thrift store, and she saw a lunchbox on sale.

"She wanted to buy the lunchbox, but when she opened it, she found a partially-eaten moldy sandwich. Needless to say, she did not buy that lunchbox."