20+ Photos Proving That You Can Find Something Cool, Even in a Pile of Old Junk

The people from this article learned that something truly valuable can be found in unexpected places like a secondhand store or a flea market. You don’t have to have any special knowledge or skills — sometimes you just have to be a little lucky.

Bright Side is about to show you some photos taken by lucky people who managed to buy some cool and very expensive stuff when they least expected to.

“In high school, I found this vintage apple necklace that I loved at an antique store, but I left it at an ex-boyfriend’s house and never got it back. Yesterday I walked into an antique store and SAW THE SAME NECKLACE! 10 years later and 700 miles away, the treasure hunt always pays off!”

“I found a nice hardcover edition of a book I’ve been wanting to read at Value Village, and I was happy to pay the $5 for it. Then I found this when I flipped through it at home.”

“I always make sure to look through the entire costume jewelry section before leaving and today I found this diamond sapphire engagement ring in a rummage bowl for $2. Took it to a jeweler straight after and they confirmed it was real.”

“I was searching for a suit for a wedding and found a 3-piece with a retail value of $1,700. And I paid $20 for it!”

“Needed an emergency dress for an event yesterday and found one for $9 at my favorite charity shop!”

“Found a camera in a thrift store that belonged to a soldier in WW1. It has undeveloped Verichrome film in the back.”

“I found a Loewe ’puzzle’ bag in pristine condition for $20 at Goodwill. It retails at $2,590.”

“Always check your piggy banks! Found $170 in a piggy bank that cost $7!”

“Found my wedding dress today. I believe it’s from the 1950s and I only paid $64 for it and I’m in love. Going to add my own twist to the top and redo the corset but the bottom is staying just how it is.”

“This is the best $1.99 I will ever spend in my lifetime. The book has a photo of Stephen King and his autograph in it!”

“This is a thrifted vintage gown that resembles the lamé dress Marilyn Monroe wore. I did not nail the pose, I know…”

“Went to a house clearance sale and found this pin marked as ’costume jewelry’ for $5. Took it to a jeweler and they confirmed it’s unmarked gold with diamonds and sapphires.”

“3 designer blazers on the same trip to GW — I paid under $15 for all 3.”

“Fell in love with this painting and got it for $10!”

“I found a $5 vintage, heavily-beaded, seashell purse with a handmade tag inside. It’s so pretty!”

“Cute vintage strawberry salt and pepper shakers, new and in a box”

“Found $5 in this jacket I paid $6 for.”

“I got a Harry Potter wand for $1.78.”

“I only started learning embroidery a few days ago and found 700 skeins of string for $5 at a thrift store. They retail for about $.50 each.”

“This was probably my favorite purchase ever! A $3 vintage wedding dress!”

“I was told this was a green amethyst and haggled it down to $42. Took it to a jeweler to have it appraised — it’s a rare green diamond over 100 years old, conservatively worth more than $8,000!”

We’re sure that our readers have interesting stories too. Which of your purchases do you think was a really great find? Tell us!

I Paid $2,000 for a Group Trip Rental—Here’s How I Got My Revenge When No One Paid Me Back

Excitement for the weekend trip quickly turned to frustration when Sarah’s friends didn’t pay their part of the $2,000 cabin rental. But what they didn’t know was that Sarah had a plan to make sure they didn’t get away with it.

Each year, my friends and I plan a girls’ weekend trip. We take turns organizing, and this year was my turn! I was thrilled to find the perfect place: a cute cabin right by a beautiful, sparkling lake.

Everyone was excited and loved the photos I sent. We couldn’t wait!

The place looked like it came straight out of a magazine. It had a cozy cabin with a fireplace, beautiful views of the lake, and even a hot tub.

The total cost was $2,000 for the three-night stay, which came out to just $250 each for our group of eight.

“I went ahead and booked the cabin, so I paid the full amount,” I told my friends. “To keep it simple, I’d appreciate it if you could all pay me back before the trip. Does that work for everyone?”

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“Sounds perfect, Sarah!” Mary was the first to speak up. “Thanks for handling that.”

“Absolutely, no problem at all,” Ella added.

“Great, that works for me too!” said Brittany.

One by one, everyone around the table agreed.

“Yep, sounds good.”

“No worries, I can do that.”

Everyone promised to pay their share before the trip started. It seemed like everything was set and would go smoothly.

Easy, right?

Wrong.

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As the trip got closer, the “easy peasy” quickly became oh-so-frustrating.

First, it was Mary. “Hey Sarah,” she said cheerfully, “my car needs new brakes, so I might be a little late on my payment. I’ll get it to you next week.”

A week later, Brittany spoke up. “Ugh, student loans are killing me this month. Can I hold off until next payday?”

“I just need to wait until my next paycheck,” Melissa added.

Weeks went by, and every time I reminded them to pay me back, they came up with more excuses.

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Each excuse was different, and none of them overlapped. It started to feel like they were all in on this together.

Then came the silence. Nothing. No texts, no calls, not a word from Ella, Dana, or even dependable Lisa.

By the week before the trip, I was out $2,000 and felt completely taken advantage of.

The same people I called my “friends” had quietly refused to pay me back. The people I trusted the most seemed to have teamed up against me.

Why were they doing this?

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Had I done something wrong? Or were they just testing how I’d handle such a tough situation? I didn’t know for sure, but it was making me really angry.

I knew I had to take action, something bold to show them I wasn’t going to be a pushover.

So, I decided it was time to teach them a lesson they wouldn’t forget. I’m not usually one for confrontation, but this situation was beyond ridiculous.

The night before the trip, I took a deep breath, picked up my phone, and started the first step of my plan.

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I sent a group text, full of fake excitement: “Can’t wait to see you all at the cabin tomorrow! It’s going to be the perfect weekend getaway!”

Little did they know, I had a sneaky plan in mind.

The next morning, I woke up extra early and jumped out of bed. I quickly got dressed and rushed out the door, ready to turn the cabin into our own special retreat.

At the grocery store, I pushed my cart down the aisles, gathering everything I needed.

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A giddy smile spread across my face as I filled the cart with fresh fruit, cheese, and enough snacks to feed an army. I even picked out the best wine and juices. I wanted to make sure my friends would be well-fed and comfortable.

After paying for all the snacks and drinks, I got back in my car and drove to the cabin. It was even more stunning in person, with sunlight sparkling on the lake like a million diamonds.

I stocked the fridge with everything I had bought, preparing for the weekend.

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I even set up a bonfire for that night, complete with cozy blankets and marshmallows.

The place looked perfect. I knew my friends would have the time of their lives here.

But here’s the catch: I took the keys and the garage door opener with me when I left for an “errand.”

Before locking up, I texted my friends, saying I had an urgent task and would be back by the time they arrived. They trusted me, just like I trusted them to pay me back.

But they broke my trust, and now, so did I.

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If they wanted to enjoy the weekend at the cabin, they had to follow my rules. They needed to earn their getaway.

I wasn’t going to let them have a good time after they ignored my texts and calls.

By lunchtime, my phone started blowing up with frantic messages and calls from my friends.

“Hey, Sarah, we’re at the cabin, but the doors are locked!” Ella said.

“Did you forget something?” Mary asked.

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I stayed calm and replied with a simple, “Oh no! So sorry, guys. I must have left the keys at home. But hey, the good news is I’m on my way back now!”

Was I really on my way back? No!

I was sitting at a nearby cafe, sipping my favorite iced latte. I enjoyed reading their messages as they arrived at the cabin one after another.

After I sent that last message, the number of their texts started to drop. They felt relieved that I was on my way back, but the truth was very different.

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As their brief relief faded, they started calling and texting me again. This time, their messages were much more desperate. Some of my friends were angry, while others were trying hard not to lose their cool.

“How can you be so forgetful, Sarah?” Lisa asked.

“I can’t believe you’re making us wait like this!” Dana said. “I thought this was supposed to be a fun trip.”

Finally, I decided it was time to drop the bomb.

I sent a calm message: “Look, I’ll be happy to come back and let you all in, but only once everyone has sent over their share of the rental cost.”

Silence followed.

Then, a flurry of activity.

It seemed that the idea of a fun weekend getaway suddenly mattered more than car troubles, student loans, and all the other excuses they had come up with.

My phone buzzed with Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle notifications as the payments started coming in.

Within an hour, every penny was accounted for.

“You guys could have done this earlier!” I thought to myself as I grabbed the keys and headed back to the cabin.

Their faces lit up when they saw my car. Some walked toward me, while others went to the door.

“Sarah! Finally!” Mary exclaimed, relief clear in her voice.

I stepped out of the car, keys in hand. “Oh, so now I’m ‘finally’ here? How convenient,” I said, my voice full of sarcasm.

The group fell silent, and guilt spread across their faces.

“Look, I’m sorry,” Brittany began. “But you have to understand, I really—”

I cut her off. “No, Brittany. You all made excuses. I trusted you, and you took advantage of that.”

Lisa stepped forward, trying to mediate. “Sarah, we messed up. But can’t we just move on and enjoy the weekend?”

“Enjoy the weekend?” I scoffed. “After you all made me feel like a fool? After I had to practically blackmail you to get my money back?”

“We didn’t mean to hurt you,” Ella said softly. “We just didn’t realize—”

“Didn’t realize what? That $2,000 is a lot of money? That friendships are built on trust and respect?”

A tense silence fell over the group. For a moment, I worried that confronting them was a bad idea. I thought they might say they didn’t want to be there anymore.

I stood my ground despite the fear, letting the weight of my words sink in.

Finally, Mary broke the silence and wrapped me in a big hug.

“Sarah, I’m so sorry about the car thing. You were totally right to be mad.”

Brittany added, “Yeah, me too. I’m sorry. We’re all sorry.”

They all finally understood what they had done.

I took a deep breath and looked at each of them. “I’m glad you see it now. But remember, respect is a two-way street.”

We might not be planning any luxury cabin trips anytime soon, but at least we’ll do it with a new sense of understanding and responsibility.

This whole experience definitely made for a memorable story, even if it wasn’t the relaxing weekend I had planned.

But hey, sometimes the best lessons come wrapped in a little frustration and a lot of determination.

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