Thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales are basically new versions of ancient archeological sites.

Upon entering them, you never know what you're gonna find and hours later, it's usually one of the two: either you leave empty-handed, asking yourself why spend so much time for nothing, or come across a hidden gem that makes even those disappointing endeavors worth it.

Interestingly, the Facebook group 'Vintage and weird things you have found' has the best of both. Its 185K members regularly share pictures of their most memorable discoveries, and if they don't inspire you to check out your local second-hand store, honestly, I don't know what will.

More info: Facebook

• Read More: 50 Times People Discovered Such Surprising Secondhand Finds, They Just Had To Share Pics Online

#1 A Lovely Bed For A Kid!

Image credits: Indula Deshan

#2 When You’re Lucky Enough To Wake Up At 3 Am To Use The Bathroom And Log Onto Facebook Marketplace And Find The Camper Of Your Dreams That You Wanted For Years

And that was only listed for 11 minutes

Image credits: Rayann Fatizzi

#3 My Husband Was Pretty Much Paid $40 To Remove This From Someone’s Home

Image credits: Jessica Halsch

#4 Trash Picked This Mcm Accordion Front TV Stand And Made A Dog Bed Out Of It!

Notice Blackie in the same pose as in the painting above

Image credits: Stacey Schultz

#5 Found This Unique Table While Thrifting. Very Intricate

Edit: Yes, I am aware that this is a ouija board. Yes, it came home with me. I’m simply an oddity collector. No one is summoning demons in my house.

Image credits: Danielle Osburn

#6 Look What I Got Today. I Have Wanted A Vanity Like This Since I Was About 12

Image credits: Cheryl Cross Odland

#7 I Recently Found 4 Sketches By Norman Bridwell Author Of Clifford The Big Red Dog

They are approximately 30 x 19 inches, they were laminated when I found them. They were given to a school after he did a talk there

Image credits: Bill DiGiovanni

#8 Here I Am In My Backyard In Last Saturday's Work Ensem, Which Is Basically A Dress (With A Full Petticoat Underneath) Over A Skirt

The vintage parts are the thrifted hat and gloves. All other parts (except for the skirt) were also thrifted, as was Kalmah's hat

Image credits: Michelle Trebilco

#9 I Acquired This Ladies Art Deco Dresser Set And Think It’s Absolutely Fabulous

Image credits: Tammy Schoch

#10 I Now Have A Stone Apple To Go With The Stone Watermelon Slice And Stone Egg. Don’t Ask What I’m Doing With My Life, I Have No Idea

Image credits: Sabrina Schwartz Avalon

#11 Kenneth Jay Lane 1960s Whimsical Starburst Ruby And Diamond Faux Costume Brooch In Immaculate Condition 3.99...

Image credits: Christina Johnson Mooneyham

#12 Omg I’m So Excited About Today’s Purchase

Image credits: Brandi Gooding

#13 Maybe Not The Most Practical Purchase Ever, But Saw The Giraffe In Goodwill Today And Couldn't Stop Thinking About Him

Image credits: Dawn Genzlinger Rutt

#14 I Got This For $10!

Image credits: Dawn M. Warren

#15 Found This Beauty Literally On The Side Of The Road In A Pile Of Free Stuff

Image credits: Sue Sudekum

#16 Cleaned And Organized This Vintage Sewing Kit! I Paid $5 For This And Contents At The Salvation Army!

Image credits: Rita Fleming Weaver

#17 This 8 By 10 Photograph Was In A Vintage Dresser I Purchased

Image credits: Cindy Howard

#18 A Vintage Quilt My Grandmother Made In The 60s

Image credits: Suzanne Zethner

#19 A Book With A Bullet Hole

Published 1896. This is one of the coolest things I've ever found. Not only is it a trove of lost music and poems, it's well traveled, I found it in a dump of a thrift store in Hollywood, and I'm not the only one who has found it interesting. It has many inscriptions one states it was a gift from some store owner to her writer friend and she got it from TX which had traveled from South Carolina. (See below.) And stranger still? There is a freaking bullet hole in it! (The bullet is gone btw.) But why?! I wish I knew. Was it in someone's pocket? At a saloon? In someone's library? Why the bullet hole? Why?! Edit: I'm so glad you all find this as interesting and charming as I do! I've added more photos for you all to enjoy! Also turns out there was a Sadiee Gollithan who lived in Nashville around that time. What an odd yet cool name.

Image credits: Lisa Marie Wardell

#20 What A Find Today …early 50’s Bakelite Canister Salt Box And Spice Rack

Image credits: John Richard

#21 Remember The Scrubby Frog

Image credits: Kelli Hoefler

#22 I Have Been Looking For A House Hippo Since I First Heard The Term In This Group

Today I found her! She’s 3” long, hand painted and vintage. Artists name is signed on bottom- Basil Matthews. There are several articles on House Hippos - I thought they brought good luck. And I’m sticking with the Good Luck theory

Image credits: Diane Cook

#23 Scored This For $20. The Fan Blows Like A Category 5 Hurricane When I Get It Goin

Image credits: Kari K Murral

#24 Curious Kitty Sweet Honest Cologne By Avon. Found At My Favorite Little Boutique

Image credits: Lorena Snodgrass

#25 The Lamp Shade Was My Late Mother's Waited Till I Found The Perfect Lamp For It.

Image credits: Danny Martin

#26 $5 Flea Market Find Near Taylor, Mi, It's So Fabulous I Had To Have It!

Image credits: Alicia Barber

#27 I Hope This Is The Right Place To Share: Alice In Wonderland Fans Will Enjoy These

I purchased, or should I say convinced my mom to purchase these whimsical earrings for me in the early nineties. They are polymer clay and marionette.

Image credits: Ashley Davis

#28 Saw This At A Habitat For Humanity The Other Day. I Sat In It. It’s Still Calling Me. My Husband Didn’t Like It But I Think It Can Sit On The Back Porch Until Winter. Found In Anderson, Sc.

Image credits: Dawn Roxanna Chute Strahan

#29 Picked This Up At A Flea Market This Morning. Not Sure How Old It Is… But I Love It

Image credits: Kam Ciccosanti

#30 Ladies And Gentlemen, Behold My Find Today… (Ignore The Little Shop Of Horrors Inside) $65 In Everett, Wa

Image credits: Ivy Ren

#31 Found A House Hippo At The Farmers Market Today!

I think I’ll name him Henry, I guess it could be Henrietta. Anyone care to gender my house hippo??? I love that it’s in a sexy pose!

Image credits: Karla Shannon McCreary

#32 So Wish I Could Bring This Home And Throw A Groovy Cocktail Party! But For $1,700 It’s Still In The Shop

Image credits: Chrystal Reynolds Stewart

#33 I Bought This Lamp A Number Of Years Ago. It's Been In Storage For A While Until I Can Find The Appropriate Shade

Now the two are married for life of course it was a thrift shop buy I can't remember the price but you know me I'm thrifty

Image credits: Jonathan Holmberg

#34 I Pet Sat For My Daughter/Son In Law While They Had My Grandaughter At Cincinnati Children's Hospital For Scheduled Appointments For A Little Over A Week

When they got back today, my daughter handed me the best gift! A Fiona House Hippo!!! I've been watching and hadn't found a house hippo yet, and this one is perfect

Image credits: Cathy Zeltner

#35 Look What I Got Today!

Image credits: Deborah Sasileo Frasca

#36 I Found 2 Bags Of 'Spreaders' - Those Little Decorative Knives Used To Spread Cheese. There Were S Total Of 113! Here's Just An Example Of Them

Image credits: Paula Blazek

#37 Fun Stuff From Mom's Collection

Image credits: Joanne Ingram Armstrong

#38 Thought You Guys Would Appreciate This

Image credits: Megan Tucker

#39 Weird Doll Found In Michigan Goodwill Left It There

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Image credits: Linda Roberts