Most expensive thing you have ever bought/gotten for CHEAP!

[Imakcerka]

I once bought an antique camera for a dollar at a garage sale.  Found out it was worth hundreds.  Donated it.

[womenswisdom]

Used Dyson for $30. Works perfectly. Did not donate it

[beebalmmama]

Just today found a Cuisnart coffee maker for $6, just like my old one (which happens to still work great after 10 yrs). I'm thinking of holding onto it for backup when ours finally does break, or switching out because it appears newer and in better condition than ours.

[EmsMom]

One time I bought a 16 x 16 foot teak tile patio that was worth $600 or more for $20. 

Another time I found $250 worth of gold jewelry in a box of American Girl doll clothes I paid $7 for. 

Also found a new Champion juicer and a new Mixmaster stand mixer for $20 each, respectively.

I think these are probably my most valuable finds at yard sales in the last 10 years.  I really get a kick of finding these things!

[Nicole730]

Brand new shoulder padded Maya Wrap ring sling for $10.  I'm still pumped about that one.

[my3monkees]

I'm pulling a blank on my own finds. But I have lots, its a game to me!!

But I am teaching my daughter well.

She is obsessed with finding name brand purses for next to nothing at the 2nd hand store.

At 14 she owns 3 Kate Spade Bags and a Fossil Bag, plus several other just cute quality bags. Never paid more than $5 for any of them, most in the $2, $3 range.

[aeterna]

My DH used to work retail electronics, and a laptop got lost somewhere in their inventory for some time. Well, the system automatically marks down inventory that doesn't move after a period of time, so one day I got a phone call: "Come buy this laptop, we just found it in the back room and inventory says it's $120."

Drove up to make the purchase, rang it up at the register... and it rang up as $20. What? The cashier advised me that the two systems are separate, and apparently inventory hadn't updated to reflect the point-of-sale price. Laptop for $20. Score!

Used that laptop for 6 years until it basically fell to pieces. Well worth the investment! xD

[frugalmama]

Amby baby hammock in case at the thrift shop - they had it labeled as a playpen because they didn't know what it was. Paid $10 - sold it for $100 within 2 days. 

[zebra15]

New Keens for DS $5 at 'TJMAXX' type of place.  My first intro to the 'keen' shoe.  DS has not looked back since then, also haven't found another $5 pair either.

[Imakcerka]

I once got a pair of Lelli Kelli's at the PX for 5 bucks.  Normally 65.  That was pretty awesome.  DD1 loved those shoes until she got too cool to wear shoes with sparkles and flowers...

[iowaorganic]

Knee length mink coat for $10 at Goodwill.  It is real and beautiful and I have worn it some...  DH keeps telling me to sell it on ebay.  I might do that but I will never have a real mink coat again.....

[JPiper]

From Craigslist---  Side by Side Fridge/Freezer, nice gas oven/cook top, over the stove high end microwave, nice end dishwasher (all matching) and very workable washer dryer ALL for $340.  We were building  a new house, but keeping old one as rental and were looking for low cost appliances in the new place for the short run.  A newly married couple was selling all appliances to put in all stainless ones  for a big kitchen remodel, and we bought as a package deal.  It's been three years and everything is still working well :-)

[CatsCradle]

Not me, but DH bought a bunch of Maxfield Parrish prints back in the 70s from various yard sales in Baltimore, probably paying no more than $25 each.  During our last move, the glass in one of the big ones broke, so we took into a framer to get re-glassed.  When we went to pick it up, the framer said that one of his clients wanted to offer us several thousand dollars for it.  We declined, it's one of our favorite pieces.  

Edited to say that this was not a situation where the prints were really considered collectable or valuable at the time of acquisition.  

[KarenEMT]

I got my very own LeMond Revmaster spin bike on Craigslist for only $100, and it is just like new!   I had been wanting a spin bike for years and this was such a cool find for me :)

[Thystle]

I bought a faded, but still in good shape, large Little Tykes kitchen that normally went for $125 at a thrift store for $4.  

All I had to do was scrub it off and deal with some stickers. 

When I moved I gave it away to a neighbor who ran an in home daycare... and I got to see the joy on alot of little kids faces in the process! 

[Imakcerka]

AWESOME FIND!  That's is so cool! 

Ok I once gave someone an awesome deal myself.  I sold a WII with all the controllers ALL!  And over 20 games for 100.  I didn't give the guy a price just told him to come and look at it.  He showed up in a van with 3 teenagers and 4 little kids.  All his.  They were adorable.  I asked him what he could pay for it and he said maybe 500... I said WRONG! 100! and then he patched a whole in my wall since thats what he did for a living.  Worked out great!.  Those kids freaked out! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thystle 

I bought a faded, but still in good shape, large Little Tykes kitchen that normally went for $125 at a thrift store for $4.  

All I had to do was scrub it off and deal with some stickers. 

When I moved I gave it away to a neighbor who ran an in home daycare... and I got to see the joy on alot of little kids faces in the process! 

[milk_maker]

I've got two things.

My kids' Pottery Barn Kids play kitchen.  It has a fridge, dishwasher, and sink/oven island.  I got it for $175!!!!!

My fancy living room furniture.  It does have a hole at the very top in one corner, but you can't tell.  A neighbor just dumped it on the side of the road: couch, loveseat, and chair!

[amautik]

I once went to an expensive boutique, not really expecting to find anything I could afford.  Well, I found a 100% silk dress for $40, and it fit me like a dream.  I didn't really have an event to wear it to, but I got it because I figured I would wear it to a wedding, or even work.  It was originally something like $500, and  you can't find a dress like that for that for such a good price!  Well, I got home and removed the price stickers....only to find the MSRP was $1359!!

Also, one time I was walking back to my apartment from the grocery store.  I lived in a low-rise complex, and when people wanted to get rid of something, they often put it in a certain alleyway, free for the taking.  One time, I saw a wireless router there.  DH figured it wouldn't work, but I picked it up and took it in anyway.  Problem was, neither of us had wireless capabilities on our laptops (this was in 2006, and the laptops were a few years old by then), so it just stayed in a closet.  We later moved, and took it with us.  Well, after the move, our normal router wouldn't work!  I said, "why don't we try that one I found on the ground?"  DH was doubtful, but said it was worth a try.  Sure enough, it worked, and it's still in use today!  That's one of the things I miss about the city; you don't find as many free things around here as you do out there!

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by Imakcerka 

AWESOME FIND!  That's is so cool! 

Ok I once gave someone an awesome deal myself.  I sold a WII with all the controllers ALL!  And over 20 games for 100.  I didn't give the guy a price just told him to come and look at it.  He showed up in a van with 3 teenagers and 4 little kids.  All his.  They were adorable.  I asked him what he could pay for it and he said maybe 500... I said WRONG! 100! and then he patched a whole in my wall since thats what he did for a living.  Worked out great!.  Those kids freaked out! 

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That is so awesome of you!! I ame excited to have a super huge rummage when I am done having babies and having tons of awesome deals for people to get pumped about. I love finding a great deal!

[Deir]

Just got on MDC to shout out! No one is home for me to tell! LOL

I just scored a Emmalijunga pram stroller at a Thrift store for 4.00. I think they must have thought it was an old ancient coach becasue it looks different than teh average Graco!  It is in great shape! I looked on Ebay and there is another used one of this model selling for 350.00!!!!

I am so excited!! I need it but I'm wondering if I should just try to sell it?