Thrift Store Find Turns into a Surprise Payday for Milwaukee Mom

Shopping at thrift stores has gained popularity in recent years. By 2024, a report from Savers Value Village, Inc., a major thrift store operator in North America, revealed that almost 90% of consumers had either shopped, donated, or both at thrift stores. This was an increase from 83% in 2022. Unlike broader retail trends, physical thrift stores remain popular, with secondhand shoppers spending about 4.5 times more at these locations compared to online resale platforms. Statistics show that 77 cents of every dollar spent on used clothing is spent in-store.

Bonnie Mata, a 41-year-old mother from Milwaukee, recently experienced the unexpected benefits of thrift shopping. Mata, who has 18-month-old twins and five grown children, values in-person thrifting. While browsing a local thrift store, she found a unique snakeskin wallet that held a secret surprise. “I thought it was cool,” she explained to Newsweek, drawn to its appearance despite some initial hesitation. After deciding to purchase the wallet, Mata discovered its well-kept condition and took it home.

Days later, as she inspected the wallet more closely, she made a surprising discovery. Planning to photograph the wallet for a potential eBay sale, Mata realized there was something tucked inside. On re-examination, she found a 1985 hundred-dollar bill. “That’s the year I was born,” Mata noted, feeling a personal connection to her find.

Mata initially hoped to keep the bill as a keepsake, but financial responsibilities led her to spend it instead. The discovery was nonetheless thrilling for her, highlighting the value of checking secondhand items carefully. “I’ve found small change before, but nothing like this,” Mata remarked.

Reyne Hirsch, a former auction gallery owner and Antiques Roadshow appraiser, noted that finding money in secondhand items is not uncommon. “People often hide cash in old clothing or books,” Hirsch explained, a practice dating back to the Depression Era.

According to Hirsch, valuable items can accidentally end up in thrift stores when families clear estates and focus on obvious valuables. “Books, clothing, and old handbags are donated without checking pockets,” she mentioned.

Hirsch also shared a common sentiment regarding these finds. “Unless it’s a large sum, it’s often seen as ‘finders keepers’.” She suggested contacting the store if the amount is significant enough to trace its origins.