The Facebook group has been around for a long, long time. ‘Weird (and Wonderful) Secondhand Finds That Just Need To Be Shared’ was first founded all the way back in late 2016. Originally, it was meant exclusively for the founders’ friends and family.

However, over time, knowledge about the group spread among the public. This led the project to become the glowing success it is today.

“We created this group so it would be easier for us to share photos of wacky thrifted finds instead of texting them to each other. We left it as a public group because it simply didn’t occur to us that anyone else would be interested in our quirky hobby,” the Facebook users behind the social media group shared in a recent post.

“Pretty quickly, a couple of strangers joined and we thought, ‘What the heck, might be fun. Why not?’ And then it just kept growing and now we have over three million members!” The members of this online community are known as ‘Weirdlings.’ The founders have a huge appreciation for them and their “fabulous funky finds.”

Why someone loves thrifting in garage sales and secondhand shops will depend a lot on the individual. However, there are tons of reasons why you might want to get into thrifting as a hobby, from socializing and adventuring to saving money and finding small ways to help the planet.

For one, thrifting is simply a fun activity to get into. You’re checking out places you’ve likely never been to before. You’re getting lots of movement. You’re talking to new people all the time. And you’re on the lookout for cool stuff, whether you have something particular in mind or you’re just browsing.

It gets you out of the house. It sure beats binging social media or lying on the sofa all day long.

On top of that, there’s the thrill of discovery to keep you engaged. Curiosity is a wonderful thing to have, no matter what aspect of our lives we’re talking about. By going thrifting, you’re opening yourself up to new opportunities and possibilities. Look at it like a small adventure where you’re never quite sure how it’ll end. There’s a lot of fun to be found in the unexpected. But only if you’re open to being surprised.

Meanwhile, when you’re buying secondhand goods, you’re helping the environment. What this means is that you’re not purchasing new products that have to be manufactured, shipped, and then transported to the shops. This saves a lot in terms of water and fuel.

For instance, the fashion industry uses more than 79 trillion (that’s ‘trillion’ with a ‘t’) liters of water every year. Though buying a secondhand sweater won’t save the planet, it’s small steps like this one that can quickly add up over time.

Buying secondhand goods is also easier on the wallet. You’re giving clothes, furniture, and knickknacks a second chance. Instead of ending up in a landfill or having to shell out for something new, you end up getting more use and happiness out of them. If money’s tight, secondhand shopping can be a real lifesaver. However, times are changing… and not necessarily for the better.

People living in the United States are increasingly finding that stores known for their secondhand goods have been hiking their prices in recent years. As thrifting continues to increase in popularity thanks to social media and TikTok, some shops use the extra attention as a way to increase their profits even more. Or, to put it bluntly, secondhand shopping isn’t so cheap anymore because some businesses got greedy. 

Goodwill, in particular, with all of its charitable aspirations, has been called out time and time again on internet forums and in the media for jacking up its prices. Some folks wonder why they should even bother shopping there if mainstream realtors offer cheaper unused clothing.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever found while thrifting, Pandas? Which of the finds in this list did you think were the weirdest and most wonderful? Tell us all about it in the comment section. In the meantime, for some more secondhand inspo, check out Bored Panda’s previous article about ‘Weird (and Wonderful) Secondhand Finds That Just Need To Be Shared.’