A man experienced an unexpected windfall on Christmas Eve after a routine trip to a charity shop, where he purchased a wallet only to find it was far from empty. His remarkable discovery has prompted him to issue crucial advice to all bargain hunters.
The Festive Find
In a post on Reddit, the shopper explained that he visited his local Goodwill store on the morning of 24 December. An employee had just brought out a handful of wallets, including some leather ones he wanted for laser engraving practice. Upon checking them, he was stunned to find $400 (approximately £295) inside one of the wallets that had just been placed on the shop floor.
This was not his first lucky discovery of forgotten money. He also revealed he had previously found $50 (around £37) tucked away in the pocket of a pair of jeans bought from a charity shop.
Paying It Forward
The shopper confirmed he did not feel right keeping the cash for himself. Instead, he decided to use the money to help others in his community. He stated his intention to take $50 to a local food bank and use another $50 to buy dog food for an animal shelter.
His story resonated online, with other users sharing similar tales of hidden treasures. One person recounted finding $15 and vintage change from the 1980s in the zipped pocket of a windbreaker bought on Vinted for just $5. Another recalled a friend whose grandmother, a survivor of the Great Depression, had hidden hundreds of dollars in random books.
The Dollhouse Discovery
A particularly intriguing story came from a third user who bought a large Barbie dollhouse from Goodwill for $4.99. After a tense interaction with an employee who claimed it was mispriced, they checked out immediately. Upon getting it home, their daughter discovered the dollhouse's cupboards and fridge were stuffed full of costume jewellery. The user remains convinced an employee had hidden it there to retrieve later.
The Legal Grey Area
Finding money in donated items presents a legal and ethical dilemma. Experts and charities generally advise that you should report such finds, as the cash is technically lost property belonging to someone else. In practice, people often keep small amounts if they believe the original owner is unlikely to come forward.
For larger sums, the process is different. Charities may handle the money themselves, and if it remains unclaimed, it can sometimes be treated as a donation. Alternatively, individuals can choose to report significant finds to the police. The key takeaway from this festive story is clear: always check inside wallets, bags, pockets, and even dollhouses before you buy.
