Woman on Brink of Tears at the 'Saddest' Ever Thrift Store Find

Thrifting is often fun and a great way to save money while treating yourself. But it isn't always enjoyable and sometimes it can be an upsetting experience.

One woman has recently racked up 3.9 million views on TikTok (@annafrank02) by sharing the label of a knitted hat that has left the internet in tears.

The footage shows Anna sitting in a car with a sad facial expression. The text explains, "This must be the SADDEST thrift find," then the clip cuts to a close-up of the cable knit hat.

She then shows the label inside which has two cartoon bears and an embroidered message saying "with love and kisses from" followed by handwriting that says "Granny."

So far, the heartbreaking video captioned: "Thanks granny anyways I love it," has 177,000 likes and over 370 comments.

One comment, with 10,800 likes, said: "Even if I don't like something my grandma makes me I'D NEVER DONATE IT ARE U KIDDING."

"I see so many like that I always get them," said another TikTok user. "It breaks my heart. I save everything made by great grandmothers [and] great aunts."

A third commenter said: "I had the opposite, I found the mug I made my grandmother at Goodwill."

Some people have encouraged Australia-based Anna to look at the hat from a different perspective.

"I love this! Some lucky kid outgrew it and they're passing their Grandma's love onto someone else," said one person.

This isn't the first time the internet has been left sobbing by a thrift find. On one occasion a man's "entire" life was found by a shopper.

Thrifting has revolutionized shopping for consumers worldwide; and the younger generation have embraced buying used goods more than ever. It's amazing to see what some people manage to snap up for a fraction of the original price.

Newsweek has previously shared an article about a woman who paid $6 for a vintage top and later discovered it was worth almost $1,000.

Thrifting
A stock image of a woman browsing the racks at a thrift store. TikTok users have explained that thrifting isn't always fun and can sometimes be upsetting. Valmedia/iStock/Getty Images Plus

So it's no wonder second-hand sales are increasing, according to data from the Statista Consumer Insights survey. It has revealed that in the United States as many as 60 percent of respondents said they had made at least one second-hand purchase in 2022, up from 49 percent in 2019.

And it looks like business is going to keep on booming according to Statista's Second-Hand Apparel dossier that states the global second-hand-clothing market is predicted to reach $84 billion by 2030.

Newsweek reached out to u/annafrank02 for comment via TiKTok. We could not verify the details of the case.

Do you have a monetary dilemma? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Lucy Notarantonio is Newsweek's Senior Lifestyle and Trends Reporter, based in Birmingham, UK. Her focus is trending stories and human ... Read more

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