Woman reaches into pocket of thrifted purse looking for her keys, discovers something that couldn’t have come at a better time

Erin Calkins of Atlanta, Georgia, got the shock of a lifetime when she reached into a purse she had just bought at a thrift store and discovered something inside that would completely change her life. The unexpected find came at a moment when she needed it most, turning an ordinary shopping trip into an unforgettable experience.

According to Newsweek, Calkins wasn’t even planning to buy a purse that day. She and her husband had gone to their local Goodwill store with a simple goal in mind: to find a white button-down shirt for an upcoming wedding. While browsing the aisles, she came across a purse that immediately caught her eye. She liked its style and decided to take a closer look, even though her husband jokingly reminded her that she already owned plenty of handbags.

Despite his hesitation, Calkins decided to buy the purse anyway. At just $8, it felt like a harmless splurge. She had no idea that the small purchase would soon lead to a life-changing surprise. The purse didn’t come from the first Goodwill store the couple visited that day. After failing to find a suitable shirt at their initial stop, they decided to drive to another location in a more upscale neighborhood.

The hidden treasure appeared at the perfect moment

That spontaneous decision proved to be incredibly fortunate for Calkins, setting the stage for the remarkable discovery waiting inside the thrifted purse.

A few weeks after buying the purse, Calkins put her keys in one of the outside pockets while shopping. When she got to her car, she couldn’t find them. That’s when she noticed a hole in the inside lining of the purse. She put her hand through the hole to search for her keys and found something unexpected – a bracelet.

The bracelet looked like 14k white gold at first glance. Calkins was shocked but wanted to make sure it was real before getting too excited. She took the piece to an estate jeweler to get it checked out. Similar surprising discoveries have happened to others, like when a PS5 owner found a hidden setting that was draining their console’s storage.

The jeweler confirmed it was a real diamond tennis bracelet. Calkins couldn’t believe it. The jeweler immediately offered her $1,200 for the bracelet on the spot. Since she only paid $8 for the purse, she happily accepted the offer right away.

The timing couldn’t have been better for this discovery. Calkins had recently totaled her car and needed money to buy a new one. The $1,200 from the bracelet came exactly when she needed it most.

Not every secondhand sale turns out well though, as one woman learned when she sold her grandfather’s van cheaply only to discover what happened later. But Calkins is just happy she found it. She says it’s definitely the best thrift store find she’s ever had.