Woman Goes Thrifting at Goodwill—Can’t Believe What She Finds ‘Evidence’ Of

When Jenn stepped into a Goodwill store on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, she was stunned to be faced with what she felt was “evidence of multiple potential breakups.”

From relationship-themed mugs—one labeled “Mr” and “Mrs,” and another reading “Sole Mates” with two illustrated shoes shaped like hearts, to a personalized T-shirt, the thrift store was filled with items that seemed like they had been discarded after a relationship breakdown.

“I saw the first set of mugs and it was interesting enough,” Jenn, who didn’t share her surname, told Newsweek. “But then I quickly saw the others and realized I need to take pics. It did make me pretty sad to think about the people making the decisions to let go of the mugs/shirt.”

Shocked by the discovery, Jenn was inspired to share what she had found on Reddit’s popular r/ThriftStoreHauls earlier this week, where people were quick to share their reactions and theories about the breakup items.

Many Redditors had different theories about the origin of the items, with her post quickly amassing more than 2,000 upvotes. Redditor FunKyChick217 thought there might be something else behind it.

“I think a lot of mugs like that are given as gifts and people might not really like them so they donate them to charity,” they wrote. “Maybe they keep them for six months or a year just in case the gift giver happens to come over.”

Another commenter, Payniacs, shared a more personal anecdote: “About a year ago I found my friend’s wedding champagne toast glasses at a thrift a few years after she divorced and nowhere near where she lived. She couldn’t believe it when I sent a pic.”

Echoing that, fellow Redditor Zippity__zoppity added: “On behalf of my wife and I, this is 100% accurate. So many Mr & Mrs gifts it was ludicrous. Hung on to them for literally 2 years before we both were like wtf this shit is taking up already limited storage space lol.”

While some saw heartbreak, others saw routine decluttering. Still, it was the uncanny grouping of such emotionally loaded items that made Jenn’s post resonate. “I had decided to post it because I like sharing things that I find thought-provoking or uncanny, and seeing if people feel the same,” she said.

According to the results of a survey by Talker Research, commissioned by The Container Store, there is a distinct push for a clutter-free home. In a survey of 2,000 adults, conducted between November 15-18, 2024, found 83 percent said that having an organized space helps them feel more motivated and in control, while 66 percent linked a tidy home to a sense of overall well-being.

For many, clutter doesn’t just create mess—it stirs up stress, with respondents reporting feelings of overwhelm, irritability, and lack of focus when surrounded by disorganization. The findings suggest that decluttering can be a big part of finding emotional clarity and peace of mind.

This isn’t the first time something found in a thrift store has left people feeling upset. One woman took to Instagram when she stumbled on something heartbreaking in a large bin of clothing.

On closer inspection, she found a nondescript, khaki-colored blanket. But a handwritten note attached to the blanket bore the words: “Dad’s army blanket. Please keep it in the family.”

Another Goodwill shopper was heartbroken to stumble on a framed dedication to two much-loved dogs, that was now for sale for just $2.99.

The picture on the left side of the frame was a painting of the two dogs, Barney and Buford. To the right was a poem with the title “All I need to know about life I learned from my dog.” And finally, the dogs’ two tags with their names printed were framed.