I found a Bottega Veneta bag at the thrift store. I paid $8, and it's worth $3,000.

Kristen Boelen found an authentic purse at a thrift store.

Courtesy of Kristen Boelen

• Kristen Boelen, founder of Lunch Break Vintage.
• She regularly cruises thrift stores to supply her online stores.
• On a recent trip, she scored an authentic $3,000 Bottega Veneta bag. She paid $8 for it.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kristen Boelen, the founder of Lunch Break Vintage. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I have been thrifting since the moment I could drive.