Everyone has a Story: The bargain hunter | News

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- It's back! A popular THV favorite. We're talking about "Everyone has a Story."

You may remember, years ago, Liz Massey would throw a dart at a state map and wherever it landed, she'd travel to that town and search for everyday Arkansans to share their extraordinary stories.

Well, Liz is bringing back the series, but with a digital twist. Every Friday on "Today's THV at 6:00" in February, she's choosing THV Facebook friends and telling their stories.

To get started, Liz gave several profiles a spin and randomly chose one. That led her to the Little Rock home of Jamall Filat (photo gallery). Jamall and his wife, Tricia, are on a treasure hunt.

"We definitely need some bookcases," says Jamall.

He's always looking for a deal.

"My wife will always say, 'I wish I could have one of those; I wish I could have one of those,' and I'll say, 'Wait until you find one at a garage sale and maybe you can,'" says Jamall.

From early Saturday morning garage sales to Tuesday night auctions and all the antique malls in between, Jamall loves a bargain. 

"And we find it at a garage sale for $10, $299 item for $10 bucks," says Jamall. 

Some of the prized possessions, lots of jewelry, fine china and even sports memorabilia. He's even sitting on "a had to have" find.

Jamall says, "My wife actually bought it, a couch for $5, a leather couch."

A $5 couch that actually had about $2 or $3 in change under the cushions. Then there are the nearly 700 books.

"I even still have the 25-cent sticker on this one," says Jamall.

But Jamall's youngest daughter may have found the best bargain of all.  A homecoming dress literally fit for a queen.

"I think when she tore the tag off, it had $900, $880, $899. And she bought it for $1," says Jamall.

That's right, $1! But for this 43-year-old, along with his wife and four children, his greatest treasure now is lying in his arms.  She's 7-pounds-15-ounces, 20 inches long and her name is Ashleigh. She's Jamall's first grandbaby.

"Oh my gosh, my heart just melts," says Jamall.

And this new grandfather knows it's time to start thinking about the future. You see, Jamall doesn't just like to find good deals for himself, he's all about helping others.

"I deliver a lot of toner to some businesses here locally, and I noticed a lot of that was being thrown away," says Jamall.

For more than a year, Jamall's been shipping thousands of empty toner cartridges off to a company that converts them to cash for schools and non-profits. So far, Jamall's raised about $1,700 for his daughter's school. He hopes one day to maybe even start his own recycling business, an investment for his newest addition.

Jamall says, "Maybe my little bit of help might do something for her in the future."

As for the present, Jamall Filat says life couldn't get any better.

"It's absolutely wonderful right now," says Jamall.

His story, is one he never "bargained" for.

Jamall says, "If I had to do it in one word: exciting.  I'm really living the American dream; I really feel that way."

Funding Factory is the name of the company that Jamall mails the empty cartridges too. They even pay the shipping. If you open an account and use the code number 306522, Jamall says it will give him points for referrals. 

If you'd like a chance to be featured in a future story, go to our Today's THV Facebook page, "LIKE" us, if you haven't already, and post your story. Find out who we meet next Friday on "Today's THV at 6:00."