Yard Sale Finds

This morning we headed out to a few yard sales in our area. We checked the Richmond Times-Dispatch for listings, then stopped at other sales as we noticed signs. When our kids were younger, we'd head out almost every Saturday in the Spring and Fall. There was a constant need for bigger clothes & shoes, plus "equipment" as the children aged. Many times I'd find a temporary fix (like a baby swig for $1) that I could use until I found a more suitable option.

Today we found:

• an aluminum bat for our son, who just started "Fall Ball". Cost $5 ($25+ Retail). (We found an almost new helmet a few weeks ago for $3.)
• a lamp to replace the broken one in the boy's bedroom ($5)
• almost new L.L. Bean kid's shoes $4 ($35 retail)
• binders $.25 (too bad school started on Tuesday & the kid's have already used some of the $2+ binders (bought in July & August)
• Office organizers $.25 each
• New (still in package) Clock $1
• I Spy Books $.75 ea. ($10+ when new)
• Like new tennis shoes $5 ($39+ when new)
• Five Articles of Clothing $1 each (3 still had tags on them)

As you have probably already guessed, I am a picky yard saler! Most of the time I'm looking for items in super condition for a great price. I will make exceptions for items that we need for a specific purpose. For example: this summer we found 3 pair of bowling shoes for $2 each. All three could be worn by different members of our family and we had already signed up for FREE Summer Bowling, so each $2 "investment" saved $4.50 every time we headed to the bowling lanes. I ran them through the washer & noted the soles had become loose, so I purchased Shoe Goo for $4 at Wal-mart. We fixed all 3 pair & several other dilapidated shoes we already had. Still, we came out ahead the first time we wore these.

Follow these hints if you're new to yard sailing:

1. Make a list of items you need, including clothing & shoe sizes.
2. Set a budget (usually determined by the amount of cash I have on hand b/c I don't carry very much to begin with!)
3. Pray that God will lead you to the items you need & help you resist the things you don't.
4. Search online in your local classifieds or @ www.craigslist.com for local sales.
5. Map out a route and plan to stop at additional sales if you spot them. (Head to Neighborhood Sales first b/c these will have usually have the most inventory.)
6. Head out early and take cash, snacks, drinks and bags for lugging your stash home.
7. Quickly browse through items at a sale. If everything is tagged near regular retail price (or higher) or everything is worthless junk, leave without purchasing anything.
8. When items your family needs are available, browse longer...especially if the prices are rock bottom.
9. Realise yard sales are not the mall, so you may have to purchase items in advance. If you find a great deal on an item you must have in a few months (or longer) & you can afford to spend the cash now, go ahead & make the purchase. (FYI, your kids will outgrow all of the clothes, shoes & toys they are now using!)
10. If you are purchasing multiple items &/or feel prices are too high, haggle for a lower price. (I might ask, "I have $6 worth of items, would you take $5?") Quite often my offer is accepted.
11. Whenever items are not tagged, ask the seller to tell you the price. Today I was mentally prepared to pay $3 for the new clock on the table. If I had said, "Would you take $3 for this?" I am sure they would have said, "Yes"...and I would be out three times as much!
12. Have fun hunting for bargains!