- 10 Garage Sale
Shortcuts
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BY TAWRA KELLAM & JILL COOPER
- © Copyright
2001
1. There are
two kinds of garage sales - the ones where people want to make
money and the ones where people want to get rid of stuff. The
object is to find the ones where people want to get rid of stuff.
2. Get a map
and newspaper and map out your route. Photo copying maps from
a phone book works great. Using this method, you can easily visit
25 sales an hour. If you're a beginner you might hit neighborhoods
you are familiar with first. Ask other people at the garage sales
where they found the best deals (and they are more than happy
to tell you).
3. If at all
possible leave the kids at home. If you must take them use a
baby backpack or an umbrella stroller to make it easier. Give
older children 25 or 50 cents and let them see what good deals
they can get. Kids love picking out gifts for grandparents, siblings,
parents and other family and bargain hunting helps them learn
about money. Bring snacks and cold water for everyone and plan
ahead for potty breaks. If you have children with you, it's best
only to plan on hitting about five sales.
4. Wear cool,
comfortable clothes. Bring lots of change and one dollar bills.
Put your money in your pockets so you don't have to worry about
carrying your purse. Also bring a tote bag in which to carry
your finds as you walk.
5. When you
find something you're not sure you want, pick it up and carry
it around while you continue looking. Otherwise someone else
may take it while you're trying to decide.
6. Always ask
politely if they will come down on the price. Most of the time
they will. Every once in a while some things are so reasonable
that I do not feel right asking for less. Finding women's sweater's
at $1.00 each isn't bad, but I still ask if they will take 50
or 75 cents. If I find a name brand sweater in perfect shape
for 25 cents, I don't ask for less.
7. If there
is something you really want, but the seller is asking more than
you want to pay, offer them a lower price. If they say no, leave
your name and number and ask them to consider selling it to you
at your price if they still have it at the end of the day.
8. Always check
items well for hard to see tears, stains, or breakage. Remember
it is a garage sale so everything won't be perfect.
9. It is best
to go early, but don't panic if you can't. Sometimes you get
the best buys after lunch when sellers are tired and don't want
to have to drag everything back into the house. It's great to
go on the last day of a sale because most sellers will almost
pay you to take things so they don't have to keep them.
10. If you
don't have success in one part of town, try somewhere else the
next time. Sometimes the best garage sale neighborhoods are the
ones you don't expect.
Don't be embarrassed
about buying at garage sales. Some of the wealthiest women in
the world love garage sales - Martha Stewart and Oprah are among
them! When you're done, go home, put up your feet and have a
nice glass of ice cold lemonade. Grab the phone and call someone
who will share the excitement and appreciate your good buys.
Garage sales are like old fishing stories. Die-hards always brag
about the one that got away!
_______________________________________
Author:
Tawra Kellam is the publisher of
the frugal living website www.notjustbeans.com and the author of
the cookbook Not Just Beans-50 Years of Frugal Family Favorites.
_______________________________________
Editors Note:
A wonderful resource
for our American readers
Visit Junk'n Treasures, a web site that searches the U.S. for
garage sales and maps them. A resource you'll wonder how you
ever did without! |
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