I Love Finding Bargains
When every penny counts, saving a bunch of money on those everyday needs is a must. I have my mother to thank for getting me hooked on garage sales, when my daughter was first born. In our area there were Bargains galore to be found. Baby’s grow so fast and there are so many products out there to educate, amuse and comfort them, which they do outgrow quite quickly. On a budget, purchasing things for them at regular price can not be justified. Buying retail just doesn’t make sense, when you can get them at a fraction of the cost at resale shops and garage sales.
Because I was shopping for my first baby, I kept in mind that I wanted to have at least one more. I purchased many things that were unisex. This came in quite handy when my fourth child was a boy. I always washed and stored clothing once it was outgrown. Store them in a cardboard box if possible, so it will breath. You can fit a lot of baby clothes in a box. Just keep a small basket or box in the laundry room or in the closet and when it’s full, add the contents to the storage box. When you are ready to access your stored clothing, open the bottom of the box, to quickly have smaller sizes at your fingertips.
Finding Bargains is Fun Too
Picture this….It’s a beautiful Friday morning and you don’t really have any plans. You take a look at Craigslist or your local paper and see several garage sale listings that are not far from where you live. If you have small children at home, take them out on an adventure and see if you can’t find a few Bargains. Supporting those who are having a garage sale is appreciated by anyone who is having a sale. Go out and help by finding a treasure or two and help someone who is try to make ends meet in the process.
I actually had a big garage sale so I could make enough money to pay my mortgage payment that month. My husband was laid up from work and we were a little short making ends meet. I hated to let some things go, but making my payment was far more important.
It’s Okay and It’s Fun
Don’t ever be embarrassed or ashamed to be seen by anyone you know. There is really no need for any of that. Garage sales are not only for the “poor”. I have found some wonderful antiques and other items I would have never found in a store. Quite often you will find hand made items that you would never dream of. People are quite creative and may inspire some creativity in you as well.
You do not have to feel obligated to buy something. People are perfectly fine with you stopping in, browsing their items and moving on to the next sale on their list. Simply thank them, pay them a compliment on their efforts (if applicable) and bid them farewell.
Always inspect the items you consider purchasing. Not everyone is conscientious, so you need to really look things over. Often people believe their “junk” has value, when in fact it’s simply junk and should be tossed out to the curb. Don’t be afraid to dicker a bit too. Often people just want it gone, so they don’t have to store it, give it away or toss it. If the value is there and you “can” afford the price they ask, by all means, just pay it and enjoy your new treasure.
Become a Bargain Supplier
Either resell or donate everything your children have now outgrown. Having a garage sale is not for everyone, donating these items is far better than filling the landfills. Often you can resell the items you purchased for the same price or even higher prices than you paid for them (if you bought them on sale, at a garage sale or resale shop). To insure quick sales, make sure there are no stains and sort by size. Hang everything you can. You should have the clothes displayed on a rack and sorted by size. This will increase your sales by 50% or more. Wash anything that has stains that show up over time. Just spot treat and they should vanish in the wash.
Also take a few minutes to clean little marks off all the toys you want to sell. You know, the ones that toys leave on one another while in the toy box. Consider not getting rid of all the toys your children outgrow. You may want to make a grandparents box. Having different toys to play with at grandma and grandpa’s house is awesome. Toys change so much over the years, is fun to keep some great toys for the next generation. Remember to always remove old batteries before storing. I now have 3 generations of toys and when I get them out for children to play with, it’s usually my mother’s old toys they choose first. Just goes to show, some things just don’t need to change in order to be better.
Resale Shops Are Great
When I first moved to this area I found several great resale shops. A few ways to find great shops to to search for resale shops, donation centers or local auction houses. Some of my personal favorites are, Habitat For Humanity Resale Stores, Goodwill and Salvation Army, which are located in many communities. My favorite local shops are, the College Distribution Center, a place called Dave’s Bargains and Reuse Center. I also like a place that takes donations from local companies called the Scrapbox. This place is great and I love to stop in and see if there is anything new.
Go out and explore, see what you can find. There may be that beautiful antique table for by the door, just sitting there, waiting just for you. Or how about that cobalt blue vase to put your flowers in this spring. Take a friend, your mother or the neighbor that never gets a chance to go out and do things. Sep out of your box and who knows, you might just have to do it again next week too.