I am definitely a bargain-lover. Finding something we need or want that’s a great deal is an amazing feeling. Which is probably one reason that I enjoy going to garage (yard) sales. You never know what you’re going to find, so it’s in the spirit of an adventure – hunting out that perfect ‘treasure’, and paying much less for it than you would in the store even.
Nowadays I don’t get much dedicated time for garage sale shopping. It’s more on the order of happening to stop when I see a sign – of being in the right place at the right time. Often, if I don’t see anything that looks interesting as I drive by, I won’t even stop. Maybe I should though because you never know what will turn up at a garage sale. I’ve found some great things in the past – and again, just recently.
Like the day after we got our new camcorder, when I had been at school for Abby’s Special Persons Day, and happened to spy a sale on my way back. There wasn’t much in the way of kid stuff – so I almost didn’t stop. I’m not sure what led me to decide to anyway, but I ended up finding a brand-new, never used camera case that fits our camcorder and accessories perfectly – for one dollar.
Definitely a treasure!
I got excited last Friday when I spied a sign in the yard at a house that I pass every day on my way to pick the girls up at daycare. I’ve been to previous sales at this particular house and I know that they have girls who must be just older enough than mine, that I can usually find some great clothes bargains for Abby.
Even though I was already running late for work, I stopped. And managed to fill 3 grocery bags with denim shorts and jeans – and two Disney Princess nightgowns exactly in Abby and Hannah’s sizes, all for a total of only $10.
I would’ve paid at least that much just for one of the pairs of jeans or shorts if brand-new! And these are all in great shape and are quality brands.
This past Saturday we saw a ton of signs on our way to Hannah’s last soccer game. So afterward, I stopped and picked up $10 in cash and told the girls we would stop at any sales we saw on the way home. I made sure they understood they wouldn’t necessarily be able to buy something at every sale – and that we wouldn’t buy anything that we couldn’t use.
And then we went garage sale hunting.
We found two sales down the street from each other. The first ended up being the house of a little boy who’d attended preschool with Hannah last year. They were selling a lot of books, so I let the kids each pick one out (Hannah actually got two of them and a puzzle) and I bought a book for myself as well.
At the other sale, something in particular caught my eye immediately. It was a desk – just one of those cheap, put-it-together-yourself kind. Not very big, more on the order of a ‘student’ desk. But perfect for what I had in mind:
I love that it’s on wheels, so I can just roll it out as I need it, and stick it back in the corner when I don’t. And we can use it for other things too – homework, games, puzzles…
And it only cost us a dollar.
The girls each scored at that same sale – I let them each pick out a stuffed animal for 50 cents. 
The last one that we stopped at was full of toys and books. In fact, they had 3 of the Junie B. Jones boxed sets, for only $5 each. Well, I had exactly $5.25 left, but I looked around a bit and picked up several items – a pair of pajamas for Abby, a set of Tupperward stencils, a Barbie-sized horse unicorn that Hannah picked out. And one of the sets of Junie B. Jones books (Abby already had either all or some of the books in the other two sets). I offered to pay for the books right then and then come back for the other items (I think they added up to $2 or $3) – but she was incredibly generous and let me take it all for the $5.25 that I had right then.
Did I mention that I love finding a good bargain?
Here are some of the things that we scored that day – all for a grand total of $10…
(Not pictured are the pajamas for Abby, Becca’s Elmo book, the stencils, or the Little Debbie brownies that I spent a dollar on from Hannah’s preschool classmate – the girls made short work of those!)
Oh, and for anybody who’s curious – the Patricia Cornwell book is the one that I was reading the next day when I took myself out to dinner. I’ve read it before, but always love her books.
What about you – do you shop at garage or yard sales? Have you found any great bargains – please share in the comments!
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June 3rd, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Oooo! I love garage sale finds like those! I did that last summer and got lots of clothes for Haiely for this year.
Melanies last blog post..Livin’ it Up on Friday Night
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I really should hit the garage sales more often and just don’t. We do have a group of moms here in town that collaberates all their kids stuff and does a bi annual giant sale of kids stuff. They have gotten so big now that they rent out the convention center to have their sale. It’s really pretty neat and cheap stuff! They now let anyone sell their kids stuff and you get a certain percentage back of what items sold.
Jeans last blog post..Cake Caper
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I LOVE GARAGE SALES!!!!
Tammys last blog post..Unspectacular Quirks Meme
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I used to love going to yard sales to get book sfor the kids – and also, looking for vintage kitchen stuff for ebay – that stuff sells great! You made out like a bandit!
Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near Yous last blog post..Monday Morning Meme
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Oh I hope lots of people figure my junk is their treasure this weekend. I’m having a garage sale. I feel like I have spent the last two weeks either in the attic or the garage. Want to come to my sale?? LOL
Snowbirds last blog post..Internetus Interruptus
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I’m more the type to have a garage sale than to shop at one. I’m always trying to get stuff OUT of my house. But my mom used to shop the garage sales and then sell stuff on eBay — she made enough that she and my step-dad went to Cancun!
Michelle Potters last blog post..Katy Moms’ Photos at the Park Meetup Group
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I do go to them but haven’t yet this year.
My kids usually spend EVERY Friday night at my parent’s house during the summer and they take them to yard sales every Saturday morning. And yes, Grandma doesn’t tell them no to much LOL!!
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I love yard sales! Living in Florida I get to frequent them year-round!!!
Jenns last blog post..Nothing
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I love garage sales! It’s a good thing I live here in Michigan because if I lived in a warmer state with year-round sales, I would go broke! lol
Last weekend our neighborhood had a sale, and I scored Dora the Explorer tennis shoes for Kaitlyn for TEN CENTS, a vintage (70s) Fisher Price Garage for 25 cents, and a vintage (70s) Fisher Price Dollhouse for a dollar!
Elizabeths last blog post..For my U.K. Readers-summer Concert Ticket info
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
WOW, you got some great deals. I love garage sales too, but when I was working, I never got a chance to go. Since this leave, Hannah has become my garage sale buddy. We found some real treasures too, last week. Wish I could join you!!
Thanks for your support and very kind words. Means a lot.
XOXOX
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I am all about great finds and deals…sometimes to greater extremes than I would have known possible. I can’t think though of my best find…there have been so many!
Dad of Divass last blog post..WW#5 – Looking toward the divine
June 4th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I so need to go garage saleing (is that a word?) more…or at all! I have heard about the great deals you can get, but I don’t know why, I get the weirded out heebie jeebies whenever I think about getting out and roaming around on someone elses property. It’s a personal issue I have.
Stephs last blog post..Babies and Broken Bones
June 4th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I love garage sales! Though, since I shop at Goodwill pretty regularly, I don’t go as much as I used to. If I happen to be out and spot a sign, I do usually stop. It’s especially great with growing kids.
One of my best finds was several pairs of brand-new jeans for Jeffrey – for $1 each. Also, of course, clothes and shoes and winter boots and coats for the kids while they were growing up, and books, always books.
That The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy book looks familiar. We had/have that one. I don’t know if we ever got rid of it or if it’s packed away somewhere.
You’ve got me wanting to find some garage sales now.
Annas last blog post..Movie Night
June 5th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Awesome job on the finds!! I’m so jealous! I realy haven’t found any great deals yet. I’ve picked up quite a few clothes for Katie, but havne’t found much for Kevin. Maybe it’s because he is in 4-5′s and I think boys in those sizes wear out their clothes.
Jens last blog post..Wordless Wednesday ~ Can we go out?
June 5th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Awesome job on the finds!! I’m so jealous! I realy haven’t found any great deals yet. I\’ve picked up quite a few clothes for Katie, but haven’t found much for Kevin. Maybe it’s because he is in 4/5′s and I think boys in those sizes wear out their clothes quickly.
Jens last blog post..Wordless Wednesday ~ Can we go out?