If you’re anything like me, you try REALL
Y HARD to save some extra money here and there.
Cut your husband and you baby’s hair. Check.
Shop the buy one get one sales at Publix. Check.
Get rid of Cable TV. Check.
Now that spring is fully underway and summer is pretty much upon us, tis the season for yard sales! Let me tell you, yard sales, especially now that I’m a mom, are one of my “hobbies” on Saturdays. I love a good yard sale!
Baby clothes, toys, supplies, etc. all DEEPLY discounted. I’m talking at least 75% off if you hit the right sales.
But sometimes you stumble across a sale that isn’t too good: overpriced, few items, NOT gently used materials. Unfortunately, you do need to weed these types of sales out.
Luckily, because I’m a yard sale junkie, I’ve got some tips to share that will help you make the most of your time:
Tip #1 Search for the right sales
There’s nothing worse than waking up early and getting pump to find those treasures only to be disappointed by the lack of quality at a yard sale. While sometimes it is a “luck of the draw,” you can be smart about which sales you go to.
If you’re looking for a lot of children items, prioritize sales that are in neighborhoods where a lot of children live. I’ve found a TON of great baby and kid items that were HIGHLY discounted in neighborhoods like this.
Keep your eyes peeled for yard signs at the entrance of those neighborhoods as you’re driving across town.
You can also join the local Facebook groups where people post about their upcoming yard sale. Many times they will post pictures of their most popular items so you can get a sense of what they are selling. This is also a great opportunity for you to ask specific questions to the seller (e.g., what types of children items they have, sizes of clothing, if the items are gently used or loved way too much, etc.) so you’re less likely to waste your time going to a sale that isn’t worth it for you.
Do your homework ahead of time and plan accordingly.
Tip #2 Hit up the multi-family sales
Work smarter, not harder here people! Definitely follow Tip #1 but also hit up the yard sales that are multi-family or are the neighborhood yard sales.
Talk about a one stop shop! I’ve been to multi-family or neighborhood sales where I’ve scored BIG, and I didn’t have to waste time driving far.
This is definitely the smart way to shop so keep a look out for those multi-family or neighborhood sales!
Tip #3 Get started early
The saying “the early bird gets the worm” is so true, especially for garage sales!
We all know that the good stuff gets purchased first at garage sales. Plan to wake up extra early on Saturdays and hit the most promising garage sale first.
Like I said above, you’ll need to do your homework first to determine which sale to start with and what time you need to get there. A lot of sales start at 6:00 a.m. , some start closer to 7:00 a.m.
While 6:00 a.m. may seem daunting to many of you, the prize is in the hunt. And remember, the Alabama heat gets started early in the morning so the earlier you’re out, the better off you’ll be.
Grab your coffee, head out the door, and enjoy the thrill of the hunt!
Tip #4 Don’t be afraid to negotiate
A lot of people are timid of negotiating at garage sales, but don’t be. Most people expect that their customers are going to negotiate the prices of some of their items.
If negotiating seems daunting, watch a few episodes of “American Pickers” and you’ll feel like a pro.
It can go something like this:
“How much is this item?”
“It’s $5.”
“Would you take $3 for it?”
It really is easy, and the worst thing that could happen is that the owner says “no.”
Also consider bundling. Let’s say you’ve grabbed a handful of items that, when added up, equal $25. You could say, “Will you take $20 for this pile?”
Again, the worst thing that could happen is that the owner says “no.” The best thing that could happen is that they agree to your bundle price.
My husband and I have both negotiated and bundled and, majority of the time, we’ve come out on top. Remember that these owners are having a yard sale because they want to get rid of their stuff, and they’d rather have that $20 (instead of the $25) than to keep their unused stuff in their garage.
Remember, search for the right sales, hit up the multi-family sales, get started early, and don’t be afraid to negotiate.
The thrill is in the hunt.
