Day 61: 10 Tips on Finding Garage Sale Deals
What: Garage Sale Deals
Why: Garage sales are great places to find great deals – but do you have a hard time finding those deals? Do end up just taking more home junk, causing you to need your own garage sale? Here are 10 tips on how to find the best deals at garage sales.
How:
1. Know your price range and what an item should go for. Knowing what is a “good deal”, is the best place to start. This may take some research, but it will save you money in the end.
2. Enlist a shopping buddy! Usually it just takes one prompting, but having a friend to walk and talk with, and someone to get a second opinion from, is important.
3. Look for the garage sales that are area or city wide. Parking and being able to walk to each sale within a neighborhood, is much more enjoyable, than getting out of the car 25 times.
4. Make a list of what you are looking for. Do not buy something just because it is a good deal. With a list, this prevents buying what you do not need and prevents clutter from filling your own home.
5. Look for items you could resell. This may seem odd, but someone may not realize what they have. Keeping an eye out for those “steal of a deal” items, may be worth it, when you can end up selling it for much more.
6. Look for items you can repurpose. DIY may be daunting to some, but to others, repurposing an item is a hobby. Look for old frames, windows, old wood, etc. at garage sales!
7. Look for older homes if you are looking for antiques or collectibles. Older homes often carry those retro, vintage, “old school” items. You will probably not find antiques in a newer neighborhood.
8. Outdoor equipment (such as camping), tools, and furniture are always “given” items at garage sales. Instead of buying new, why not wait for garage sales to see if you can get the item at over half the cost?
9. Know what will fit where. Take measurements of the area you want to fill, prior to leaving. This also applies for wall art. Clutter happens when we think we need something, but in the end, have no room or purpose for it.
10. Have fun, but be careful. Garage sales are fun – especially when you have the morning or day to just browse with no agenda on your mind. Be mindful that some are looking to make a lot of money off their sales and their prices reflect it. Don’t let someone “steal” your money when you think you are getting a “steal of a deal.” Negotiate with the seller, if needed.
Confession of the Day: The old dart board in the picture above, we snatched up for $5.00 at a garage sale. I have a great appreciation for things of old (I enjoy going to those older homes to look at antiques), and an old-school dart board was a perfect addition to an unfinished basement. Garage sales can be dangerous because many are too quick to buy a good deal, when the first question we should ask is “do I need it?” Garage sales help rid others of the things they no longer need, but then we may end up cluttering our homes up with their clutter. Garage sales are successful when we can all control our need to consume more and more – live with the mindset of living with less.
