Do you go to garage/yard sales??

[Dan's*Girl]

My sitter and I were talking today about looking for kids outdoor toys and she suggested i try the local garage/yard sales. When I said I hadnt thought of that she said she thought everyone went to them.;)

Ive helped my mom have them before but ive never really gone to them on my own.

So now im curious.....

Do you go?
Do you plan before hand?
Do you look for anything in particular?
What was your best deal?


THANKS LADIES!

[Rose]

No, I don't like them.

[jennylou]

Yes I go to them. :)

Sometimes I plan out ahead if that's my goal for the day. Other times I just randomly stop for sales that look interesting.

Baby clothes for DD. Items I need around the house (last year, I found a twin headboard/footboard as well as a glider).

Best deal? Hmmm, I got the glider for $25 which was way cheaper than if I'd bought brand new.
.
ETA: I stopped at one today while walking DD and a cousin's DD.

[TX Sweetheart]

Haven't been to one since I was a kid... my mom used to go to ones that were in the neighborhood (the lady across the street had them frequently).

[sparkle&shine]

Gosh I can't remember the last time I went looking for one. I have had a few and made pretty good money!

I was thinking of going and looking for outdoor kids toys using garage sales. It's not really 'garage sale season' here anymore though - way too hot.

[littlelove8138]

Do you go? yes when i visit my mom! haven't really found any down were i live that i like to go to.

Do you plan before hand? yes with maps and everything

Do you look for anything in particular? yes and no, like this weekend i was looking for a used blender for work. but normally my mom just goes to look and shop.
What was your best deal? not sure i got the blender for $2 after checking that it worked. :)

[twinnyme]

No, but just because I'm not that organized to do so. But you can find some good toy deals.

Growing up in Queens, my father used to go every weekend when I was young. He'd take us most times and mapped it all out and planned ahead. I used to love it. We used to buy him gifts sometimes related to garage saling, such as special maps and write-on, wipe-off pens, etc.

Once when he visited us a few months after DD was born, he and I went out alone for a special few hours of garage sale-ing together and found a bunch of toys for DD. :)

[andrew&shannah]

I go to our yearly neighborhood yard sale but that is about it. It is a great place to find things for children. This year, we found a pack n play, bouncy seat, and 2 child gates that were all brand new.

I definitely decide what I am looking for in advance. If I stumble upon other items, that is great but I always one or two things that are my goal to purchase.
I always go early too. I wouldn't do this at someone's home but it is sort of understood at this particular yard sale that it starts at 6:30 vs the stated 8am.

[PinkMartini]

Don't go, although if DH would go with me, I would... DH calls them junk sales :rolleyes: so I can't get him to go with me.

[tenofcups]

Nope, I have no interest in other people's junk. Dh, on the other hand, is the kind to pick up things people have left on their sidewalk as trash. Makes for some "interesting" conversations in our house :rolleyes:

[shopaholic]

I will go with bf if its spur of the moment and looks interesting. We never head out specifically to go to sales.

[Sophia]

No. I don't get up early enough for it to be worthwhile, and I hate to use that much gas driving around to them.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

We go around our 'hoods. ;) We both like kitsch, and have found some pretty cool stuff. Like a really old wooden school desk, an eight-track player and some great eight-tracks... And it's a much more economical way for me to feed my paperback habit!

[ManteoChik]

No, I don't go to them.

For starters, I don't wake up early enough....and on top of that I just don't really have anything that I *need* so much that would make me want to get up and dig through people's stuff.

I totally understand that you can find some really great things at them, but its just not for me.

[penybryn]

yes! yes! yes!
Where else can you give your kid a buck and they are happy all day!

We also have our own every other year and resell all those fun "treasures".

When my kids were little, I bought tons of toys at yard sales. As long as they could go through the dishwasher, I loved them.

[laura]

No, I don't. I don't like "stuff" and I can't think of anything else I would want that I would find a preferable version of at a garage sale, vs. a store.

[Kristeen]

We go to garage sales frequently. DH collects sports cards and dreams of stumbling onto a Michael Jordan rookie card or a '53 Mantle. I go becuase DH makes me, I'm not a huge huge fan but have warmed up to the idea.

Do you plan before hand? Yes, but we have been known to drop in if DH gets a divining rod feeling about a card.

Do you look for anything in particular? Cards for DH. Anything else is incidental.

What was your best deal? We got a cord for an electrical appliance that we priced at Best Buy earlier that day at around $20 for 25c. DH has yet to hit the motherload of baseball cards he dreams of.

[kindermom]

Do you go? Yep. But really only to our twice yearly community sale. I am too lazy to actually hunt them out.
Do you plan before hand? Not really. I have an idea of what I am looking for before I go and I wake up early. That is about it.
Do you look for anything in particular? I am all about kids toys and books. Other than that, not really interested.
What was your best deal? This past round I spent waay too much but got great deals. I bought a total of 30 early reader and board books for $0.25 each (usually $3-8 each), 9 Elmo DVDs for $3 each (usually $15 each), and a plush rocking horse that neighs for $5 (usually $100+). Plus a few other things. Those were my best deals though.

Because I am usually looking for specific things, I prefer Craig's List to garage sales.

[imagirliegirl]

I don't. The thought of having something that used to belong to someone else sort of grosses me out. :o

[lml41981]

I've tried to go to them before, but I never find anything that isn't junky... I refuse to pay even a little amount of money for a toy or item of clothing that looks worn out.

I'll go to consignment sales, but I generally don't even bother looking at toys...just clothing.

[artist]

Yes, I go to them sometimes and find them fun!

I don't plan ahead. I usually just happen to drive past them and if they look interesting, I might stop. A neighborhood I used to live in had TONS of yard sales ALL the time. The telephone poles were covered with signs. One day I made it into a game, and tried to go to every single one, but all I did was follow the signs. It was still a totally spontaneous last minute decision.

Generally I am never looking for something specific. That would take all the fun out of it. The whole fun of them for me is that they be spontaneous, that anything I might buy is some random thing that is a "discovery", and that even if I don't buy a thing, it is still at least something that doesn't cost me money, but was enjoyable nonetheless. It's also outdoors.


Interesting Finds Over The Years:

2 very nice Pottery Barn espresso cups & saucers - $3?
KRUPS Espresso Machine used only a couple times - $10
Black metal magazine rack with a current magazine - $3
2 old antique radios - $50?
Yard Tools (ie: shovel) - $5?


I've been complimented on some of my yard sale finds. I also have fun at antique stores, clothing thrift stores, used book stores, etc.


ETA:
Sometimes you can find really nice stuff if you go to yard sales in the super yuppie neighborhoods. Aside from the fact that the people having the sales are rich and their stuff is fancy, often they just want to get rid of nice stuff that they have either barely ever used or never used, yet often the price is still pretty cheap like at any other yard sale.

[trestlegirl]

Yes, sometimes - I go to the ones within walking distance in my neighborhood, or stop if I see something interesting while I'm out running errands. I used to go to thrift stores a lot too (I have some *fantastic* mid-century modern chairs that I found for $10!!), but there aren't any good ones in the area where I live now.

The best deal I ever got at a garage sale was a set of cast iron patio furniture (table and two chairs) for $5. I have also bought vintage jewelry, purses, some silver serving pieces, and a lot of wooden picture frames that I have refinished. Garage sales are also great for finding stuff that can be repurposed into art projects.

[Happy1]

I love searching garage sales for great finds. Sometimes I go and don't find a thing but it's the times when I find a great deal that makes it all worth it.

I think my best deal was the poofy slip/skirt to go beneath my wedding dress. My mom had made my dress and we didn't want to have to mess with her having to layer tulle. We just happened across a rummage sale literally 2 weeks before the wedding where a lady was getting rid of hers. She sold it to me for $3 and it just happened to be the perfect size. We cut a few layers of tulle out of it to make it less poofy (I wanted poofy but not quite that poofy) and it turned out great!!

I also bought an entire cardboard box full of vintage sheet music for $10 for the whole thing. And, when I moved out on my own for the first time, a complete set of dishes (enough to serve 8 with bowls, large plates, little plates, mugs and saucers) for $5. We still use the set to this day because they're so nice.

Other than that, I find a ton of clothes, baby stuff and kids toys. I just make sure I disinfect/wash everything when I bring it home and I've never been let down.

I also frequent the local second hand stores (St. Vincent de Paul, etc.). I have 2 jewelry boxes full of vintage rings, necklaces and pins I've found there for super cheap (about $1-$3 each). Not to mention the occassional decorating item or piece of furniture. I buy a lot of interesting glass or ceramic bowls that I use to take food items to places. That way if they accidentally get broken or forgotten, no big deal. And I get compliments on the unique dishes all the time.

Nikki :D

[May27JnJ]

We have two big neighborhoods who are having Yard Sales on Sat! I'm going to both! I love them! You can really find good stuff sometimes. I got a solid oak kitchen table at a yard sale for $40.

I also like selling stuff. We're having a yard sale in June with a bunch of family members.

[Ericka_Jarett]

I will glance if I am going by one. If something catches my eye I will stop.

I will go to the flea market where they sell new and old things.

This past weekend my mom was going by a yard sale and they had a walker for my DS. Mom got it for $5 and brought it home. I sprayed it with cleaner and she washed the seat and it looks like new, no rips or anything. DS loves it

[Missy2U]

Do you go?
Absolutely. That's one thing my husband and I love to do on the weekends when it's nice - we get up, get the newspapers, grab some coffee, check the horses, stop at the track, and then head out around the area and just look for garage sale signs. We LOVE it. It's kind of a "date" kinda thing if that makes any sense.

Do you plan before hand?
Plan to go out? No, it's usually a spur of the moment kinda thing.

Do you look for anything in particular?
Not really - we just kinda "browse" - if something catches our eye, cool!

What was your best deal?
God - hard to say. We got a crank record player that looks just like this (http://www.burchardgalleries.com/auctions/1999/jul2599/l060.jpg) but the cabinet is wood, not wicker - we got that for $5 and it was in pieces - the guy had stripped it, but never put it back together. Husband put it together, stained it, and now it's in our bay window in our dining room.

[lauren f s]

I love a good garage sale! I never go out looking for one, but when we're out on the weekends and pass a sign, DH & I will usually drive by and check it out. We live near very nice homes and they tend to have nicer things at their garage sales than most others. I've found amazing deals on books and toys for my kids. I'm very picky about what I buy, but if it can be cleaned up, I'll get it. I found a Dirt Devil toy vacuum for DD, it had been used only a handful of times, that cost $5. They sell for close to $30! You can't beat that!

[DallasLady]

No, I don't go to them. It's the one thing that I'm a snob about.

[MrsD108]

DH & I have stopped at random but it is never planned.
I love yard sales in the summer because I have found some great books.

My MIL had a yard sale last year and I came over to help her. Funny thing is that at my wedding she really wanted one of our centerpieces but it was in her yard sale for $1.00.:rolleyes:

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

IMO, garage saling is just about the ultimate "green" thing you can do. :)

[julietchicago]

I don't mind going to garage sales. I usually go w/ my mom since she really enjoys it.

We are actually getting ready to have our own garage sale to get rid of a bunch of crap we don't use anymore & lots of furniture. Time to make room for baby!

[gayle]

I love them. I mostly look for Vintage clothing and fabric that I can use for my doll projects. I have found some really unusual stuff, super cheap.

[dionysia]

I love garage sales. We usually do plan ahead in terms of which ones to hit. We tend to focus on more wealthy towns and those advertising baby/kid gear and antiques.

My moms' group just had our annual sale a few weeks ago. Our group (a non-profit) made over $1300 (people donated what they wanted to be sold) and I scored some great things, like a huge bag of Avent bottles for $1 (I sterilized them before using), an HP Scanner for free (it was left over after the sale), and Dionysios got the original Civ game for $1. ;) After the sale, everything left over were up for grabs for free. We posted on Freecycle to 'come and get it!'

Di

[Lauren23]

I've been to a few, I don't do it regularly though. I mostly like antiques. We go to a charity yard sale that is at a local park every year. One year FH got a printer that was practically brand new for $3! That was probably our best find.

[cynder]

Do you go?
Yes! Ever since I went with a friend to a Mother's Consignment Sale, I am hooked. Best place to buy toys, yard toys, books, CD for my kid and spend so little. I would say that 75% of DS's toys are used and the other 25% are gifts so I rarely buy DS a "new" toy. I also love the fact that instead of buying new plastic, I am reusing plastic.

Do you plan before hand?
I only go to consignment sales so I don't go hunting. I am on their listservs so I know when they are and they are in high income areas so the donated items are in great condition. I learned to get there early, to go without DS and to hit the big ticket item(strollers, yard toys, ride ons, etc) areas first because those are the best deals and only a few items. Then I hit the book section. Usually they bundle 5 books in a ziploc for a buck. Can't get that at Barnes and Noble.

Do you look for anything in particular?
Sometimes. It helps reign you in otherwise you will end up with a lot of other people's junk b/c it is a good deal. I don't really get clothes unless it is in excellent condition and a brand name item that I normally would not get. I once got a Janie and Jack jacket for $5 that a lot of people complimented me on.

What was your best deal?
Train table with entire train set in perfect condition for $60 (normally $130)

[Ohana]

Yep, I go to them, but I tend to go to the big neighborhood ones where you can hit a dozen sales within a few blocks. It's too much work to drive around to a few isolated sales.

Usually, I'm looking for kids' clothes, Halloween costumes, books, and toys.

If our house wasn't so isolated, I'd throw a huge garage sale to get rid of all the baby stuff we have cluttering up our house.

[Winter Biscuit]

I personally don't go to them because I'm usually at work on Friday mornings (by Saturday morning, most of the good stuff is gone so I don't bother getting up ;)) We live in a nicer subdivision where families will sell pretty good stuff (e.g. seldom-used kids toys, name brand clothing, etc.) but I haven't personally bought anything at a sale yet. When I drive by sales, I do keep my eyes out for larger items like outdoor toys -- wagons, sand/water tables, things like that.

I have HAD a couple garage sales though - and have made a pretty penny selling my junk :) In fact, I'm planning to have one next spring and get rid of all my baby gear and clothes that I don't need anymore.

My MIL does go to them, and the best deal she found for us was a play kitchen for my DD that was in excellent shape. We had been looking at play kitchens but didn't like anything we saw at the stores or online. MIL found exactly what I was looking for at a garage sale, in perfect condition. We cleaned and santized it really well, and it was good as new. Oh, and we paid more than $150 less than what we would have paid if we had bought it brand new. ;)

[DisneyGirl]

I have never in my life been to a yard sale nor have I ever been to a resale shop. I think I would go if it weren't for DH being a pain about them..He thinks because he makes X amount of money we can afford to buy whatever it is i am looking for brand new. Though, i am about to blow him off and go to my local resale shop in hopes to find a infant travel swing for a good deal.

[coquelicot]

On a regular basis, no. But if there's one within walking distance in my neighborhood, I might go be nosy and see what they have. So I picked "other." If I ever get pregnant, though, I might be hitting them up for baby stuff.

[cocopop]

No, never.

[Jenyfer9]

Yes, I go. They are a great place to buy toys and books for my kids. I won't buy just anything at a garage sale, but plastic toys that are going to be out in my yard... why would I care about getting that sort of thing new?

[mindy75]

No, I'll admit it. I'll have a yard sale, but I won't shop at one. Just like I'll sell DD's clothes at a consignment shop, but I won't buy anything there. And I hate, hate, hate flea markets. When I was a kid, we did the bulk of our shopping at yard sales and second hand shops. Now, that I'm grown I'll pass. I know that's illogical, since you can get really good deals at places like that. But, I just can't do it anymore.

[NotDesperate]

I go to yard sales, but not often. In the summers I will look for the ads that specifically say "teacher yard sales" or something like that, since I am a teacher and could always use stuff.

If it is not a teacher sale, I will most likely be going to a neighborhood yard sale. I went to one this weekend and every street was lined with cars, it was crazy!

This Saturday when we went to that, I found a really great small wooden dresser for $15, and I got it for $10! It is perfect for a baby's room (no baby yet tho, haha). And I got a brand new vera bradley tote bag for $10!!!!

Yes I plan before hand by checking the papers.

[AttyGrl74]

Yes - although not habitually or methodically.

My 'burb has probably 30 per weekend. I usually will do a drive-by (without gats, of course). I generally only look for larger kids' type toys and backyard playground kind of equiptment.

My best buy - a Kelty hiking baby carrier and bike trailer for $50 - both were in great condition. New would have cost well over $400.

[jimmysgirl424]

I like yard sales! Great for finding books, for one thing. And I plan on hunting out a dresser for baby's room in the next few weeks.

I also love consignment shops. My favorite one is absolutely stuffed with baby and kid clothes, with many of the pieces still brand-new with tags.

[petdoc08]

I love em! Whenever my mom visits we spend all day browsing sales. We used to just drive around looking for them, but now with gas being so expensive we map out our best route.


My best buy of this season is a double kettler tricyle ("fully loaded") for $50!! It would have been around $250 new. It is perfect for Bella and her playgroup buddies (and hopefully a sibling)

[Brandles]

I go with a purpose. Last year, I was looking for a pair of jeans to cut the bottoms off and knit on a knitted cuff with fun fur. I like them and I'm looking for another pair this year.

Also...I tumble glass and make it into faux sea glass. I go to garage sales looking for cheap ceramic and glass to break. I cleaned up at one place where I spent $2.35 on two whole bags of colored glass (including 2 pitchers for 50c each!). ;)

[Lizard]

I love garage sales, flea markets, consignment shops... anywhere that I can save money. :) There are definitely some trashy sales, but you can find some awesome things at garage sales. MIL goes to them every weekend and sends us TONS of clothes for DD - everything is either brand new with tags or looks brand new, and she rarely pays more than a dime per item. Since DD now wakes up between 6 and 7, I plan on hitting as many as possible this summer! If anyone in the Omaha area wants to go, let me know. :D

[wendalah]

Sometimes, but I prefer flea markets and thrift shops, and I only go to look for vintage clothing/jewelry. My favorite yard sale purchase was a gorgeous pair of 1960s lace-up high heels in basically unworn condition--the owner of the house told me they used to belong to a Vegas stripper. Three bucks and I never got so many compliments on a pair of shoes!

[KrissyCat7]

Do you go? I used to but I havent been to one in years. Now that Im back in my hometown where garage sales seem pretty frequent, I am sure I will be going again.

Do you plan before hand? Usually I just happen to see one and stop.

Do you look for anything in particular? Nothing in particular. However, I love old jewelry and crystal.

What was your best deal? A whole set of good China for $20.

[onfire]

I "yardsaled" today! And got a ton of great baby clothes for very little $. I have never been a active yard sale seeker, but now that I am in the market for baby/kids things, I can't seem to get enough.

[MidwesternGal]

I never used to, but like a pp, I do for baby stuff.

I only buy the *nice* stuff--things that have barely been worn or maybe even still have tags on it when it comes to clothes.

Today I went because I wanted one of those little fold up strollers that are basicaly just a seat--found one in fab condition for $4. I also happened to find a Little Tikes tool work bench in prinsitine condition and got it for $15.

I don't normally buy myself anything though, and only stick to really nice stuff. I don't care if it's only 15 cents; if it looks like crap, why buy it at all? Paying $5 for a nice outfit is still cheaper than the 10-15 you'd pay in store.

[Liz]

Nope, I don't go.

[Lizard]

We only went to 1 garage sale yesterday, and it was a coworker of DH's... I bought a full outfit for DD complete with hat for $1, and a push walker for a friend of mine for $1. Both were like-new. Garage sales are JUST starting to happen around here, now that the weather's better... can't wait to hit more!

[sunshineab622]

Do you go? yes
Do you plan before hand? sometimes
Do you look for anything in particular? baby stuff
What was your best deal? too many to name


I love paying cheaper prices for stuff ... no one knows where it came from unless you tell them

[Hello Kitty]

No, I really don't go to them. Once a year, there's a neighborhood sale, and DH and I will go around looking for tools, but it's generally just a nice walk in a nice neighborhood. The best deal I ever saw was my identical cast iron sink I purchased new for $170 for sale for $1. I almost bought it just to have an extra. ;)

I do go to thrift stores (one particular Salvation Army in Chicago) when the seasons change. I like getting clothes super cheap and in like new condition. I also like the anonymity of it - it's big and fairly quiet, so like PPs, no one really knows unless I tell them.

[mel7dog]

I don't go normally, but if there is something I am looking for I would.

[nettreefrog]

Over here, they are called stoop sales -- and heck yea I love them! It isn't that I like to pick up stuff at them ... I actually appreciate seeing people parting with their junk. Most are just curiosities too -- but if there are antiques, I will give it a once over...

[mgrace]

I don't go. I went to a few with a friend (I was just along for the ride) and everything was really junky. I'm always amazed when people find good deals.

[1_mommy]

i used to go to them when i lived in a different town that was much smaller. i havn't been to one in atleast 10 years.

we had 2 yard sales last year

[msnicolea]

LOVE yard/garage/rummage sales. LOVE.