Frugal Living--Yard Sales Buying and Selling

Yard sales (or garage sales as we call them in mylearned.Put up signs. The newspaper goofed the
part of Texas)weekend of our sale and left
are a wonderful frugal source for almost anything youout all that week's yard sales. So we had to depend
need.on our signs.
They can also be a wonderful, frugal source of extraPut as many out as you can. Find out ahead of time
moneywhat kind of
almost any time you need it.When shopping at yardordinances your town has about placement.Take the
sales, it's important to remember thattime to make your signs...we bought ours and about
most things you buy are not going to be in "new"halfway through the first morning, we noticed that we
condition, althoughweren't getting
there are times when you will find items that areany customers. So we checked out our signs--and
brand new, inthey were gone!
the box. And at a much lower price than in theWe put out more and the customers started coming
store.Most yard sales have lots of clothes for sale. Butagain. But it
if you arewas costly.And when you make your signs, be sure
willing to take a closer look, you may find tons ofto make them sturdy enough
treasures.to stand up in the wind and also be sure your lettering
The other day I found a shiny cookie sheet in a boxis large enough
of "freebies"!to be seen by people driving by in cars. I think a large
I was thrilled and so was my son, who didn't havearrow pointing
one!My grandchildren have tons of books, most ofin the direction they need to go is helpful.Be sure to
which have beenplainly mark your items. It will save you lots of time
bought at yard sales. And all were in great conditionduring the sale if you don't have to talk to each
and didn'tcustomer about the
cost over 50 cents apiece. I keep a lookout forprice of every item. If you aren't sure what prices to
seasonal itemsask, it might help
for kids such as coloring books, little stuffed animals,to go out to some yard salesyourself in the weeks
etc. Thenbefore your sale and
when Valentine's, Halloween or other holidays rollcheck out what others are asking for items.If you
around, wereally want to get rid of something, be willing to
send the grandchildren a package filled with neat stuffnegotiate on the
for veryprice. By the same token, if you really want to get a
little cash.This summer I am also watching forcertain amount,
"new-in-the-box" toys forbe willing to say no when someone asks for a price
children of all ages. In December, I'm going to sendreduction.When your yard sale is over, if you are lucky,
them withyou have space to store the
my son (who is in the Texas National Guard) to theirleftovers until next time you need to hold a sale.
annualHowever, if you're not
Toy Drive. But almost every community has someone of the "lucky" ones, consider donating your items
sort of toyto the local
drive at Christmas time. This way, I will already haveGoodwill box.Helping you live the good life...on a
my contributionsbudget!
and won't need to go out and spend more moneyCyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2
during the holidayAnother"
season.Yard sales are a great way to make somebi-weekly e-newsletter and founder of the website of
extra money, also. Plus,the same name.
you can get rid of unwanted items at the same time.Visit to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking
My daughterbook. Subscribe to the e-newsletter and receive the
and I recently held a sale and here are some of thefree e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".
things we