Good Riddance
February 28th, 2007 by Fiddledeedee A word of warning if you’re ever driving with me, or behind me. Should I see a
handmade sign, inexplicably written in pencil, with miniature letters that spell “Garage Sale” so small that any naked eye should never be able to spot it traveling faster than 5 mph, I’m going to come to a screeching stop. I will then throw my car into reverse and flip it around, Dukes of Hazard style, and head in the direction of before mentioned sign. Tailgating me on a Saturday morning is never a good idea. I’m a garage, rummage, yard sale junkie.
I cut my teeth on portable makeshift tables filled with old used tupperware. While other children were flying kites, or playing hopscotch, I was trailing my mother and grandmother at the local tag sale. I knew how to barter, trade, and bargain before I could count. I taught myself to crochet while attending an auction when I was 7. And yes, I was one of the bidders.
Both my mom and Nanny were antique collectors by nature, and wheeler/dealers by trade. They were truly amazing to watch. They could size up a deal, and communicate with each other almost telepathically to know the best strategy to procure the most excellent deal possible. The seller never knew what hit ‘um.
My mother had an antique store called “Good Riddance” while I was in high school. And continuing a tradition, I started my own business when I left the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. I would go to garage sales, auctions, and garbage piles to find cast off furniture for a few dollars. I then fixed it up and resold it for obscene prices at the world famous Rose Bowl Flea Market, or local trendy shops on Melrose. I had an absolute blast in this business. I needed to put this endeavor on a back burner after we left California and I began birthing babies.
Now I go to garage sales for fun. And to find kids clothes, books, and toys at bargain prices. The WFMW tip that I have is how to make the most of your valuable time while going to garage sales. In most cities, you can go online and get garage sale information from your local paper, by Thursday. I print out those sales that look promising and are in my vicinity. Then I take my spiral bound map of our city, and photocopy the pages in my area. I then can map out the addresses of the sales I want to “hit”, and I save precious time going from one to another, because I’m not just wandering around aimlessly. In my heyday, I would often attend 25 to 30 sales on a Saturday morning. I also was one of those despicable “early birds”, only I was of the polite variety who NEVER knocked on anyone’s door.
So, get out there on a Friday or Saturday morning and look for signs pointing in the general direction of a good sale. I think you’ll be amazed at the wonderful bargains you can find. You’ll also be horrified at some of the items garage salers consider “valuable.” Just make sure that you’re not too close to my car. You never know when I’m going to flip it into batmobile mode and leave a trail of fire in my wake. The early bird gets the worm, you know.
For more Works For Me Wednesday tips, head over to Shannon’s.
Posted in Works For Me Wednesday | 19 Comments »
February 28th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Funny! I do the same thing. My children even know to ask, “Will you take a nickel?”
February 28th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Love it! LA has a lot of great thrift stores that I have enjoyed exploring. One day I will map out a whole day of garage sale fun!
February 28th, 2007 at 8:20 am
That sounds just like me. I have a regular route that I hit every Saturday morning. On Thursday and Friday some will be open already by me and it doesn’t matter where I am going or if I have a meeting or appointment to go to, my car WILL be stopping at those garage sales. The deals are just too good to pass up. If I don’t stop I then wonder for the rest of the day if I might just have passed up the best deal ever!
February 28th, 2007 at 8:33 am
I used to love going out on Friday mornings – it wasn’t as crowded and I got first pick of the good stuff.
I haven’t gone the last two summers, but I’m hoping to start up again this year. My boys will just have to tag along and watch for good deals on toys.
February 28th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Great planning and organization, DeeDee. A lot better than my “drive aimlessly until you come across something” method.
Last summer my friend and I tried to perfect the “scoping a sale from the car” method becasue it got so doggone hot and we didn’t want to walk up driveways for no reason.
February 28th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Sounds like a plan…now if only I could have the car on Saturday and DH not have to work…. I’m bummed now!
February 28th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Fellow garage sale lover here. I used to map it out similar to your method, until I realized I had so much junk already, I needed to start having garage sales myself to declutter. I had to stop. Plus, it’s still winter up here in Indiana. Garage sales won’t start up again until May. In the meantime, in spite of my excessive “stuff,” I confess that I do slip on over to Goodwill from time to time. It’s kind of like an ongoing garage sale and satisfies the urge to scrounge.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:48 am
I have recently been kicking around the idea of refurbishing old sale furniture to sell at our weekly city Market. But I was wondering if it really could be profitable. I’m so glad to hear it was successful for you. I think you just landed me the perfect, flexible part time job!
February 28th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Oh, I NEED to have a garage sale! I hate all the time and energy it takes, but I would love to just dejunk while making a buck or 100…
February 28th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I love garage selling, thrift stores…my last great find was a brand new, never used bread machine for $14.00! I love it.
Hugs to you and thanks!
February 28th, 2007 at 11:59 am
So when are we going! I am dangerous at garage sales, hubby usually has this deep moan if I say I am going “garage sale shopping” =)
February 28th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
I have my favorite streets here in our little town, and any Friday I get a chance, I’m cruising up and down, looking for those Dayglo signs.
Often when we turn down an unfamiliar street, my 3-year-old asks, “Momma, we go gwage sale?” Even when it’s not a Friday.
February 28th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
I kind of gave up on garage sales when I started having a car full of car seats. Jump in and jump out turned into seatbelt craziness and I lost my nack. Instead I head to my favorite thrift shop several times a week–the best part is I work part time for a antique dealer/ appraiser and can sell the finds that aren’t useful to me through her. I am looking forward to the carseat free days ahead when I can hop in the car and go sale to sale again.
February 28th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
oh no… another person who loves garage-saling as much as I do!
February 28th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Great!!! My 9 year old and I love to do this!!! We use to live in Duncan, Ok. and during the summer the ENTIRE town has a garage sale one weekend…it is fabulous!!
February 28th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Garage sales have become increasingly tough for me to drag two relucant kids in and out of the car. In Colorado, we have these amazing baby sales–where moms clubs get together and sell literally thousands of baby items. In fact, I’m hitting my first one on Saturday to buy all their summer clothing!
March 1st, 2007 at 10:38 am
I dream of being a true garage sale junky. I usually hit one good one a season. (In Nebraska we don’t generally have them year round…for obvious reasons.)
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:03 pm
We were helping my brother & family move several years ago, and suddenly my sister-in-law is missing. She stopped enroute to our 200-mile destination at–you guessed it–a garage sale. Packed U-Haul, cramped van, and four kids, and she’s following garage sale signs.
March 17th, 2007 at 1:12 am
Oh I love garage sales. Where I live though in a very small community 10 garage sales on a Sat morning is a good day! I would love to be able to hit 30…wow I’m in shock. That would be awesome!!
Laura