The weather’s getting warmer, robins are singing their happy morning song, and daffodils are poking their pretty heads out of the ground.  Yes, my friends, this is the glorious time of year when thousands of people across America start to get rid of their stuff.  What does this mean to you and me?  It means that with a good eye and some persistence, we can find some terrific bargains that will ease the strain on our wallets.

If you think shopping at yard sales means sifting through polyester clothing and eight-track tapes of the Bee Gees greatest hits, never fear, there are true treasures to be found at yard sales.  You will probably have to do a little bit of hunting to find those gems, but be patient – it’s worth it.

Some items found at yard sales are new or nearly new.  My mother-in-law bought my three-year-old daughter a bag full of name-brand clothing for only twenty-five dollars!  The really great thing is that these clothes had only been worn once!

Before the Shopping Begins

Before you embark on your yard sale shopping spree, it’s important to have a plan.  The beauty of shopping at yard sales is that, with proper planning and restraint, they should help the budget – not destroy it.  Remember, the more money you save on buying things that you need, the more money you can put toward paying off that nasty credit card debt!  Here are some tips to follow:

•    What do you really need? Keep a pencil and paper handy to jot down things that you need to buy.  When you go yard sale shopping, you will have your list to keep you focused.

•    Set a budget. How much money do you have to spend?  Set a budget and then get that much money in cash.  Plan a little extra money for those surprise treasures that pop up.  After all, you never know when you might come across that special something you’ve been looking for.

•    Plan Your Route. With the price of gas nearing four dollars per gallon, you don’t want to drive aimlessly around looking for yard sale signs.  Get out your local newspaper and see where the good sales are.  Look for “neighborhood”, or “block” sales to get a good selection without a lot of driving.  Also, look for ads that list items you need.  If you are looking for antique furniture, you don’t want to shop at locations that are getting rid of all their baby paraphernalia.

It’s Shopping Day!

Get armed and ready with your list, some cash, and a tote bag to hold your treasures while you shop.  Here are some shopping day tips:

•    Dress comfortably. You don’t want your hunt to end early because a cold wind comes along and you left your jacket at home.  Also, make sure you have comfortable shoes – yard sale shopping isn’t the time to wear three-inch heels!

•    Get there first. The best stuff goes fast.  If there’s a sale that has items you need, go there first.  The old saying “The early bird catches the worm” definitely applies here.

•    And get there last! Okay, I know what I just said about the bird and the worm; but the bird that gets to the yard sale last gets some leftover worms really cheap!  There may not be a whole lot left at the end of the day, but that’s when the really great bargains are.

•    Don’t be afraid to haggle. Let’s face it, people have yard sales to get rid of stuff.  They don’t want to haul everything back inside at the end of the day.  If the price for something seems a little high to you, it doesn’t hurt to offer a lower price.

•    Thoroughly check items. Inspect your treasures for any damage that might not be noticeable at first glance.  You don’t want to get home and find out that you paid too much money for damaged goods.

•    Don’t get carried away! Sometimes, okay – oftentimes, it’s easy to get carried away with the great deals at yard sales.  You end up with stuff that looked great in the “moment”, but when you get home you realize that it’s the wrong color, shape, size, or decade for such items, and you end up putting it up for sale at your next yard sale.  Stick to your list!

Remember, yard sales are a great way to save money.  Calculate how much money you save by buying stuff at garage sales instead of at full-priced stores. Warning: Don’t use that savings to buy more stuff! Put your money to good use: pay off debt, invest it, or put it into a rainy day fund. However, you might want to save a little bit of money for your next shopping spree, just in case you come across an eight-track tape of the Bee Gees greatest hits.

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