Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
You can count on one thing for sure during the summer on the weekends. Someone, somewhere is having a yard sale. Whether you’re a casual shopper or have years of experiences of rocking yard sales and taking names, there are always more ways to save! Here are some of my favorite strategies to own the yard sales you visit this summer.
Go Digital
Believe it or not, the internet can really be your friend when it comes to yard sales. Instead of aimlessly cruising the block, begin with Craigslist to check listings near you. You’ll have to look under the “For Sale” tab and then click on “Garage Sales.” Many smart sellers will have listings of what’s available and even pictures. You can also choose to join Garage Sale groups on Facebook. Simply search the name of your city or county along with Garage Sale Group and see what turns up or ask your friends online if there are groups they are aware of. In these semi-private forums, people post items they’re looking to sell and you can even mention that you’re in search of a particular find. It’s a great way to hit the sales without leaving your couch. There’s even an app (or several) for that! Search for Garage Sale or Yard Sale in your respective app marketplace to find the one that best fits your needs.
Never Buy These Things Used
There are plenty of items I’d encourage you to purchase used – most furniture, exercise equipment, clothes, and household goods top the list. However, there are some expenses that are better made new. You may even have a few items you’d like to include on my list, but here’s what I never purchased used.
- Car seats: Believe it or not, they can expire or have a recall issued on them. Unless you’re able to verify both, skip it. This goes for cribs, carriers, and other infant items, too.
- Mattresses: Bedbugs aside, this is just too private of an item to buy if someone else has slept on it.
- Makeup: Unless you can see that an item is factory sealed and that it’s not expired (most makeup actually has expiration dates printed on it), then skip it.
- Intimate wear and swimsuits: No reasons necessary beyond the obvious.
- Bicycle Helmets: Just like car seats, bike helmets have a life span. You need to protect your brain well when you ride!
An honorable mention might be made to anything cloth, especially if you have allergies sensitive to fragrances that you can’t remove.
Take a Hit List
Yard sales offer great temptation to buy items we don’t need, simply because they’re on sale. Write a rough list of items you’re actually looking for before you leave. This guideline will help you stay on track and keep from falling into the trap of buying an item that you don’t have room for or even don’t need. I’d also recommend taking a specific cash budget with you; primarily because most sellers only take cash but also to put a boundary on your spending. If you’re going to purchase anything, think through precisely where you’ll store it at home. You don’t want to have to have a yard sale to sell all of your great yard sale finds.
Know Your Measurements
If you’re in the market for a large item, be sure you both take measurements at home for what fits in your space. Write down those dimensions and bring your tape measure with you, too. This will keep you from having a grand “Will it or won’t it fit?” debate and make better use of your time.
Don’t Be Afraid to Haggle and Wait
Sometimes it feels bold to ask for a lower price; however, yard salers are usually more concerned with eliminating their clutter and making a little mad money than a high profit margin. Don’t be ridiculously offensive but if you think it’s a fair price, don’t be afraid to haggle a little. No yard saler worth their salt will be offended and you might be able to strike a price that fits both of your needs. Your best tool in making a deal might we walking away, too. Ask what time the sale is over and at the end of the day, come back and see if the owner would be willing to take a lower dollar amount for your item. In fact, the very best times to hit yard sales include the minute they open (before things are picked over) and a few minutes before they close (when sellers are more likely to deal).
Yard sales can both be great fun and a way to get an item you’ve been longing for on the cheap! Be smart about the way you shop and use these strategies to save every single time.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
