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10 Tips for a Successful Day of
Yard Sale Shopping
by Nancy Twigg
Yard sale season is now in full swing. For the true bargain hunter,
nothing is more exhilarating than coming home from a day of garage sale
shopping with a trunk full of steals and deals. Here are some tips for
making your yard sale shopping trip as pleasant and profitable as
possible.
Even if you don't get the newspaper every day, you'll probably want to
buy or borrow one the day before your shopping trip. Although the online
versions of most major newspapers have yard sale listings, the most
complete listings are usually found in your newspaper's Classified
section.
You want to spend the majority of your time actually finding bargains,
not driving all over town. Use the classified ads and a map to locate
the areas that have the most sales. Concentrate on hitting all the sales
in those areas.
A computer program for making maps (such as Rand McNally's Street
Finder) comes in very handy for planning your yard sale route. But even
if you don't have this program, you can still use a city map or even an
online map service such as Yahoo! Maps to locate sales and get
directions.
Your yard sale shopping experience will be more pleasant if you are
comfortable. Wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes.
Sunscreen and a hat can also be helpful if you'll be out in the sun for
long periods. And don't forget to hit the bathroom before you leave the
house!
To keep your hunger and thirst at bay, take along a small cooler with
easy-to-eat snacks and plenty to drink. Of course you could make a quick
stop at a fast-food drive-thru when your stomach starts to growl, but
that would take time away from bargain-hunting.
Rather than carrying your purse, you may want to carry just your money
and any essentials in a fanny-pack or small change purse you can put in
your pocket. This leaves your hands free to inspect the merchandise and
also frees you from worrying about your purse being stolen.
Negotiating is the name of the game. Most sellers are willing to deal as
long as you are fair with them. Asking the seller to take $2 for an item
that is marked $20 is pushing your luck; however, the seller may be more
than willing to sell the item for $15 or even $10, depending how late in
the day it is.
Going to yard sales early in the day (as soon as the sales open) has the
advantage of getting the best selection. If you are looking for a
big-ticket item such as furniture or electronics, you'll probably have
to go early. But going later in the day has its advantages, too.
Sometimes sellers are willing to practically give their stuff away
rather than pack it up and carry it back in their homes.
Be sure to carry lots of change and small bills. Wiping out the seller's
entire change supply with a $20 for a $1 sale is inconsiderate. Save
your change throughout the week to use for your Saturday yard sale trip.
If you try to negotiate on a large item but the seller won't budge,
leave your name and phone number along with the price you are willing to
pay. Tell the proprietor to give you a call at the end of the day if the
item doesn't sell and she wants to sell the item at your price.
About the author
Nancy Twigg is the editor of Counting the Cost, a free email newsletter
about simple and frugal living. She is also the author of the new book,
Celebrate Simply: Your Guide to Simpler, More Meaningful Holidays
and Special Occasions. To learn more about living simply or
celebrating simply, visit Nancy online at
www.countingthecost.com
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