Yard Sale Season is Upon Us!
Yes! Spring is here and you know what that means: the start of yard sale season! I have been looking forward to this since yard sale season was over last year. Today started a beautiful weekend and I was actually feeling better (I am getting over a REALLY bad cold. yuck!) so I decided to make it a ‘Girls Morning’ and take my daughter out to a few yard sales. I buy and have bought a ton of stuff from flea markets and the like. It’s a great way to get some great stuff at a fraction of the cost or sometimes even free. Plus, the clothes don’t shrink when you wash them! The only downside is that it’s luck of the draw.
Here’s a list of things I look for at yard sales flea markets:
- Kids clothes
- Books
- Adult clothes
- Shoes (This really depends. They have to be in good condition)
- Craft supplies
- Flags
- Stuffed animals (ALWAYS wash these first!)
- Board games (make sure no pieces are missing)
- Electronics (inexpensive ones)
- Furniture
- Home goods
- Dishes and kitchen stuff
- Tablecloths
- Holiday decor
- Cookie tins
- Toys
- and lots more!
Of course, I always wash clothes, sterilize toys and clean things as best I can before I use them. I love a good bargain and I will always try to negotiate prices too! Now, while I look for certain things, I also stay away from certain things too.
Here’s a list of things you might want to skip at yard sales and flea markets:
- Bathing suits
- Lingerie
- Baby bedding (like crib liners and soft bedding. They are known to cause SIDS)
- Carseats (these get recalled all the time and they expire too. Plus, they are only made for ONE accident. You never know. Just be careful or stay away altogether)
- Old cribs (see above)
- Cosmetics (they could be old and you might be asking for an infection if you buy them)
- Baked goods and/or food (a lot of this stuff has been baking in the sun for hours. No thanks!)
- Water bottles and baby bottles (BPA is the culprit here)
- Always check battery compartments before buying. They could have battery corrosion in them.
These are just suggestions. You should always use your best judgement before making any purchase. I always check stuff out very thoroughly just for my own benefit, but also because the seller might give you a better deal too! I can still recall some of my best deals:
- A dual tuner Tivo for $10 (pricing varies since the Tivo Roamio came out)
- Two Winnie The Pooh walkers for $3 (originally $70 for one!)
- A ThirtyOne insulated lunchbox with my initial monogrammed on it for $8 (originally $18 w/o monogramming)
- A Little People A to Z Learning Zoo for $5 (originally $70)
- A vintage baby boy snowsuit for $2.50
- Set of Retro cafeteria style plates for FREE!
- Vintage black heels for $3
So get out there and enjoy yourself. I start out with a predetermined amount of cash. Then once it’s gone, it’s gone. That way, I can control my spending and it really makes me think before I buy. I also keep a running list of items that I am always hunting for. It makes it more fun! Timing matters too. Early gets you the best selections, whereas late gets you the best deals. Happy hunting!
Do you go to yard sales and flea markets? What are some good deals that you’ve gotten before?