Forget the budding trees, it's garage sale season!!

Can you smell that? The excitement, the anticipation and the Mom's gearing up for another great season.

No, not simply Spring.

It's Garage Sale Season!!!!

This Saturday, Boo and I went to our first one and it was a success. She was in dire need of a new spring coat, and we found the perfect one!

Each year I get so excited for the start of Garage Sales. I go through the kids spring and summer clothes getting an idea of what they need for the upcoming seasons. I even pull out the fall and winter clothes to put away.

Anything they haven't worn since last summer (meaning t-shirts) gets put in a box for our own garage sale. Things that are too small, worn out or that Mom simply can not stand gets put in that box too.

Once I have my list in hand, I hit the door. Garage sales are my favorite "thrift store". We found Hunter's current winter coat for $5 last year, simply because the hood was missing. It is a $60 coat that didn't look worn at all.

There are some simple tips to make your Garage Sale trip a success:

• Know where the sales are. Driving around in circles is not the best way to work the sales. Have a game plan and plan your route.
• Bring cash in smaller bills than a twenty. I know when I start my garage sale each morning, at least 3 out of 5 people will only have a twenty. This depletes your cash supple very quickly. BRING SMALL BILLS. You will be a sellers best friend.
• Go as early as you can. The most sought after items sell early, so be prepared to get there when the sales open (this also ties into planning your route).
• Do a drive-by. Most garage sales have a majority of their larger items outside. If you don't see kids items outside, you probably won't inside either.
• Don't be afraid to barter! If you see something that is marked at one price, but you are willing to only pay something else ASK. It doesn't hurt, and most sellers will take a barter.
• Plan for the upcoming seasons. If your child is a size 4, but is due for a growth spurt, buy a size bigger, or two! We have clothes for Boo for two years from now all because of garage sales. While some kids don't have set growth spurts, you will always need jeans and t-shirts. Stock up if you find a great price.
• Seek out the school and church sales!!While there is normally a small fee to get in, it is SO WORTH IT. I don't get clothes at these, but I do get a majority of the housewares and books for the entire year. I went to one last year where I found a TON of vintage Tupperware, a weakness of mine.
• Bring a friend. If you are at a large sale, or one of the school/church sales this can help you cover more ground. If you are each looking for something in particular you can both seek it out.

Most important, have a good time. Garage Sales are a fun way to get the things you need for a fraction of the cost.

Next weekend, the first neighborhood sale of the year...hope it doesn't snow again.

My happy place!!

This past weekend was the true sign of summer. The major garage sale in my city. It is 150 sales, all within walking distance of each other, in one community. It is fabulous!!

This is the type of sale where you bring a stroller, but carry the baby in a snugly so you have a place to put your purchases. You have the wagon, for all the things you buy. You eat a hot dog at 8 am, and have another by 10. It is wonderful!!

We left the house at 7:30, to drive about a mile to park and get ready. When we got there we parked in the first spot, close to a main road. This is for easy exit when we are all done.

We don't normally have a game plan, but do have lists of what we are looking for. My main thing this year was clothes for the kids, and to build Boo's future book collection. My mother in law was looking for bedding, and we were all on the hunt for a great deal.

I found a TON of Boo size clothes for .50 each. Jackpot! They only had one pair of pants, but I got a bunch of shirts. Most of which were long sleeved for fall. That is always a great find. I found her a bunch of books, and even one for me! I didn't find much for Hunter, everything was WAY overpriced (I will NOT pay $4 for jeans, I can go to a thrift store and pay less). But we hit the jackpot for him last time.

My sister in law found a loft bed that sells for $200 at Ikea for $50! And it was only one year old. Now that is a great deal.

The day started out gloomy and overcast, and we did get a little rain in the beginning, but then it was warm...really warm. The kids were getting cranky towards the end, but they had a blast.

All in all, it was a great morning at the garage sales. We got home at 12:30, unloaded the cars, and then headed for my brother in laws pool. A perfect way to end the day.

Did I mention that the garage sales were right by Boo's school. It was like Kindergarten reunion! She ran into 4 friends, and after two days they were all going through withdrawal.

Any garage sale success this weekend???

We had a great day

Even with the snow today, we had plans. There were some MAJOR garage sales today, and we were going to be there. We bundled up the kids, and off we went with Big Sis and my mother in law. We are die hard (Or as my mom says, Crazy).





Every spring, the kids try on their summer and fall clothes, to give me an idea of what they need. Boo was pretty set, but Hunter needed a great deal. PJ's, long sleeve shirts and wind pants were on the list. We found those, and so much more for him. While there weren't a lot of long sleeve shirts, he got plenty of pj's and wind pants. He is good for the time being.

I am also ALWAYS on the hunt for vintage/new tupperware. I love the brand, and but can't pay the full price. Garage sales are the best places to find it. I got two Tupperware Rounds for $4!! Such a deal. I did a happy dance...

But, the find of the day made us all very happy. We have been on the hunt for a great entertainment center for over a year. We had looked in the stores, but didn't find one that we all liked in our price range. We today we found it! Hubby was so excited, and so I was I. Good thing I didn't talk him into taking the car today...instead we had the truck and tied it in. Guess how much we paid for it??


$30!! Just $30!! I was so proud! It took some work to get everything switched over, but the hubby did it on the first try. It is in great shape, one ding on the bottom, and normal scuff from moving the TV around. I love it!

Works for me Wednesday - Garage Sales!!

As garage sale season starts, there are many things you can do to prep before your big sale. We have one every year, and I love it! It gets rid of things, brings extra money in and is just a fun time all around.

Here are some tips to gear up for your garage sale. We have been doing this for many years, and it Works for Me!

- As you go through your kids clothes at the beginning of a season, have some price stickers ready to mark the clothes that no longer fit as you pull them. This will save you time as the day gets closer. This also works for any other items you pull (knick-knacks, movies and toys). You can by the pre-printed price stickers, but I just use mailing labels with three prices typed on each label and cut them. Costs about the same in the end, and the labels will last a long time.

- Don't put stained items into a garage sale. If you wouldn't buy it, don't put it out. There were many time I would be looking for baby clothes, only to find stains on most of the clothes.

- If you do not have all the parts for a certain toy, don't try to sell it at the price you would if you had all the parts. Some people are looking for extra tracks for hot wheels, or a hodgepodge of Barbie clothes. The full set will be worth more to someone.

- Put toy sets in zip lock bags. This keeps all the pieces together, and prevents little hands from losing pieces as they visit with their mothers at your sale. Write directly on the bag what the price is, and what it is.

- Organize your sale by category. All the kids clothes go together, by size and gender. Don't mix the boy clothes in with the girl clothes, or the 3T with the 6/6X. Label your tables to show where the correct sizes are. This is also great for kitchen things, toys and books. Keep all the kids books in one spot, with the grown up books in another. It will make it easier for people to find things, and less mess for you to clean up. Which brings us to the next tip.

- Keep your sale neat. I hate going to a sale that is all chaotic, and the seller has not picked up all day long. It makes it hard to seek things out, and at time can make a buyer just walk away.

- When hanging clothes, think like a retail shop. Have all the clothes facing the same way on a hanger. This makes it easier to look at the items, and less likely to fall off.

- Advertise Advertise Advertise!!! If you local paper had a Garage Sale section, spend the money to place an ad. The results pay for the ad. Make sure you list times, locations and a general item descriptions (HH, Kd Clths, toys, tools etc). If you don't place an ad, make signs. Lots of signs (you should do this even if you do place an ad, to help people find you.). Right in bold colors, use arrows and other eye catching things. We always use that neon poster board, with black marker. This will catch anyone's attention from blocks away.

- Pull all the stickers when you are adding up the total. This will help you keep track of what you sold, what you made and whose it was. We do family sales, and this helps us keep track. Initials on the stickers help as well. If you are doing a sale solo, you should still pull the stickers, to track your items.

- Have a good amount of cash in the change box (or bag). We always start with a good amount, so we don't run out. It never fails that the first person to come to your sale will only have a twenty, and want something that is $3. Never fails. We have about $40 in 1's, $40 in $5's and a couple $10's. We also stock $20 in quarters. We don't price items lower than $.25, so we don't need dimes and nickels.

- If you have an expensive item for sale, watch it like a hawk. There are dishonest people out there that will walk off with a Prada or Coach bag. Better yet, put out a picture of the item, and keep the item in your house. Show it to people that want to see it, but keep it in the house otherwise.

- Stock up on paper and plastic bags. We save all year, and still can run out. Always have newspaper for breakable items, and even some boxes to package things like glasses in.

- Be prepared for the early birds. They will be waiting in your driveway when you open, and some even will knock on your door. They are the serious garage sale shoppers, and search the papers for the best sales. Don't be afraid to tell them no, but remember they might leave and not come back.

Remember, it is always better to have two people or more, have a book to read during the quiet times and snacks standing by. Garage sales are a fun way to get rid of unwanted items.

Head on over to Rocks in My Dryer for Works for Me Wednesday tips.