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Yard Sales: Have Fun,
Get Bargains
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Hunting for treasures at
a yard sale is an activity enjoyed by many. It's fun.
It gets you out into the fresh air on Saturday morning
and, with luck, you'll find great bargains.
Marenda Babcock, author of
Frugal Times Newsletter takes these items with her
on a bargain hunt: A map to locate the houses, a canvas
bag for personal items, a tape measure to check clothing
sizes and the length of curtains and furniture, and a
roll of quarters.
She recommends wearing comfortable
shoes, going on the first day, and arriving when the
sale opens to find the best selection. Other
recommendations:
- When you arrive at the sale, scan
it quickly for what you are looking for. If you
aren't sure you want an item, pick it up anyway.
You can always put it back.
- Take your time and look under
tables, in corners, and at the bottom of piles.
- Offer a lower price if you want
to. Make it about 25 percent less, never half the
asking price or less.
- Sniff items. If books or stuffed
toys smell bad, move on.
- If you take your kids, give them
money to shop. It's good experience.
- Take a drink and a snack with you
so you don't have to waste time between sales.
The last day of a sale can also be
good because prices may be marked down.
Your own yard sale
- Advertise in newspapers; hang
posters with directions in laundries and libraries,
and post signs the day before the sale.
- Team up with friends. People
love a four-family sale.
- Put large, attractive items near
the curb, like a baby bed or lawn mower.
- Mark every item with a price.
Have plenty of bags and lots of paper to wrap
breakables.
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