So the credit card companies now have to comply with some new rules, designed to protect the consumer and some of them are a long time coming. College kids are no longer going to be able to mortgage their futures while they are still building one. They will need parental permission to get cards if they are under 21 and will need proof of income as well. This is good news but don’t be fooled by it. No credit card company has your best interests at heart. They are here to make money and make money they will. One of the good things they now have to do is show you what you will pay and for how long on your balance. I can only hope they when you see that $10,00.00 paid of at the minimum will take 43 years to pay off and cost some ridiculous amount of money that the hot tub or the vacation put on plastic won’t look so appealing. Financial preparedness matters as much as physical preparedness.
In my own never-ending quest to save money, I take every chance I can to buy used. We are just approaching the time when tag sales will be popping up and the tag sale presents a wonderful opportunity to pick up things you need without paying retail.
The time to start prepping for the tag sale season is right now. Over the next few weeks, keep notes on things you need. I broke the crock from my crockpot a few weeks ago but the unit itself works just fine. I didn’t find one at the thrift shops I frequent so I will be on the lookout for one of those. I have jotted down the dimensions of the one I broke. I find these pretty often for under a dollar. I know that Phoebe is going into size 7/8 so I will keep my eyes peeled for that size, paying particular attention to the big-ticket items like winter coats and boots. I don’t think I have ever bought her a new coat or boots. I always look for hand tools, kitchen ware and gift quality toys, books and puzzles. I often find camping equipment for pennies on the dollar, once even getting a good down sleeping bag for $5.00.
I do some prepping before I hit the tag sale trail. I make sure I have a lot of small bills and change but never flash a wad of cash. It will put you in a bad bargaining position. I always offer a bit less money for any item unless the price is already exceptional or if the family looks like they are raising money out of need rather than just cleaning out junk. If you are thinking you might buy something that requires batteries, bring along fresh ones when you shop. You don’t want to come home with some electronic gizmo that doesn’t work. If I am looking for furniture I take the seats out of the van so I will have lots of room. I have learned to travel without kids and with snacks and drinks. I have also learned to go to the bathroom before I leave home and have spot picked out to make a pit stop on the road. Ahhh. the joys of aging.
The best sales are moving sales and estate sales. These are the best for the good stuff; cast iron cookware, linens, tools and good quality used furniture. I avoid CDS and DVDS as they often skip. I also remind myself of my own weakness. Books are a problem for me. I can’t resist a book that looks interesting, especially a cookbook or gardening book. Most become clutter 5 minutes after they get in the door. 10 books I don’t need is $5.00 wasted and more stuff I need to find a home for.
February 23, 2010 at 9:00 am
Here in Florida we have garage sales all year long. I find here that estate sales are one of the worst options. Families have professionals come in and things cost at least twice as much. Also, here we find that estate sales do not have the “good stuff”. Families, understandibly, take what they want and leave the rest for the sale. We just don’t go to them anymore. Now estate sales here are just calling them garage sales just to sucker in people like me!
February 23, 2010 at 9:03 am
I am so ready for tag sales! That’s one of our favorite Friday morning activities during the summertime…and considering some of the steals I’ve come home with, it’s been time well spent. I buy 98% of the kids fancy-occasion clothes at tag sales, as well as blue jeans and coats. This year, in addition to kids clothes, I’m on the lookout for camping equipment, bookcases, stoneware and cookbooks.
February 23, 2010 at 9:37 am
We are having a yard sale this weekend. My rules for selling and buying -
be sure it is clean and whole, otherwise
make note; leave enough space to walk around items or things will get broken – I won’t stop at a sale where it is on 4 tables spaced 1 foot apart in a garage ; be reasonable in your prices, “brand new, I paid $20 so $15 is appropriate” just doesn’t work for me especially if it is out of the box without paperwork. Provide an extension cord, or bring your own, to check electrical items. Be polite, friendly and watch your kids.
And, finally, around here an Estate Sale means nothing, everybody’s stuff is from their Estate and with a Moving Sale I’m careful about buying appliances like dishwashers, interior doors, tile, etc. as they may be stripping the house because it is going into foreclosure.
Recently a yard sale was advertised offering a “complete kitchen, cabinets, sink and faucets, granite countertops – you remove at time of purchase”. I think that is contributing to fraud.
February 23, 2010 at 1:35 pm
No credit card company has your best interests at heart.
No kidding. They have rooms full of psychologists and market analysts working to find ways to encourage you to spend more money. Seriously.
February 23, 2010 at 1:42 pm
I don’t go yard-saling often enough to get the best deals, but I do carry small bills and change, a tape measure and some boxes or reusable bags so keep things from rolling around in the car. The battery idea is great!
February 23, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I’m new here but had to chime in on this one. I yard sale all through the summer, in the “off-season” I find that the local thrift stores have special sales. They call them bag sales here. They put donations that didn’t move fast enough in the thrift store onto tables in the basement–clothing, coats, linens, and curtains, whatever. You get to fill a garbage bag for $5.00! I’m not sure why some of it doesn’t sell because sometimes you get items that still have a store tag. This is how I’m outfitting our family.
I agree with Kathy that you can definitely move faster without the kids when you’re yard saling but don’t forget we still have to teach them how to do this. What to look for, what to avoid. I take ours in ones or twos only and no dawdling allowed…lol
February 23, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Should have made that clear. I will take Karen as she has her own money and doesn’t need to pee every 5 minutes. Phoebe, on the other hand, stays home. She talks to everybody as though they are old friends and would buy a dirty sock if I let her.
February 23, 2010 at 6:13 pm
LOL!!!! I have a friend who put the potty chair in the back of the Jeep on yard sale days to deal with the peeing issue. Okay. It wasn’t really a friend…it was me.
February 23, 2010 at 9:33 pm
The garage sales where I used to live were usually not worth hitting. But after several years managing kids’ clothing stores, when I had my own kids I knew the cycle for markdowns. For those who are looking for deals for kids’ clothing, especially the 10 and under set, be sure to check websites for companies like Children’s Place. Even better if you have an outlet nearby. I’ve gotten brand new $80 winter coats for $10 for my girls at their outlets. Depending on the size you need, you might be able to buy ahead for the next year. Or if you have two (or more) kids who will “stairstep” through something, it’s an even better bargain. Look for reversible coats too – they are usually thicker. I bought a 4T on clearance for my oldest when she was 2 and simply rolled up the sleeves. By making sure it got reversed after each washing, that coat lasted until she was 5 and then was finally handed down to a sibling – and worn for several more years and handed down to another child. Last I heard that Gymboree coat was on child #4.
It might take a bit of time to learn the clearance cycles, but it’s handy knowledge if you can’t find what you’re looking for at garage sales/estate sales.
February 23, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Let me clarify, please, that the potty chair was for my toddlers, not for myself
Upon rereading my comment, it didn’t seem terribly clear.
February 23, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Too bad Andrea. We had a vision.
March 2, 2010 at 10:59 pm
thank God for the real people, I had thought they were all gone to their rewards.