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I just went to a garage sale a few weeks ago were I found a bookcase in very good condition for $15. I had been on the lookout for a bookcase for a while and had priced similar bookcases at retail stores for over $100!
You can often find really good deals on furniture at garage sales. The real steals come in when you find furniture that is made from good wood like mahagony or oak and constructed very well with solid joins. Often the furniture you find in stores like target are not contstructed as well and feature composite materials, and fake wood backing. |
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| Posted by
anonymous
on September 06, 2008 1:36 AM |
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I can't understand why anyone would buy board games brand new from a store when you you can find tons of these for 5-10% of the cost at garage sales. I also buy puzzels at garage sales for a $1 a piece which retail for 10-15 times that amount. |
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| Posted by
meagan on September 06, 2008 2:55 AM |
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Books! Even if you aren't interested in reading them, if they are popular authors you can post them on PaperBackSwap.com or other trading sites and earn credits for books you do want to read. The trick is buying at the end of the day when the seller may be willing to part with books for a quarter or so each.
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| Posted by
kat on September 06, 2008 10:07 AM |
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On the board games hint from meagan....I'll buy games my kids already have, but love so that we have extra parts for when they inevitably lose or abuse them.
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| Posted by
kat on September 06, 2008 10:08 AM |
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I agree with all of the above! Furniture is the best; esp the "older" wood ones; easily refurnished; I garden so look for pots to plant in that are inexpensive as well as gardening tools; canning jars; I make cooking & baking mixes up in advance & like to put in jars; since plastic is so toxic I just find it easier & neater actually to put even left overs in jars nowadays; makes it easier to see what is in the refrig anyway! They freeze well also; |
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| Posted by
yellowbird on September 07, 2008 2:37 AM |
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Anything you can turn around and sell on EBay for a profit. Avalon Hill games, older D&D stuff, vintage computer stuff (pre-IBM PC era) all do well. |
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| Posted by
on September 09, 2008 2:23 PM |
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One of the best items I found was an old brass looking queen size headboard. It had the big swirl in the middle with tall posts on each side with a round knob on top of each post. But it looked cheap, so cut the swirly part off and cut down the posts to where I liked it, cut off the round knobs and attached them to the top of the remaining posts. I then spray painted the head board with a dark bronze with texture, and it ended up looking like a very expensive headboard! The price? Just $5.00!! |
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| Posted by
Jean on September 11, 2008 9:35 PM |
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Kids Clothing! I have 2 growing boys (ages 4 & 6) and I can find some great clothes for them at usually $1 a piece. Some of them have even been name brands. Last year I bought a winter coat from Old Navy that was in perfect condition. It was fleece lined and very warm. The woman wanted $1 for it! My youngest was able to use it last year and probably this year too.
Books and toys are good choices too. I am an avid reader and my kids are too so I can usually get them for $1 each (or less). Toys because they sometimes get bored with them so I am happy that I have not spent alot on them.
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| Posted by
Wendy on September 12, 2008 9:15 AM |
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Just about everything is available at garage sales if you go often enough. Stuffed animals, books, clothes (especially baby and kids clothes but I found a beautiful gown to wear at my daughter's wedding for just $5 at a garage sale), designer accessories, even pets, collectibles, and, of course,furniture. For years I bought vacuum cleaners (even a Roomba), toaster ovens, and other household appliances, dishes, glass mugs, flower arrangements, religious articles, even adult novelties and from time to time some original art work that was worth a few hundred dollars (well, it had to get cleaned up and re-matted).
The only thing you shouldn't really buy at garage sales are maybe toiletries, cleaning supplies, and vitamins because there is a good chance they are out of date. |
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| Posted by
LC Phillips on September 13, 2008 5:35 PM |
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Loose leaf binders. The garage sale holder they are junk that needs to be moved out of the house. They have usually lost track of their retail value and, this year, almost always priced at a quarter a piece. If you have a use for them, keeping organized at home or office even the moderately worn will do. If your kids need them for school you may have to skim the better ones only. Either way you are saving between $2.50 and $6.00. Great values. |
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| Posted by
John on September 15, 2008 12:51 PM |
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I often wait till the end of a sale (1-2 pm) and offer a set price for whatever boys clothes they have left over. I often get a large box full for around $5-10. I have 2 boys and have gotten almost all of their playclothes that way and I donate what we can't use to charity. |
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| Posted by
Janet on September 15, 2008 3:42 PM |
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Picture frames and albums. It seems people don't take the time to put photos in sleeves for safe keeping any more. In this day of digital photography, people don't print photos like they used to. My husband and I are avid (amateur) photgraphers and I like to display some of our work for our friends to enjoy. I have purchased boxes that sit on the coffee table which have bars which hold several photos each. My friends enjoy them and I always throw in a picture or two of the grandchildren. |
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| Posted by
Jodi on September 16, 2008 8:48 AM |
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Need all the help I can get !!!Thanks |
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| Posted by
Evelyn on September 16, 2008 6:59 PM |
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Kids clothes. I typically spend only about $20 to $30 a year on each kids wardrobe for a year, including winter coats and boots and raincoats. I also look for dance gear and soccer cleats and other equipment. Backpacks, too because my kids go through a couple a school year sometimes. Kids games (including computer games), toys including new items for birthday party gifts. Small appliances such as toaster ovens and food processsors that I often buy new. Furniture. Gee, I buy just about everything at yard sales! |
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| Posted by
anonymous
on September 22, 2008 5:24 AM |
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I buy almost everything at garage sales or Goodwill. This summer I brought all my childrens clothes for the year for about $100. Everything looks new, some still had tags on, so never worn. My son and daughter are both less than 2 years, and there is a ton of stuff out there for young kids. I rarely spend more than $1.00 on an outfit.I have bought a brand new stroller (used 3 times) for $5.00. Retail $250.00. Stickley rocking chair $30.00. Retail $200.00. I went to a Montesori school garage sale, and spent $100.00 on wooden toys, puzzles, books, a 3 foot cloth barn full of animals and a brand new wool coat for me, and some other items I didn't write down. I would have spent over a thousand if it were all new price. A lot of it was put away for Christmas, and for when the kids are older. Presents do not have to be brand new. |
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| Posted by
michelle martin on September 25, 2008 12:34 PM |
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I was able to purchase children books, toys, games, trikes, etc. for our grandchildren so we would have them available for them to play with at our home when they visited. As my grandchildren got older, I gave many of them to my neighbor who has six young grandchildren that visit her several times a year. |
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| Posted by
Anne on September 25, 2008 3:47 PM |
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Our female rottweiller loves to play with stuffed toys. I bought a bunch of them at a yard sale for 25 cents each. Now she has a steady supply of stuffed toys to play with at just a fraction of the cost of regular doggie toys. |
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| Posted by
Bobbette on September 27, 2008 5:35 PM |
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I've found that the larger childrens' toys, like Little Tikes products, can be purchased for a great price. These items last forever, and run in the $80 -$100 range in stores. At yard sales, you can usually pick them up for between $5 and $20 dollars. The best part... They last so long that you can resell them once your children have outgrown them for about what you paid. However, this stuff goes quickly, so you have to be first in line. |
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| Posted by
Erica on September 28, 2008 11:00 AM |
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You can get almost anything at a yard sale. The bigger the item the stronger your negotiating power. No one wants to take that big dresser or table back into the house at the end of the day. If I get to a sale early, it is harder to talk the seller down. I explain I understand their need to sell it for more and then leave my name and number for them to call me later if the item don't sell they can except my offer. If I get there late in the day or on the last day of the sale it is so easy to get it cheap. Just stand back and look at the item for a few minutes. Like you're thinking real hard... The seller then strikes conversation. I hem and haw a bit as if I am not sure I even want the item. The price falls without my saying a single word. The silence makes the seller uneasy. They don't want to loose what might be the last chance to move the piece. You walk away with a stellar deal and the seller is so relieved they don't have to move that thing one more time. There is so much furniture out there with no home. Furniture is the hardest thing to sell. As a buyer you can be very particular. |
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| Posted by
gotnoworrys on October 03, 2008 8:34 PM |
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Kitchen electronics, pans, gagets! Who doesn't buy something sometime and then not use it much afterward? Or unwanted gifts or wedding presents. I bought an unused Cusinart, a big one, for $25 - sells new $150. |
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| Posted by
Jean Wellington on October 04, 2008 3:38 PM |
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Garage sales are good for gadget fans, kit(s)chenware, kids' clothing, all the time. You can get great buys on furniture, decorator items, and books. Moving sales, in particular, are opportunities to reap huge discounts on almost anything, but especially home appliances. |
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| Posted by
anonymous
on November 09, 2008 1:55 PM |
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Winemaking supplies.
I make wine and mead (honey-wine). A lot of people seem to have tried this and given up, so 3 or 5 gallon carboys are on sale for ridiculous prices. Anything under $15.00 each is a bargain to me!
Also, bottles to store the wine after its made (buy the corks new from a vintner-supply!).
Bottles and jars for cordials, vinegart and pickles.
Fabric - especially remnants of upholstery fabric for fancy costumes (garb). |
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| Posted by
anonymous
on November 28, 2008 8:28 PM |
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My theory is --- If I don't NEED it I don't buy it! And when I find something that I need and buy - makes for a profitable happy day!!!! |
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| Posted by
Eugenia Morin on November 29, 2008 11:27 AM |
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My 2 best buys this year: A complete Oneida flatware service for 8 for $2.00. I sold my two mismatched service for 4 for $6.00 at my garage sale. Also found a complete service for 8 plus serving pieces of 1847 Rogers Bros silverware for $10.00. The pattern is from 1928 and worth over $600.00. |
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| Posted by
Ilah on December 01, 2008 2:34 PM |
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I agree with everyone else, although my favorite thing to get is also kids clothes! They grow out of them so quickly, I love getting them at a bargain! I also bought a very cheap ($2) winter coat one year for my son. He wore it for two years-the best $2 I ever spent! I also found Tinkertoys at a sale once-he still plays with those-they have kept him busy for literally hours-also another great $2 purchase! |
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| Posted by
Patty on December 12, 2008 4:38 PM |
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I love to go to garage sales when I see young couples having them...They have wedding gifts still in boxes never used..I bought 2 brand new rice steamers in their boxes for $3 and one for $5....I also bought a brand new food processor never used for $10.00....what a deal! |
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| Posted by
anonymous
on December 19, 2008 10:50 PM |
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I make sure I go to yard sales in neighborhoods that are economically better than my own. This generally lets me take advantage of better buys and things I really want, but could not afford otherwise. My son has several pairs of expensive jeans that he coveted now, at a price that is way below anything I could have bought new at WalMart. I also bring him along on these forays so he gets a real view of the world and how it works to be frugal. I also let him know what I'm hunting for so he has his eyes open for me. |
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| Posted by
LynAnne on January 04, 2009 5:30 PM |
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I get clothes, toys, games, craft stuff, books. I have gotten my nephew computer games CDs for 50 cents or a dollar. I like vintage cookbooks and those can be expensive at an antique or vintage shop, but can be very inexpensive at a yard sale. Once I got a cookbook from the 1940s for ten cents. Last summer I got a tall box of cupcake papers, hundreds of them, for 25 cents so I won't be buying those at the store for a long time. I have gotten almost new expensive baby clothes for a dollar or less. Last summer I got my son some Bruce Lee/martial arts books for 25 cents each.
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| Posted by
Dianne on January 07, 2009 12:45 AM |
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I have found everything under the sun at garage sales! It seems the nicer the neighborhood, the nicer the junk. Even though it may be priced for more than $1 or so, it is usually name brand and excellent condition. |
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| Posted by
lauren on January 14, 2009 4:24 PM |
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Exercise equipment...I got a really nice electric treadmill for $75 and used it for about 6 years before it died on me...I found a junk dealer it take it off my hands for nothing afterwards! You can get rid of anything metal nowadays if you can find a junk dealer. You can get just about any type of exercise equipment for a fraction of the price of new! |
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| Posted by
anonymous
on January 20, 2009 9:13 PM |
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I TOO AM A GOODWILL SHOPPER HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS AND I PICK UP VERY GOOD BUYS IN FACT. IT HAS BECOME A JOKE WITH MY MOM AND DAD ABOUT WHAT ALL I DO GET AT GOODWILL AND GARAGE SALES. PICTURES, CLOTHES, SHOES, COATS, EVEN HAVE FOUND A FEW OLD BOOKS WORTH A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN THE 1.00 I PAID FOR THEM. I LOVE A GOOD FIND. |
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| Posted by
DEBBY DTILLABOWER on January 28, 2009 5:39 PM |
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Unlike one of the previous posters, I will definitely buy toiletries. I've bought bath and shower gel, bubble bath, cologne, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, face creams, disposable razors (unopened in a bag), unopened toothpaste and bar soap and makeup applicators, cosmetic brushes, and even hair coloring. The "nicer" the neighborhood, the more expensive the products, until you get to a point past the upper middle class. Then they don't seem to bother with those things. But I'll ask if they have any and sometimes they tell me they were going to throw them away, but if I could use them, they would just give them to me. Yeah, I must be the ultimate cheapskate. LOL But when you can get a 1/4 oz of perfume that retails for more than $75 (not cologne) for free or less than $1, and you like or love the scent, that's a bargain. I've found sets of products where only one of the products was used/opened and then given those unopened products as a gift set to my daughter-in-law, a fulltime student who also works parttime and shares in the raising of their three children. Needless to say, she loves getting my repackaged freebies and/or cheapies. If you're cleaver, you can even reuse the basket, bowl or whatever the original set came in, too.
I also purchase cleaning products, but only if I use them. Of course, that MUST be the criteria for all my purchases, whether retail, discount, or cheap! |
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| Posted by
Pinky212 on February 12, 2009 9:08 PM |
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If you're into re-selling garage sale purchases, know the value of most everyday (and some specialty) items. Having done a little bit of homework before going shopping at local yard and garage sales and knowing how much you can re-sell those very same items can go a long way toward lining your bank account!
My wife's best example: three years ago she purchased a lovely silver hand mirror from a tag sale. It was tarnished quite a bit, but you could tell (even wihtout having any previous knowledge of mirrors or silver, for that matter) the item was worth much more than the 50 cents listed on the price tag.
With some silver polish and a little bit of elbow grease, my wife sold that very same 50 cent silver hand mirror, polished to a gorgeous shine, two weeks later at our own garage sale for a whopping $45!!!
So it definitely pays off to do your homework and know the value of things! |
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| Posted by
Postman in Paradise on April 05, 2009 3:16 AM |
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