04.15.11 / Garage Sales / Author: TWGranE / Comments: (0)
There is only one situation in which I say, “Wear a fanny pack.” And that is while running a garage sale.
A pack can be used as a convenient change maker — kind of like working at Sonic!
This keeps your money with you, and you don’t have to worry about turning your back on your cash box. This said, be sure to keep enough to make change for $20.
As the money starts flowing in, be sure to empty your cash reserves in your locked house. If someone hands you a $100 for a small item, don’t start digging through large amounts of cash in front of them. Simply offer to hold the item while they go get change.
Enlist your friends and family to help you carry out a safe sale. Have only one person handle the money so you don’t get ripped off by someone claiming they paid your helper. One of my garage sale friends was telling me that they had someone just change their shoes at her sales and walk off IN her pricey $5, never worn pair. If you have extra help, have someone walk the sale to tidy up and try their turn as a shoe salesperson!
Keep all your small items at your check-out table in full view. It is too easy to slip jewelry, game discs, and notions in a bag.
Tag switching can be avoided by pricing all similar items the same price. For example mark all your clothes at 25¢ and watch the dollars add up.
Although garages are a nice shelter from not so nice days, they can be a dangerous place. They are hard to see into from the street, putting you in danger.
Another good reason to lock up the garage doors (as well as your house) is that there often are tools and equipment that can walk out … not to mention making it easy to case your house for future robberies or while you have your back turned.
What’s your item worth? Your items are not worth your life. Last summer there was a report of thieves grabbing framed prints, stashing them in their car and taking off. Consider yourself lucky that you were not confronted. If you have the misfortune of a robber, your first response is to take off your fanny pack and pass on this fashion faux-pas.
04.08.11 / Garage Sales / Author: TWGranE / Comments: (0)
Got a little over-zealous this week and posted ALL of this weekend Garage Sales and Auctions on the gas-saving map. To view: http://www.ottawaherald.com/widegraphic/Garage-Sale-Map. Works best for me if I click on link under first map on the “View a Garage Sale and Auction List” This zooms in closer and gives a convenient listing on the side. This is easy to print if you are the co-pilot in your garage sale car-pool.
I am getting ready to go out with my map and grab those Ugly Christmas Sweaters, so let me leave you with the upcoming schedule of the biggies:
• Sacred Heart Rummage Sale: Going on now! Today is half price, tomorrow is $2 brown bag special.
• Greeley Citywide: April 9.
• Garnett Citywide: April 16 (stay tuned for map of this!)
• Ottawa Citywide: May 7
04.01.11 / Garage Sales / Author: TWGranE / Comments: (0)
Tags: Collecting, Economy, garage sale, Gas Prices, money, Season Opener, Smart Shopping
There are at least a half a dozen advertised garage sales this weekend in sunny Ottawa. With a small chance of a rain-out, the winter hoarders are ready to let one fly!
Here are some tips to make this year a clean sweep:
With a roll of quarters, your handbag becomes a weapon!
• Use your change. No one likes a money-flaunter, especially when your are asking for a lower price. The last thing you want to do is agree on a lower price, then pull out a wad of cash to peel off a large bill, it insults the seller and they may not agree to lower the price next time. Remember most people who have a garage sale, have them annually, sometimes more. It’s nice to build up a “set-your-own-price” relationship with your favorite hunts.
I normally have a roll of quarters in my purse, a few singles in my pocket, and larger bills just in case for the crazy deal tucked away in the hidden chambers of my pocketbook.
• If you do have larger bills, get your money’s worth by bundling. Group together $15 worth and flash a $10 and ask if they would take the discounted rate. I have never turned down a bundle, I am always so happy to see the stuff walk out of my yard!
• Don’t be afraid to walk. Sometimes all it takes is a glance to notice that items are over priced or in bad condition. Just because the owner is staring you down and starting a sales pitch, doesn’t mean that you have to buy something. Saying, “Thanks” or “Have a Nice Day” is a great exit line. The only exception is for the lemonade stands. These little entrepreneurs are learning valuable skills, salesmanship, making change, product display, food safety (at least I hope they are learning this one!), budgeting. Basically they are learning everything they need to know in life by selling lemonade. I’ve watered many curbside flowers (around the block and out of child’s sight) with tart lemonade.
• Save your gas. Know where your going before you leave. If you are bargain hunting the last thing you want to do is waste your gas by going back and forth. Before driving great distance, check the newspaper for featured items to see if you have something to gain before you fill up. Find a friend that is as passionate as you and rotate weekends for driving. You may have some trouble if you both have a passion for collecting 1980′s ugly sweaters, but try to be a good sport. It’s just a game!
• Try to have an idea of what you need or might be needing in the near future. Collecting priceless china for your toddler is fine, but make sure your child has clothes that fit and toys, books and movies to entertain and educate them first.
My top items that I am looking for now are summer shorts and dresses for my child, soft comforters for my compulsive blanket eating bulldog, and as always frames for my artwork (to keep me from buying anything that’s a quarter, I keep a list of sizes and have a mini tape measure on my keychain). If something is an up-grade from what you currently have and the price is right – buy it. But be sure to put your out-dated item that you are replacing in your own garage sale, cheap, to pass on the savings. Don’t become the crazy lady with 15 blow dryers.
03.14.11 / Bargain / Author: TWGranE / Comments: (0)
Tags: bargain, Diamond Ring, engagement ring alternatives, Fingerprints, jewelry., Moissanite, tattoo, Valentine's Day
I’m not going to a
rgue with the ghost of Jimmy Clark about who had the worst Valentine’s Day, because I’m pretty sure I’d come in second. But the loss of my wedding ring diamond on that day did put me up against the wall.
This was followed by a week of back breaking furniture moving, driveway scouring, dumpster diving and vacuum sifting. It’s gone, time to move on and take a look at some alternative rings that are more economical in these recession years.
My favorite rings are the Custom fingerprint wedding bands created by Fabuluster. I don’t recommend this style if you are Al Capone, but for all of us law-abiding folks, I think it is very cool that you get a fingerprint kit in the mail to send back your impressions to be used in the ancient wax casting process. I took jewelry making in college and did this. It is not easy and I did not do well in this class. The professor, for years after, used me as an example of how NOT to solder. These rings start at a great price of $395.
If your finger has to shine, or if you do not agree with some of the practices of the diamond trade, check out a Moissanite. They are shinier than diamonds, but made in the USA. Maissanite is a lab-created gem made from small quantities of a naturally occurring mineral believed to have been brought to Earth in a meteorite 50,000 years ago. Talk about celestial love. Although they are not cheap, they cost a fraction of an actual diamond.
There is a wide selection of rings available in the $500 range.
Want something that can not be removed, lost or caught in heavy machinery? Get matching tattoos! I have a friend who is a chef in a bistro I frequent that has done this and I think it’s kind of sweet (in a biker kind of way) that their rings are permanent and won’t get caught up in the power mixer. Their cost was $60 for both.
03.08.11 / Coupon Match-Up / Author: TWGranE / Comments: (0)
Tags: coupons, groceries, Sale
On the label, label, label
(if you are singing along, I know you are a relic of the 1970s)
Canned Veggies are this week’s best deal:
Libby’s canned vegetables are on sale at Country Mart (Ottawa) two for $1. Grab the coupon $1 off three cans out of Country Mart’s Fund-raising Coupon Book* to get three cans for 50¢ — You’ll like it, like it, like it on your table, table, table.
The “Ain’t Bad” Coupon Match-ups this week are:
Litehouse Coleslaw dressing is on sale for $3.98. Use the coupon in CM’s fundraising book for $1 off to make it an affordable $2.98. I am only mentioning this because a package of Dole Cole Slaw is on sale this week for 98¢ and with the price of lettuce this might be the way to get your greens. But if your really hitting the grass-roots methods, put a head of cabbage in your cart for 38¢ a pound.
You’ve got to love Country Mart’s “Feed A Family of Four for $10″ package special. With the coupon from the fundraiser coupon book, you can do it for $9! That $9 will buy you two Bertolli Skillet Meals (use $1 off cpn), Bakery Italian bread, spinach, Kraft dressing, 7-Up and ice cream. I’ll cook tonight, Sir.
Walgreen’s has a couple of coupons in this week’s circular for pantry items:Bumblebee White Albacore tuna for 99¢ and Geisha mushrooms 2 for $1. .
Don’t pass up these sale items this week – no coupons needed:
One of my favorite things: Epsom salts, lavender scent is buy one, get one free. There is nothing like a relaxing bath with these salts to wash away the stress of cutting coupons. The major components of Epsom salts are magnesium and sulfates. According to the Epsom Salt Council of Health (yes, there is such a thing) benefits from these ingredients include:
Magnesium:
- Ease stress and improves sleep and concentration
- Help muscles and nerves function properly
- Regulate activity of 325+ enzymes
- Help prevent artery hardening and blood clots
- Make insulin more effective
- Reduce inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps
- Improve oxygen use Sulfates:
- Flush toxins
- Improve absorption of nutrients
- Help form joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins
- Help prevent or ease migraine headaches
*More about The Country Mart Fund-raising Coupon Book
This book has $50 in coupon values. Cost is $5 for the book, but you get $5 off your grocery bill when you buy $50 or more in groceries. The local Soroptimist organization is selling them. Drop me an e-mail at: grannysgab@yahoo.com if you would like them to contact you.
