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.
08.27.10 / Uncategorized / Author: TWGranE / Comments: (0)
Tags: 8 tracks, advertising, bargains, Coca-Cola, garage sale, Hwy. 36, Kansas, Moving, Star Wars
The Garage Sale Lady
In working with the public during Ottawa’s citywide garage sale, community members come to be like a part of your family. When folks started calling work and asking for the “The Garage Sale Lady,” I knew I was doing something good. I feel connected to the people of the community. It is wonderful to work with people and share in a small part of their lives’ stories.
There was the young man who came in after just having gotten married and is starting a family. He is letting his Coca-cola collection go – cheap! He explains that it’s just stuff that is taking up room and he doesn’t need it. Then we get to the real reason. He has to choose between his Star Wars collection or Coca-cola. Star Wars wins hands down!
There is the woman with the excessive giggle that makes it sound as if she is having more of a party then a garage sale. She is so tickled that her husband has finally agreed to let go of his collections of 8-tracks tapes!
There is the garage-sale pro who needs to recycle her bought goods and probably will make a nice little profit. She plans her vacation around the Highway 36 Treasure Hunt (http://www.ushwy36.com/treasure.htm). She and her sister have a trailer and they re-visit their favorite haunts every year.
There are the virgins who call in and the first thing out of their mouths is, “I’ve never done anything like this before.” I walk them through the process: Address, Day, time, teaser items. It is quick and painless.
There are people moving out, moving in, having a baby, becoming empty nesters, getting married, getting divorced, but mostly getting by one garage sale at a time.
03.30.10 / Uncategorized / Author: TWGranE / Comments: (0)
Tags: Children, garage sale, math, school, Wizard
At my last parent-teacher conference the teacher was pleased to announce that my first grader is a MATH WIZ. Really? Math, you don’t say? That’s nice. HOW?!
It’s not like I’ve worked with her with flashcards since her high-chair days (Oh, those commercials drive me nuts, pleeaaase!).
The teacher continues her excitement, “Yes! She is the only one in my class that has a full grasp on money and change.
Oh, I get it now! Perhaps this teacher doesn’t realize how many garage sales this poor little girl has had to endure. I did the dragging, but little Miss Math/Garage Sale Wizard did the shopping! This one ain’t shy. Before I can browse through a box of book titles, she is up at the card table asking if they would take a quarter for a toy, shoes or anything that sparkles.
She found out early that mama wasn’t going to buy her everything just because it was cheap. Really how many Little Pony’s do you need? That’s when she started taking (and buying!) little purses to throw all her found change in.
We started early.
At first she would need help identifying coins (The quarters are the big ones.). Then we worked on how much each was worth, followed by adding and making change.
She has it down, sometimes even assisting the poor little lady who is adding items with her industrial-sized adding machine next to her muffin-tin change organizer.
Last week my daughter was all excited saying that she had to get some old toys priced and, “Oh, could you make some cookies and maybe some granola bars?”
I’m thinking I must have missed something on a school note. It’s not like the teacher uses flashcards with us parents. I’m lucky to read school notes half of the time. But as I’m going through the assortment of gold star math papers, I find verification of my Little Miss Math Wiz demands — A Math Class Garage Sale.
Each child is to bring 25¢ in dimes, nickels and pennies along with low priced items. A math class garage sale! How ingenious! I wonder where are on earth the teacher came up with such a brilliant idea.
She’s a garage sale wizard
There’s got to be a twist
A garage sale wizard
She’s got a coin purse on her wrist
How do you think she does it?
(I don’t know)
What makes her so good?
She ain’t got no distractions
Can see the bargains and deals
Doesn’t let high stickers stop her
Pays only in small bills
Always gets a bargain
Never over-pays at all
That Math/Garage Sale Wizard
Sure has a bargain ball!
09.02.09 / Uncategorized / Author: TWGranE / Comments: (0)
Tags: ebay, garage sale, money
Nothing is sweeter than citywide garage sales, except the day before citywide! Fearing I would not have the stamina (or the money)(or the driving skills) to go to hundreds on Saturday, I armed myself with 20 bucks cash, enlisted a driver (my devoted husband) and headed North. Driver was needed because I am unable to maneuver tricky alley way parking and able to read signs and watch traffic at the same time. My husband brought more dough into the deal, but my twenty bucks was my twenty bucks to be used in the GREAT AMERICAN GARAGE SALE EXPERIENCE, referred to here on out as the GAGSE! Simple really, buy really cool stuff for my own use and buy really cool stuff for resale to finance my GAGSE and make some extra moo-la.
I did amazingly well, impressing even myself! Here’s my loot: Big yellow Mexican clay girl figurine (KEEP), 1960′s Starburst German Metal Clock (KEEP – it so matches our vintage Shasta trailer); 10 large pink chandelier crystals (KEEP – already hanging from our front entry light – Thank you Erin!); Giraffe baby blanket (SELL); 9 pair of Vintage Hose NIP, some with back seams and heel design (UNDECIDED, these would look really cool and unsure of resell on these); Sunflower Cross Stitch Pillow Kit (KEEP – winters here get really long), Victorian Dolls Stitch and stuff Kit (KEEP, ditto); I Dream of Genie Costume (KEEP, I’ll sell it next year!), adult cat costume (SELL, I can’t pull that one off); Bratz “lips” doll bed (KEEP, until daughter grows out of that phase); Kids Weaving Loom for potholders (KEEP, hey I need new potholders!); Tupperware Deviled Egg container (KEEP, watch out office potlucks!); Alfafa Bobble Head (SELL!); Vintage plastic Flower lamp (KEEP, hanging in my new Art/Office); Bratz Carrying Case (KEEP – Dah); Baby Clothes – Levi Jacket, Minnie Mouse Coat, Dora Shoes, Strawberry Shortcake Shoes, 2 Dora fleece pullovers, Infant Cowboy Boots (SELL, SELL, SELL, SELL, SELL, SELL, SELL); 2 Tupperware Christmas Labelors (Ah, want am I going to do with these?); Vintage Tandy Zackman Handheld game (SELL); Antique Princess 6′ mirror (KEEP, needs some work); Giraffe Keychain (KEEP, oldest likes giraffes for some strange reason); Most Awesome Scarf from Paris (KEEP – Absolutely); 2 Vintage Brooches (1 KEEP – goes with Paris scarf, 1 SELL – Christmas item); Victorian 3D Bathroom Art (KEEP – gotta love bathroom art!); Hannah Montana Slippers (KEEP – but she better keep tags on them); A bunch of Corn Cob Handle thingies (KEEP – we so needed these); New Iron (KEEP, unfortunately I don’t believe in ironing)
THAT’S IT – WITH $1 LEFT OVER!
Halloween items are up on ebay already. Working on the others. I’ll let you know if I come ahead. But, I bet I do! Thanks for reading and check back for results of the GAGSE!
