God has blessed our family through yard sales. I think a lot of people think that yard sales=junk. I would like to do my part to dispel that myth. While it is true that you find a LOT of junk at yard sales, I am pleased and surprised nearly every week at the wonderful things that I find that have blessed our family. Most of the children’s clothes that are not given to us come from yard sales. This enables us to stay within our $25 a month clothes budget (that’s less than $3 a month per person). Most of home decor, furniture and bedding also come from yard sales. I do have some rules that I follow so that we do not fill our home with JUNK. Remember my decluttering series? I do not like clutter or junk.
So here is what I found this week.
Two pairs of nearly new shoes for me and two skirts for Amber, $0.25 each for a total of $1. Plus this cute purse with the tag still attached (The Sack) and the shoulder strap still packed inside, original price $32, paid $0.25.
Pampered Chef cooling rack (this will stack with my other PC racks) paid $0.50. My husband calls me the Pampered Chef queen. I have also found 2- 15″ Pampered Chef pizza stones with an easy carry rack, $4 for the whole caboodle and a Pampered Chef Large Bar Pan and cookie sheet for $2 a piece.
I purchased these three wire baskets that will go over our front porch railing and hold pots of flowers or plants and this large white basket for storing treasures in the girls room, $1.25 for all.
I did mention I have a weakness for chairs. I found this antique high chair/bar stool for $5 and bought it to put in an empty corner of my living room. It now has a plant on the bottom shelf and 4 antique Henty books sitting on top.
A few weeks ago I found some beautiful clothes for myself at bargain prices (a little less than $0.75 each item).
Everything looks new and yes, everything fits me.
Last week I brought home some pretty antique drawers. I plan to put casters with wheels on the bottom and use them under the bunk bed in the boys room. They were free. I’ll share pictures when I get it done. I just have them sitting under the bed now and they look really nice.
Our home is more beautiful, our children dressed more nicely and we have nice quality things because of God’s blessing our family through yard sales.
Several of you local gals have mentioned yard sale-ing with me. You are more than welcome, just give me a call. Is anyone interested in my rules for successful yard sale-ing or do y’all already have it down.
Now just for fun, I’m going to put up Mr. Linky and you may link up if you would like to share your yard sale treasures. What did you find this week?
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Hi, I'm Kimberly. 
I must say I have never frequented yard sales until I started reading blogs (not long ago). I have found a couple of great deals but nothing too exciting yet! I wasted some time my first Sat. and learned my lesson of planning better. Last Sat. I found a typewriter -real nice practically new – for $8! (she was asking $10) I was very excited! I wanted one but found they were too much for me at the stores. I would be interested in some pointers. I must say it probably helps if you live in or near a “nice” area where the yard sales will have useful things. Pointers please!
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I posted a link form a couple of Saturdays ago. I was not able to get out today. I love yard sales, expecially for home decor, I haven’t had much lick with clothing in my area so far. You got some great finds!
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I live in an area where the base only allows two yard sale signs per person. Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with the area enough to know the roads by the names. I miss the arrows that I’m used to in off-base towns for yard sales. Last week however, I drove around specifically looking for twin-size beds or mattresses. I did find a water cooler that heats or cools the water. (There’s the option to disable the heating function- thankfully.) Anyways, sometimes I’m bold enough to ask for a lower price, sometimes I’m not. So I paid the full $30 they were asking. Now instead of using one gallon water jugs in our fridge, I can fill up a 5-gallon container at a time for the cooler. The water is absolutely putrid here and even near unbearable to shower in (STRONG sulfur smell). Our fridge space is also valuable. So keeping cool water in a place other than the fridge at a fraction of the original cost, makes me very happy.
I love yard sales by the way. I hate to throw one. But I LOVE to shop them. I also found about five practically brand-new baby boy outfits a couple weeks ago. They too were asking more than “normal” yard sale prices. They wanted a dollar a piece. But seeing as how I’d just been to the Base Exchange earlier that week and saw those clothes on sale for minimum of $10 each, I figured I could pay a dollar each. I particularly love the yard sales that charge by the bag– usually a very good deal.
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Raising Olives Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I will post my yard sale rules. This seems to be a hot topic. I’m not as organized as Kelli, I don’t have the time to be, but God is the one who blesses and have never felt that I am missing what I need.
Would anyone be interested in me making this a regular Saturday event with a Mr. Linky? Would you actually participate?
MomStarr,
Come down some Saturday and we’ll leave the kids to play with the guys and hit some together.
Bekki,
Great link. What amazing finds, thank you for sharing. I may be a little jealous.
Nikki, Sonshine,
I’m very thankful to live in an area that has a lot of yard sales and the signs to find them.
Suzanne –
Mrs. Marcos,
Would you share your yard sale rules? I would love to read them. Feel free to link up with Mr. Linky on this post, I know others would like to read them.
Joy,
I learned the hard way, good thing I’m so cheap, I only wasted a dollar.
Smelling to check for smoke is one of my rules.
Angela and Kelli,
Corelle is great unless you have tile floors and then they shatter just like everything else
Tara,
I wish. I think that we would love San Antonio and it would be fun to have a yard sale buddy, unless we are looking for the same things.
Thank you Heather. I’m a little daunted by crew responsibilities, I’m not sure I knew what I was getting into. I am looking forward to getting to know our little group better.
Blessings to all,
Kimberly
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I think I need to move to your area!! I wished I could find garage/yard sales around here with your kind of finds!
Great job!
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Hmm wire baskets for plants…interesting…:p
Remember that shirt at Cracker Barrel? I Buy,I try, They…hehe
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I have some basic guidelines I use for garage sales but I would be interested in your rules!
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I have not gone to a yard sale yet this summer! I don’t like the ones in my area because they really are junk or smell like cigarettes. I have to travel to a suburban area to find some good finds. I DO, however, go to the thrift store a lot! Most of the treasures in our home are thrift, handed down, or were found on the side of the road. I could share about those things!
PS I want your clothes!!!
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Thanks to my husband’s mom, I love garage sales! During the summer, I check the online newspaper every thursday or friday night and map out what area(s) I’m going to hit. Does your newspaper post ads online? In the past it has been nice to go on friday morning, because not as many people are able to go due to work, but having two little ones to take in and out of the car is making it less appealing. Usually, I’m looking for clothes for the boys, but last week I found a set of bowls and small plates to add to our dwindling set of dishes that keep breaking. I’m like you on avoiding junk, but sometimes I get sucked in. What are your garage sale rules?
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Kelli,
As a side note… corell ware is AWESOME! It almost never breaks, and if you watch, you can find it at g/s and even the goodwill n thrift places. Might help with your breaking of the dishes issue a bit.
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Dear Kimberly,
Just visiting your site, trying to wrap my mind around how you get so much done!! Wow. Your kids are adorable. I look forward to working with you on our mini-crew!
Heather
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you don’t by chance live in san antonio do you???
i would love a garage sale buddy!!!
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Hi Kimberly,
My mom flew in from NY on Friday and we went yardsaling and to thrift stores all day on Saturday. We got 5 shirts (for free), skirt for my daughter, purse from Bath and Body works from a yard sale that was 1/2 off at noon all for $2.50 and that is with buying two waters too. The thrift store was great too, 4 shirts for the baby, 5 shirts for Grandma, a couple toys. We enjoyed our day!!! I love yardsaling and will love it more when we buy a house next year (we are renting due to just moving to the area last year) I love to check craigslist and kidsclub2. Thanks for your blog, I love it!!!
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I love the skirts, I wish I could find them in my size around here
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Our city just started “allowing” garage sales, even yet they make it very difficult by charging you a $10.00 permit, and you get ONE sign to put out. Anymore than that and you get charge $200.00!! It is crazy.
I find that our local Goodwill often has great deals so for me I just have to rely on that.
I love chairs too. We are currently collecting odd chairs to go with a future purchase of a dining room table, I think it will add a unique flair to our home!
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Hey Kimberly – I just had to share my great “find” today! We have two teenage boys who wear men’s sizes and they go to a private school and have to wear dress pants/dress shirts… well, they had outgrown pretty much everything since last year, so I went out today praying that I would be able to find suitable school clothes for them… Well the Lord was one step ahead of me (as usual) and had the perfect sale just down the street from me! I was able to outfit both of them for the school year for a total of $20!! And the clothes are almost ALL name brand (Hilfiger, Gap, Abercrombie, etc.)
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Just want to say that I was surprised at the different yard sale experience in different parts of the country.
In the Midwest, yard sales used to run Fri-Sat. There were great neighborhood sales, and I found many wonderful bargains.
I moved to a small town in the Southwest. Yard sales run from 7-11 am Saturday (before it gets too hot), and I have found very few buys to make it worth my while.
However …
In the Midwest, our thrift stores were more expensive than they are in my small Southwestern town.
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