Michelle and her "find"
Today marked an entry into not just another recreational activity, not just something fun to do on the weekend…but a whole different lifestyle.
I’ve always wondered how my friend Michelle found amazing, quirky, different nick knacky things that she would say she “picked up” for under a dollar – a fringed lamp, the most amazing teapot collection, brown lacy Victorian gloves and a wardrobe full of dresses like none you’d pick up at merely Target. I’ve scoured op shops (a passion of mine) hoping to pick up similarly quirky items…but they’re prices merely have been hiking (what’s with that? You can practically buy things new for the same price)
I now know her secret: Garage Sales
Now this is a whole different world and there are unwritten laws and conventions. Bronnie (Michelle’s Mum) is a Garage Sale guru (and fanatic!), and she lead the way through the maze of seemingly junk to find the pearls underneath the piles of weight-loss books and unused Pilates sets. Here’s some advice I picked up on my five hour initiation through myriads of lawns…
- EARLY! EARLY! EARLY! Everyone will tell you this, but it is so true (insert: something about worms and birds). We got started at 8 in the morning and it was TOO LATE people! Most garage sales start at 7 and your Garage Sale nemesis WILL snaffle up that life-size children’s fire truck (as Bronnie rued) if you are not there right on the dot. Do not estimate the amount of people who are experienced at this; who set their alarm clocks before the sun and have memorised a map of every garage sale. It is, after all, practically a profession for some.The price is merely a guideline. Hopefully the person actually wants to get rid of stuff and therefore will be opening to bargaining down things.
- Game Plan: What you need
- The local paper: highlight the address of the garage sales and write a cool looking code such as E for East of the city and W for the west of the city, grouping the sales in accessible bundles.
- Car space. Chuck out the baby chair before you go.
- An idea of what you are looking for. For all aimless wandering is fun it can be dangerous to both pocket and children’s sanity.
- Items one can always rely on being at a garage sale:
- Weight loss books (it’s as if the occupants just gave up and gave away that guilt inducing item)
- Unused exercise equipment (ditto)
- Kids toys/clothes (garage sales are GOLD for the thrifty grandparent)
- Out of guneas book of records
- Photo Frames
- If you are selling, please sell items you WANT to get rid of. Too often I’d be perusing a table of stuff with the owner of that stuff murmuring “that was grandma’s favourite” or “my daughter couldn’t get enough of playing with that”. One lady had a story to EVERYTHING and looked mournfully as we handed over the money. Don’t be that woman.
- The price is merely a guideline. Hopefully the person actually wants to get rid of stuff and therefore will be opening to bargaining down things.
- Know when to stop, or, If it doesn’t fit into the car comfortably, leave it there! Some pointers to help know when it’s time you went home
- You have had to make trips to your friend who lives in town to dump your stuff there
- It’s past 2 o’clock and you haven’t had lunch but are still scourging
- Your kids are neigh fainting and haven’t even gotten out of the car for the last three garage sales
- You are starting to swerve madly at the sight of a newspaper or a bin on the footpath
- You’re making up excuses for acquiring items that will do you and your love ones no good, “but ours might get mysteriously stolen”, “Well I still haven’t gotten a present for Drew, he could enjoy this Elvis with the boggle head and bendy arms”
- If in doubt over an item ask, “Do I need this?” and “What am I going to use this for?”
- Always remember the golden rule DON’T BUY MORE THAN WHAT CAN FIT COMFORTABLEY IN YOUR CAR
