Let the Season of Saving Begin

  • By Karen Wilson
  • June 14, 2012
  • 342
                        
The signs have begun to sprout in earnest. Yard Sale. Garage Sale. Moving Sale. Estate Sale. Make the most of the opportunities while you can. If you have never gone to local sales or thought that it just wasn’t worth the time, here are a few of my best finds for your consideration. I bought my kids’ first computer for 25 cents. It was reasonably up to date at the time and I found a free monitor for it at another sale. When I connected it to a mouse and keyboard that we already had, I found an educational game in the drive as well. The kids used it for several years and I didn’t have to worry about them messing up a big investment. When our sons were still in a stroller, I found a sale with lots of boys clothing in their sizes and a few sizes larger. Good condition clothing filling two eight-foot-long tables piled two feet high cost ten dollars. I had clothes readily available as they grew and had little need to spend more. I paid 50 cents for a heavy duty waffle iron that has since cranked out hundreds of waffles and is still going strong. We make huge batches and freeze the extras. We have quick breakfasts on hand and the boys like to eat them frozen as snacks. My favorite sweatshirt came from a sale that I arrived at late in the day. Because items had been marked down 50%, I purchased a stack of t-shirts and sweatshirts for 12.5 cents each. Keys to sale shopping success: Make a list. Before going to sales, consider things that your household needs. It will focus your shopping and make impulse purchases less likely. Plan ahead. Get a list of sales the day before from the newspaper or its website. Decide which sales are most likely to have things you need. For example, an area with lots of young families is more likely to have baby items and children’s clothing. Plan an efficient route to get to the most sales on the least gas. Get a map to help with unfamiliar streets. Pack snacks. Once you see the sale prices, the cost of a fast food meal will seem ridiculous. Budget. Bring along only as much money as you can afford to spend. Take lots of small bills and change. Sellers will appreciate the convenience. Negotiating will feel more natural if you don’t then have to pay with a big bill. Bring big cloth bags. Keep them in your car to organize your purchases. Prepare for quick departure. Get everything ready the night before. Put items in your vehicle if possible. Be early. The best deals often go quickly. Plan to arrive at the most promising sales as they open. Mind your manners. Keep your children under control. Monitor what they touch. Park carefully. Neighbors often dislike shoppers that park in their yards or block their driveways. Give each child a dollar to spend. Children will learn to shop wisely without begging for everything they see. Shop community sales. Lots of great deals close together save time and gasoline. Bring along a rolling cart to make transporting purchases easier. Bring a jacket too in case the weather is cooler than expected. Move quickly. Don’t dawdle over things you don’t need or don’t plan to buy. You may miss a great deal on one of your shopping list items. Look carefully. If you have taken the time to find a sale, take at least a few minutes to look over the items even if the sale doesn’t appear promising from the street. Don’t give up too quickly. Although good deals go fast, late deals can be had. If the sale is ending, prices may be greatly reduced just to get rid of items. Put things away right away. Give yourself time to clean and put items away as soon as you return home. If your sale shopping leads to chaotic piles, it will soon become an unwelcome activity. Enjoy the experience. Our family has had loads of fun finding bargains over the years. I hope these tips will lead yours to great times and deals as well.


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