A little glimpse into who I am. What makes me tick.
While on our 3-day getaway this week, when Lance was in his meetings, I had the opportunity to do whatever I wanted. Shop uninterrupted wherever I wanted. Alone.
For a gal who’s usually limited to Dillons (groceries) and Walmart, you’d think I’d be excited by the retail madness of a mall, Target, Kohls, shoe stores, toy stores, and specialty stores that a small city has to offer.
Well, I did shop (the clearance) at some of those places. Even walked away with a $3 Carters outfit for my new nephew, some underwear (why must it be such a big deal to buy myself a few pair of nice panties?!), and a $13 pair of denim Bermuda shorts for myself. (Um, the first pair of shorts I’ve purchased in at least 5 years. Oh, yes.) But that was it. That’s all I bought… at the stores.
What really gets me excited? Scoring a buy or 27 at garage sales! Woo-hoo! Here’s what I found:
Filling the trunk with fantastic finds!
- dalmatian dog Halloween costume for my nephew ~ $1
- bowl with suction cup for my nephew ~ 50¢
- big, unopened pack of construction paper ~ $1
- bag of 4 itty-bitty, shaped “add water and watch them grow” towels ~ $1
- reusable Dillons shopping bag ~ 50¢
- butter dish ~ 50¢
- potato masher ~ 50¢ (I use my hand mixer to make mashed potatoes, but now that I make my own refried beans… I’ve been on the lookout!)
- brand new with tag baby lovey toy (with the plush animal attached to the soft little blankie)~ $1
- adorable swim outfit, trunks and cover-up shirt, for my nephew ~ $1 (Wow! That little guy really scored on this trip!)
- 10 VHS movies for my kiddos ~ 25¢ each!
- plush Spider Man chair with tags ~ $5
- child’s Home Depot tool kit filled with tools ~ $8
- bedside table (our oldest has been asking for a table with a reading lamp so she can read at night) ~ $2.50
- pair of football/baseball shoes for my little guy – 75¢
- wide mouth, quart-sized Kerr canning jar – 25¢
For all of my garage sale loving friends, I must tell you the bedside table story.
I couldn’t decifer the sticker price (it looked like she had written one number over the top of another number) so I went and asked.
“$4.00″
I browsed a few minutes, and then returned to the lady. “Would you take $3?” (It used to embarrass me too much to ask them to go lower. I’m learning.)
She replied, “How about $5.”
“But you said the sticker price is $4.”
“Oh! Yes. How about $2.50 then?”
$2.50! I asked her to go down to $3!
“Sounds good.” I paid and got outta there before she changed her mind!
Can’t wait to tell you more about my fantastic finds and what I plan to do with the loot. You know there is a plan, right?!
What about you? Are you a garage sale fiend? What was your best ever bargain?
This post is linked to Super Savings Saturday.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Great finds. I have really enjoyed your blog keep writing
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Wow, you really scored, what great finds! I can hardly go in a retail store any more. Just about everything except my groceries comes from yard sales, and it’s way more fun too.
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I was thrilled to pick up a few things at a rummage sale this week (wrote about it here) – my all-time favorite find was an antique Singer sewing machine table (no machine, but it had lots of random sewing stuff inside). It was $20 – I didn’t even try to dicker it down, and I think I probably should have. It held my “prayer corner” stuff for quite a while and is now holding sewing stuff . . . I think I liked it better with the prayer stuff, though!
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Sounds like you had a fun trip!
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Suh-weet finds, Amy!
What a blessing!
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Great job, Amy!! You inspire us all!!!
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You aways score big when you go out shopping:-)
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I had every intention to get out this morning and go to some garage sales, but um… yea, I slept in!!
( Maybe tomorrow…
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Very fun!
I don’t usually go to garage sales here–there just isn’t much to find (why people think someone will buy their old paint that has been sitting in their garage at 115º for 3 years beats me).
I have a friend who goes on vacation in another state with my list, and comes back with all sorts of clothes for my boys (she leaves for 3 months; she’s retired).
So I have a personal (garage sale) shopper
I love the tools; my boys would love those! Great find!
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Amy Reply:
August 8th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
@The Prudent Homemaker, I haven’t been garage-saling like that for years. There’s just not much around here, and it’s hard to go with the kids.
A personal garage sale shopper would be a dream!
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Since we’re learning about canning food, we’ve been on the look out for canning jars. We’ve just gone to a few garage sales and on our first trip found several boxes of canning jars. We paid $14 dollars for over one hundred of them–a mixture of sizes, too. Some even came with the rims that are reusable! That was an exciting day!
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I love yard sales. Like Queen of Fifty Cents, I pretty much only buy groceries in regular stores. For the most part anyways.
I’m shy about asking for lower prices too. But I’ve begun to do it frequently and 99% of the time, the answer is yes!
My best find this year so far was a red vintage Pyrex bowl. I found it in the FREE box!
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I LOVE yard sales! You really found some great deals! I’m glad you had a good time on your “vacation”!
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Boy you did great! Good for you. In these days of economic downturn, we are all looking for ways to save and be good stewards. Blessings.
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I completely clothed my children from birth to about 10 (hard to find clothes after this age) at garage sales, plus got most of their toys, etc. there, too. I get all of my clothes there, too. Garage sales are the BEST!!!!!
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Your table conversation is cracking me up. That’s hilarious!
Your garage sale finds sound fun!
Blessings,
Michele
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