For as long as I can remember, Saturdays have been about yard sales.
I’ve been going to yard sales, garage sales, tag sales — whatever you want to call them — with my mom since I was a little girl. Yes, it means getting up early on a day when I could be sleeping late. But the bargains are always worth it. Where else can you pay the same price for Beanie Babies and designer shoes? Score a coffee table for $5 bucks or a paint-splattered vintage wooden ladder for $2.50? You’re always sure to find an As-Seen-on-TV gadget for next to nothing, like the Ronco Rotisserie my mom recently scored.
Or fill up a truck with furniture for less than $50?
I thought I’d spend a few minutes sharing with you some of my favorite strategies for shopping yard sales — finding them and plotting the best plan of action to hit as many sales as possible in a day.
On Friday’s, I always turn to the classified ads first to see what treasures I might find during my treasure hunt on Saturday morning. Over the years, I have found that the best ads don’t necessary translate into the best stuff at a sale.
There aren’t many listed in our local paper this weekend — and that’s unusual, since it’s supposed to be beautiful weather.
But not to worry. Over the years, I’ve adopted a low-tech, high-tech approach to finding yard sales.
I do always check the newspaper, but I also rely heavily on Craigslist because many people will post their ads for free, rather than paying for a newspaper classified.
Some Fridays if I am feeling particularly industrious, I will make a list of all the sales I want to attend from the newspaper and Craigslist, and I will input them into the free Driving Route Planner online. it makes the most efficient driving map for me, so that I don’t backtrack, waste time or gas. How cool is that?
I always make sure that I have my GPS with me, too, in case I decide to skip a sale or get detoured by a sign. (Some of the best yard sales aren’t advertised anywhere but on a roadside sign. I’ve found some of the best deals just driving country roads, looking for signs.)
Another high-tech tool I’ve recently discovered is Yard Sale Treasure Map, a free app for iPhone and Android phones that scans Craigslist and plots yard sales within a 5-mile to 30-mile radius of your location. I love using this app, especially when I’m traveling. I can just click on the app and find out if there are any sales near me, view the original ad and get directions, too!
I’m curious to learn about any of your yard sale tips and tricks. Do you have a secret for finding yard sales? Do you have a favorite high-tech yard sale tool? Or a favorite low-tech way of finding great sales and killer deal?
It’s Friday. You made me want to go out looking now!!!
Thanks for the tips.
I know. I just checked to see if there are any Friday yard sales nearby. No such luck today!
Don’t have any techniques, other than to be sure I make a route mapped out with what I find listed before I head out! Saves time that I don’t want to waste when on the road! But I do LOVE them!!! I bet next weekend will be a great yardsaling weekend! Just a few in our area tomorrow, too! ~Best of luck treasure hunting tomorrow!
Rhonda ~Ramblings of a Southern Girl recently posted..When Less is Not Enough ~ Fall Mantel 2012
Alas, it rained al day today, Rhonda, so I didn’t make it to any yard sales. But I took the time to do some fall decorating! I hope you were able to find some good stuff, but I bet it was raining out your way, too!
I use the same strategies! Do you find sales better in the burbs or in town? I usually limit mine to the 27408/10/03 zip codes to save gas.
I did get a roommate for the blogging conference. Thanks for the heads up.
Marty Walden recently posted..In Honor of my Sister
Marty:
I’ve been enjoying yardsaling on these country roads around me. I’ve found some amazing barn sales along Highway 150, the Summerfield to Browns Summit corridor, as well as the Oak Ridge to Kernersville corridor. Of course, you have to travel further between yard sales than you do in town, so that is a drawback.
I tend to stay around my ZIP code, too. 27455 and 27410 mostly, though I like your zip too, for yard sales. And I’ve also found some amazing deals in east Greensboro. I love going to older neighborhoods.
Twitter: eclecvintage
says:
Have you tried estatesales.net? Just type in your zip code and all the estate sales in your area magically appear – what more could a thrift junkie ask for?!
I’ll have to check out that app!
Kelly
Kelly recently posted..I Scored at the Thrift Store – What a Pane
Kelly,
I haven’t tried estatesales.net. Checking it out, though, because I need some thrift shopping. Rain last weekend and the “crud” this weekend have keep me from yard sales. And there’s that bloggers conference next weekend…
I need a junking fix!
Looking forward to meeting you in real life next weekend.
Amy
during long winter months I bet you’ll enjoy using yardmama.com to “hunt” for treasures or sell your staff, you can also use it to adv your yard / garage sale, it’s fun, no commissions.