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What to Buy at Garage Sales, Yard Sales or Thrift Stores
By Holly Campbell
I love garage sales. I like the challenges of finding treasures in another man's trash. When I first started as a amateur shopper, I made many mistakes, often ended up poorer and with things I don't need. Now that I'm smarter, I trust my personal experiences will offer newbies tips on what to avoid and what to buy at garage sales, yard sales and thrift stores.
When looking through classifieds for sale listings, keep in mind the time you spend and your travel expenses. Don't be a "penny wise, pound foolish" bargain hunter. Bringing a map with you helps heaps, you don't want to be circling round the neighbourhood when petrol prices are climbing. Know what you're looking for and write out a list, it's not easy to resist the lure of shopping for nothing.
I found great bargains at affluent neighbourhood. These well-
Shop on Fridays for good selection, Sundays for best prices.
Get yourself lots of change, go with an open mind and don't feel compelled to buy something. Oh, by the way, leave the children at home or with a baby sitter. Chances are you won't be ended up buying five, six more stuffed animals!
Don't go to your neighbour's or friends' garage sales. You're acquainted so you feel too shy to haggle for prices. Out of obligation and generosity, you buy.
When buying used electrical appliances, be very sure to ask if you could plug in and test; check for any missing essential parts. I bought a baking mixer, only to realise that one of the beaters is missing. Same goes for board games and puzzles (don't even be tempted, buy at your own risk). Ending up with a few missing pieces to a almost finished puzzle is nerve wrecking!
Be particularly careful that wiring problems can lead to house fires. New products
often have legally mandated safety features but with used items, it's buyer beware.
Some older appliances are not energy efficient, you actually end up paying more for
electric bills. Don't assume second hands are cheaper, there's no guarantee that
it'll work properly or safely or that will continue to work after you buy it. New
products may be competitively priced with warranty, it's more worthwhile in the long
run. Look for tell-
Books are okay generally but remember to check for torn, missing pages. For DVDs and CDs, check for scratches. Think again before buying decorative items.
When buying used items like toys for children, look for parts that could fall off and cause choking or suffocate.
Check zippers, buttons, pockets and hems. Missing or loose buttons can be replaced at low cost but you might want to think twice about zippers unless you're skilled in needlework. Hold clothing against the light to check for stains and holes.
Think out of the box, save pretty fabrics for future craft projects or use slightly chipped porcelain wares to catch water under house plants.
Before you head for payment, ask yourself why they're selling. Is the item defective or of questionable quality? When in doubt, don't buy. Shop carefully, never buy on impulse.
Double check your change.
With these few tips in mind, you can find treasure and buy smart at garage sales and thrift stores.
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