Money Saving Tip: Go to the Right Garage Sales

Here's a money saving tip we use all the time:

Go to garage sales in nice, upscale neighborhoods.

These sales have nice stuff and it's cheap -- you wouldn't believe the things people buy, use just a bit, then sell at pennies on the dollar! As long as you get to the garage sale early, you're bound to find high-quality merchandise at bargain-bin prices when you shop garage sales in nicer neighborhoods.
The best finds: kids clothes. Many people seem to buy brand name clothes for their kids, let them wear it once, then sell it! You can make a killing here.

Our experience is that the VERY wealthy neighborhoods don't have garage sales (though upper-middle-class neighborhoods do), probably because it's not worth their time or they don't want the stigma of having something as "common" as a garage sale. But never fear, there is a solution to this for the penny pincher. We've learned that the very wealthy simply donate their garage sale stuff to Goodwill (or another organization like it). So if you're willing to be seen in a Goodwill store (which I am, who cares?) and are willing to sort through items of various levels of quality (which my wife is), you too can buy the slightly used stuff discarded by the wealthy -- at cents on the dollar.

Comments

[my new self]

Amen! Another place to pick up stuff is at auctions (if you live in an area that has those). We use garage sales and auctions as entertainment too.

And Goodwill is great - last year after Thanksgiving they had a everything for $1.10 sale (meaning all donated stuff, not new items). I got a sports coat, and some name brand/designer shirts for that price. What a deal!

[mapgirl]

I find the trick to Goodwill is to find out where they send the good stuff. In San Francisco, the Goodwill in West Portal (off the L line) always had the furs, tuxes and evening wear. In Baltimore, it's one up in Reisterstown. I think it's off Reisterstown Road.

Unfortunately, while I live near a monster Goodwill, it doesn't have the upscale stuff. Though there is another one near me that specializes in furniture.

Get to know your thrift stores and eventually you'll be able to suss out who has got the good stuff.

[ib]

good advice, mapgirl!
now if i can only figure it out where i live now.... ;)

[Meredith]

In my city, Ebay and consignment kids' sales have driven up the perceived worth of garage sale goods in the better neighborhoods. With the rare exception, it's harder and harder to find quality stuff for a pittance--like we did ten years ago. Instead, I found that the greatest steals were often in my own urban, transitional neighborhood. Low-income families generally did not value their goods, name brand or otherwise, and were often clueless about the value of antique items.

[Meredith]

In my city, Ebay and consignment kids' sales have driven up the perceived worth of garage sale goods in the better neighborhoods. With the rare exception, it's harder and harder to find quality stuff for a pittance--like we did ten years ago. Instead, I found that the greatest steals were often in my own urban, transitional neighborhood. Low-income families generally did not value their goods, name brand or otherwise, and were often clueless about the value of antique items.

[Champion Cheapskate]

You never know what you may find at yard sales, garage sales and auctions. Keep checking. You could find exactly what you need at unbelievable prices.

Also try local colleges and universities, especially around the end of the school year (professors and departments clear out stuff too).

And don't be afraid to sell stuff. You may be able to swap and exchange with buyers.

[Sheila]

It is hard in my area to get anything at Goodwill. They have people they "hold" the good stuff back for and they have started selling with their own on-line auctions. They also seem to want more than what I'd pay in a retail store for anything with some percievied value.