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Tips on How to Find Great Deals at Yard Sales

July 29, 2014 by Kaysi 14 Comments

I am an avid yard saler, I love it!  I have been doing as long as I can remember.  I remember when I was in grade school, there was a whole sign that said, “we negotiate”.  I asked my mom what negotiate meant and she told me that I could ask down the price.  I had a $1 Boggle game in my hand and I went and ask for $.50 for it. πŸ™‚  Ever since then, I’ve been negotiating and getting good deals at yard sales.  This summer I have gotten a TON  of great things.  I have been going almost every Saturday morning and it seems like I find something great every time.
Here is just a few things that I have found this summer:
Bookshelf for $5. 
 All I did was painted the bookshelf with a fun purple color and then added some vinyl flowers and butterflies to it.  I didn’t sand or prime the bookshelf (I’m sure people would recommend it).  I put on three coats of paint.
tips on how to find great deals at yard sales
Dresser for $5.  Lamp for $5.
IMG_0234 IMG_0241 
I spray painted the hardware purple and then added some vinyl to the dresser.  Very easy and cute!  I just spray painted the base of the lamp pink to match the room.
IMG_0253
Shoes for me.  Sandals were $.50, heels were $2.
I love getting shoes from garage sales.  I just disinfected them really good and they are good to go!
IMG_0143IMG_0033
Dresser for $10.  The three end tables were all for $15.
I just recently redid the dresser (that’s coming this week).
IMG_9777
I just spray painted the tables.  
IMG_9780 IMG_9817
Chair $5, cake stand $2, mirror $.50 and squares shelves for $1.
IMG_9843
I recovered the chair with some awesome fabric using a staple gun and a glue gun.  For the square shelves, I just spray painted them (I love spray paint).
IMG_9903 IMG_0290
Play car $7.  Shoes for $.50.
 IMG_0026 IMG_0022
Here are a few things that I do to find such great deals:
1- See the potential of everything.  It’s amazing what paint can do to something.  If it’s in good shape, the right size and what I’m looking for, then I get it.
2- I go out around 8:00 am. The best stuff goes first, so you need to get out early.
3- Don’t be afraid to negotiate the price.  I have found that people are usually willing to go down a couple dollars.
4- Within 2 minutes I can tell if they are priced to sale or priced to make money.  When they are priced to make money, then I look but don’t buy anything else it’s exactly what I’m looking for.
5- Kids’ clothes are a great deal at yard sales.  I usually pay $.50 to $1 for things, depending on how nice they are.  It’s amazing how much money I can save when I buy my kids a few things at yard sales and then I only have to buy a couple things at stores for back to school.
6- I also buy a ton of my clothes there.  People either don’t like their clothes or they don’t fit.  Whatever reason, it seems like you can find some really good stuff.  I usually pay about $1 for things.
7- Kids’ toys, especially baby toys are easy to find and get good deals on.
8- Spray paint is a yard saler’s best friend.  I seriously spray paint almost everything that I buy for my house.  
9-  To find good things, you have to be willing to look and really look.  Dig through the clothes piles, go through the tables of knick knacks and things like that.
10- Don’t be afraid of a project.  Every weekend when I go, I bring home some kind of project.  Right now I have a lot more time than I do money, so it works out for me.
If you haven’t tried going to yard sales, you need to, they are awesome!!  

Filed Under: furniture, home decor, paint, spray paint, tips, Uncategorized, vinyl. silhouette, wood

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pat Newton

    July 29, 2014 at 3:53 pm

    AMEN!

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  2. Emily

    July 29, 2014 at 9:24 pm

    Do you look online for the yard sales or the paper? Or do you just drive around?

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    • Kaysi

      July 30, 2014 at 4:26 am

      I usually get a paper and look at them but because I'm new to where I live, I just drive around and look for signs

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  3. Kori

    July 30, 2014 at 7:16 am

    You've seriously got an eye for potential in garage sale finds, Kaysi! You've inspired me to dream bigger at garage sales and not be afraid of a can of spray paint!

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  4. ashley @ my craftily ever after

    July 30, 2014 at 6:20 pm

    I love garage sales! I need to go more often, but I don't get a lot of free time without kids and kids are the worst people to take to garage sales (even worse than husbands!)

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  5. Gretchen Brittain

    July 30, 2014 at 9:08 pm

    Great tips!

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  6. Heidi @ Happiness is Homemade

    July 30, 2014 at 9:24 pm

    Great tips, and awesome deals! I love those side tables!

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  7. Dee Cupcakes&Crowbars

    July 31, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    Kaysi I bow down to your yard sale-awesomeness. You have done some really amazing projects for next to no money! I'm impressed, and totally taking notes.

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  8. inkhappi

    July 31, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    I enjoy doing yard sales but I go through phases. I don't have much need right now but this made me really want to go out. This post really shows how great you can do. I love the upholstered chair and the tables! By the way… I like to skip the sanding too πŸ˜‰

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  9. Cori George

    August 1, 2014 at 2:40 am

    I feel like people have crap garage sales around here! You HAUL, girl! I'm going to need to try garage-saling some more — clearly I'm missing some gems!

    I LOVE those little tables. Goodness.

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  10. Mabey She Made It

    August 1, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    Great tips and a great way to personalize your home!

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  11. Albion

    August 3, 2014 at 4:36 pm

    I will learn your ways!! I am terrible at yard sales.

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  12. Alena Belleque

    August 4, 2014 at 4:22 am

    Good job! This is great, thanks for sharing. I've got a house full of stuff ready to paint, but keep putting it off because I don't want to spend the time and money to sand and prime everything. Now that I've seen what your bookshelf looks like without that, I'm super thrilled, and plan to just go ahead and do it!! πŸ™‚

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  13. MrsMajor Hoff

    August 4, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    Great tips!

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