Shopping at garage sales (tag sales, yard sales or whatever you call them) is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. When you buy gently used items it saves precious resources from being used to make new items, makes the resources go farther for items that have already been produced and keeps items that still have life in them from going into landfills. Also garage sales can save you money!!! I find that you can get the best deals on clothing (especially children’s), shoes, media and paper products.
The Upsides
Garage Sales are cheaper than retail and thrifts and online marketplaces.
You can get items for sometimes 99% off retail and 50% off the price of thrift stores. For example, I got a shirt I love at a garage sale for 50 cents. That shirt would probably have cost $30 retail, maybe $20 if I found a sale or $4 at a thrift store. That was 87.5% off thrift store prices and 98.3% off retail (and 97.5% off retail on sale). Of course you don’t have a wide selection like you do at a store, but when you do find something it’s just that much more exciting!
Some things are brand new
They might still have tags or are in the box. Maybe they weren’t returned to the store in time and then never used. Items like this can be used as gifts. Your friends and family will never suspect they were bought second hand.
You can bargain for better prices
Unlike at the grocery store, you can haggle about price. I’m not much of a haggler, but if I am buying a lot I often ask for a lower bulk price. Some sellers won’t haggle with you at all, often they over-value their goods in the resale market. Every garage sale is different. If a price is too high and you can’t negotiate, don’t spend the money just move on to the next garage sale.
They are Eco-Friendly
Reducing and Reusing are two of the 3 Rs in the famous mantra, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. When you buy from a garage sale you’re not only reusing items but are also reducing your consumption of new goods. Also garage sales are usually local so you aren’t using a lot of gas to transport goods. And finally you’re keeping good items from going into the trash can.
Clothes are one of the main things I purchase at garage sales. Lately the garment industry has been getting a lot of flack for their over production of “disposable” clothes. Things have become about quantity not quality and this has become a drain on the environment. More wild land is cleared for farm land, more chemicals are applied to the ground and more C02 released to meet the demand or perceived demand for clothes.
Target, Walmart, Old Navy, etc. specialize in “throwaway clothes.” Their clothes may be cute and they are definitely cheaper, but often they easily get holes, stretch out, pill or just look worn. Basically your 3 options are: buy less in general, buy less and buy quality items that will last longer and are from ethical sources, or buy used.
The Downsides
You may not find what you need
You can come with a shopping list (which I recommend), but you may not find anything on your list that day. It may take you a whole season of intense shopping to find what you’re looking for and sometimes you still won’t find it. You might find a great kid’s top but never find any bottoms that really match or find a great chair but it doesn’t match anything in your house.
You can over buy
You tend to overbuy when garage sale shopping. Things are so cheap you may buy too much. Cleaning, organizing and storing items can be a headache. Be prepared to move things on to friends or to charity organizations if they end up not being exactly what you want. Remember easy come, easy go.
How to Garage Sale
Look up garage sales online in your area. In your browser’s search bar simply type garage sale (yard sale, tag sale, moving sale, or boot sale) and the name of your city or metro area. There are many garage sale listing sites.
Make a list of each sale with times, address and descriptions of items. Put them in order of area so you don’t do much back-tracking. If there are a lot of sales, choose the 5 to 10 that you could reasonably get to that are either the largest or have exactly what you’re looking for.
Find the best sales. Fundraisers are almost always the best sales to go to (and might have bake sale items). Also look for neighborhood sales. Some people coordinate with their neighbors to have their individual sales on the same day. You can see a lot of merchandise in a short time and save money on gas!
Don’t be fooled by the term “multi-family” garage sale, this might not actually be a very big sale. People may have multiple families contributing, but it might not be much per family.
Take cash in 5 and 1 dollar bills and change in quarters. This will make purchasing items go much faster. I have had to wait many times for people to go inside to look for more change.
Also if you’re not on a tight budget, bring more money than you think you’ll need. You might find something amazing you weren’t even looking for at the last garage sale when you only have a couple bucks left! Of course you may just want to stop shopping once you’ve used up all your cash. This will help you limit overbuying.
Nowadays many people will accept Venmo for payment. Paper checks not so much.
Make a list of what you’re looking for and be specific. This will focus you on what you came to get and curb impulse buys.
Don’t do “drive-bys”, you could easily miss a treasure.
Bring someone to help you look. An extra set of eyes when shopping and someone to help navigate unfamiliar areas can make the experience much easier and quicker.
Plan to spend at least an hour, maybe two (of course depending on how many sales are going).
Going Early vs. Going Late
Garage sales start anywhere from 6 am to 10 am, with most starting by 8 am. Choosing the time to go can be tricky.
If you go early, you’ll get to see things before other shoppers and have better “pickings”, but if you get there too early not everything will set up or even brought outside. Sellers do not like “early birds” and may refuse to sell to you until they’re set up. You can miss things that way as well. Also prices are always highest at the very beginning of a sale.
If you go later, sellers start discounting things as the sale gets closer to it’s end. They usually do not want to deal with their leftover items and may even start giving things away right before close. You may miss something going later, but remember not everyone is looking for the same things you are.
I personally like to go between 8:30 and 9, all the sales are in full swing but you have time to hit a lot of sales and not miss much.
Plan ahead
I buy kids clothes a year or two in advance. My son is a size 8, but I already have many size 10 and 12 clothes and shoes. Yes this does take some storage space, but these things can be stored in the attic until they fit your kids. Just don’t forget about them!
Also I look carefully at the garage sale descriptions online and plan to go first to the ones that have items that match my needs.
How often to go and how much to buy
Garage Sale season in my area is April through October. During these times I may go “garage saleing” every week, but often just every other week. The more you go, the more you’ll find. I suggest sticking to your list and buying only what you need or think you’ll use very soon.
It could be a problem If you get carried away and spend/buy too much and it may irk your spouse or partner. Be sure to set a limits with them on the amount you’ll buy and how much you’ll spend and even how often you’ll go. You can always invite your significant other to go with you. This actually may be a fun hobby to do together.
10 Best things to get from a garage sale (instead of paying retail)
1) Clothes Pay: between 10 cents and $5 for each item Savings: 85 to 99% off retail
Clothes depreciate in value quickly. Unless it’s vintage or high-end, a person would be lucky to get 30 to 50% of their money back when reselling clothes. Let this work to your advantage. Don’t waste your money on retail markups, because there are deals to be had! At a garage sale most clothes are priced between 50 cents and $5.00, coats, dresses and adult clothes being the most expensive (of course area to area may differ a bit). Sometimes kids clothes are priced as low as 25 cents per item.
Sellers may offer you as many clothes as can fit in a grocery sack for only $5.00. Believe me, you can fit a lot of kids clothes in one bag! That can bring the price down to as low as 10 cents per item.
Look carefully at what you want to buy and avoid anything with holes, stains, wear and pilling. It’s not worth buying anything with problems and sellers throw the bad in with the good.
I’ve only purchased about 10% of my children’s clothes from retail stores. Some of their clothes have also been gifts, but most have been hand-me-downs or bought at garage sales. It’s very hard for me to go to a regular store now and pay even $10 for a child’s top. It seems like highway robbery!
I’ve been able to outfit my children very well. Like I said, I look for clothes a size or two higher than my child wears now, that way I’m always prepared. If I can’t find something they need I have time to find it on sale somewhere retail.
I’ve been able to buy some great things for myself and my husband too. Our wardrobes are only about 50% reused though. It can be hard to find clothes that I like in my size or his. I’ve gotten all sorts of clothes from garage sales including brand new and high quality brands. I don’t even mind buying bras and swimsuits used (underwear not so much, but it’s there!). Of course, I give everything a good wash (or two) before it goes into the closets and drawers in my home.
Best deal: kids clothes, coats, snowsuits, shoes
2) Books Pay: between 25 cents and $3 for each item Savings: 90 to 99% off retail
Books lose their value quickly as well. You may pay $20 at Barnes and Noble but once you walk out the doors the going resale price will be more like $2. There are always many books at garage sales. Most books you probably are not going to want- 0ld encyclopedias, Reader’s Digest Condensed Editions and so on. But there is always some great stuff mixed in.
Unfortunately sellers don’t organize their book by call number so you’ll have to really look to find what you want. I like to get all my kids books at garage sales and pay 25 to 50 each for paperback and up to a dollar for hardcover.
Best deal: kids books, paperbacks
3) CDs, DVDs, Videogames
If you still use them, these can be gotten for 50 cents (CDs) to $2 (Games) each. Check to make sure they aren’t scratched and that the item is really in the case.
4) Office supplies/paper products
You can find file folders, hanging folders, binders (always plentiful), printing paper, sheet protectors, lined paper, notebooks, journals, index cards, envelopes, pencils, pens, paper clips, greeting cards and more. Stock up during garage sale season and save!
5) Arts and Craft supplies
This includes decorative paper, stickers, rubber stamps, paints, pastels, ribbons, fake flowers, yarn, glue sticks, beads etc. Don’t spend a lot of money on trying out a new hobby, buy supplies at garage sales. If it turns out not to be your thing you didn’t invest too much.
6) Bags
From backpacks, tote bags, computer bags, purses, diaper bags, beach bags, you will always find bags for sale. The possibilities are endless, but here are a few ideas. Start a stash of reusable grocery. Find bags to start emergency kits for your car and home. Get bags for camping gear. You may even start wrapping gifts in reusable bags.
7) Décor and Wedding decorations
You’ll find frames, so so many frames, vases, decorative glass jars, candle holders, baskets and more baskets. You could skip Hobby Lobby and get most of your wedding decorations at garage sales. If you plan ahead and don’t mind if items are similar but not exactly the same you could save a bundle. Then donate everything to your local charity after the wedding or sell them at a garage sale yourself.
8) Baby Items
There are usually pack n’ plays, toys, strollers, high chairs, bib, blankets, rockers and even car seats. If you’re interested in a car seat, check the expiration date on the side or bottom and don’t buy anything that goes past that date. Also ask about accidents, don’t buy anything that has been in an accident.
9) Kitchen ware
This includes plates, cups, glasses, utensils, platters, and flat wear. I got a whole new set of fun Corelle dishes at a sale for less than $5. I am currently loving them!
10) Games, puzzles, toys
There are lots of games and puzzles at garage sales, but buyer beware, they likely are missing pieces. Look them over carefully before buying. And don’t even buy a puzzle if not finishing it by one piece will drive you crazy!
Used toys is the way to go in my book. Of course they are cheaper and then if your kids don’t play with them as much as you thought they would then just move them along to another owner. Also second hand toys make great Christmas and birthday presents for little kids that won’t know or care that they aren’t new.
Here are some other things you might not have considered buying at a garage sale:
detergent/soaps, shampoo/conditioner, diapers (open package is probably ok), still packaged napkins and paper goods and treats! Love a good bake sale along with everything else.
I have really enjoyed using garage sales to not just be frugal and lessen my impact on the environment, but for the thrill of the hunt. Who knows what treasures you could find?!