Shopping and Saving at Yard Sales

When the weather's nice, nothing beats spending Saturday morning hitting all the yard sales in town. It doesn't matter if you are looking for something specific, like furniture or children's clothes, or just want to see what treasures you can find; chances are you will find at least one treasure by noontime. To help make your yard sale hopping more fun and productive, here are a few tips on how to arrange the expedition and get the most from the morning.

Step 1

Find out where the best yard sales are taking place. Check resources like newspapers and online classified sites and check out what sales are coming up, when they will begin, and what type of merchandise they are offering. Make a list of all the yard sales that are likely to offer something good, and include the addresses and zip codes for each sale you include.

Step 2

Plan your route. Using a map and your list of yard sales, create a route that will allow you to hit each sale you have in mind without having to waste time crisscrossing the city. This will allow you to work in more sales in less time, increasing your chances of finding some that you can't live without.

Step 3

Use a vehicle with plenty of room to spare. A pickup truck is ideal for going yard sale hopping. If you don't have a truck, then an SUV will do. Larger vehicles make it much easier to lug home that potted palm or that armoire that you bought for next to nothing.

Step 4

Take along a friend. Yard sale hopping with one or two other people is always more fun than going it alone. Plus you can use the extra muscle to help you load any treasures you find into your vehicle.

Step 5

Keep your spending within a reasonable limit. There is no need to bankrupt yourself in order to go yard saling. Set aside a certain sum to spend, and let that be enough. You can always go out again after your next payday.

Tips and Warnings

If you have specific items to look for, prepare a list that includes approximate prices you are willing to pay. This will make it easy to scan each yard sale for the things you want, as well as allow you to dicker on the prices and still keep within your budget.

If you go with friends, top the morning off with lunch somewhere, giving each of you a chance to relive some of the triumphs of the day, and revel in what great deals each person is taking home.