With garage sale season starting, what are your tips for finding the best deals and navigating the sales?

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I sit down with the list of sales and highlight ones that are selling items I would be interested in. My paper organizes them by side of town.
I then organize them according to time they open and their address to save on gas.
Bring a water bottle and a snack if there are lots you want to check out.

My best tip: go to the ones that advertise leaving daycare business---toys galore.

I always:

- check the ads for things I want and then map out my best route. Always take a map, water bottle, snacks, sunscreen and hand sanitizer
- Keep plenty of small bills and change . But, not in the same place! I've found that people are more willing to accept my offer when they see me paying with small bills than a $20. And, paying for a $2 item with a $50 may not be possible if the seller doesn't have enough change
- Keep a running list of what you are looking for so you can refer to it as needed (sizes, etc)
- Don't be afraid to offer a lower price if you think something is overpriced
- I always try to hit moving sales and going out of business sales. Also church sales - they generally have good items and just want them gone so will take fair offers.
- I also keep bags/boxes in my car since some sellers don't have them. I like to make sure my breakables are wrapped really well and won;t slide all over the place while I'm driving
-If there is something you just have to have- go early before things are picked over. If you want it, but can live without it, check back right as seller is closing up- chances are you can get it for your offer just so they don't have to pack it up

My advice would be to go early-right when it opens, especially if there is something you are specifically going there for. I have gotten to sales one minute late before and someone is carrying out what I came for.

I agree with the others...

~ Bring lots of quarters and dollar bills. It's hard ask, "Would you take 50 cents?" And then hand them a $10 or $20!

~ Go with your gut. I have passed up so many things that I later regretted!!!

~ Clean out your vehicle and remove seats if you can. There have been many times I've gone to place a large item in the back of my van only to find the stroller and all sorts of stuff. Ugh.

~ If you are looking for the best deals, I would go alone. When I go with a friend, it's more of a social outing and it slowwwws me way down. ALSO, my friends have the same ages kids etc... so it gets uncomfortable if we both are looking for the same things if you kwim.

~ Use a fanny pack or something similar. You definitely don't want a purse getting in your way, and heaven forbid if you set it down! I have just carried a wallet in the past, but again, I am too tempted to set it down momentarily.

~ Resist temptation to buy it just b/c it's cheap!

~ Be careful when you find things "someone else" would love. I find things for other people ALL the time. "Oh my mother would LOVE this..." or "Oh! My friend's son is into Yu-Gi-Oh cards and here is a shoebox full for $1.00!" If they wanted it, they would be out yard saling!!! Don't do it unless you realllllllly are sure.

~ Get up early - by sun-up sales are in full force.

~ Don't drink coffee! You will have to stop to pee at some McDonald's and you lose so much time!

~ Along those lines, PEE as you are leaving the house, and EAT something like bread that will soak up any other liquid in your system. It sounds crazy, but otherwise I have to pee and it slows me down. I try to get 4 hours of intense yard saling in before having to stop for food/drink.

~ Bring a bottle of water to drink on the ride home. Also, bring snacks.

~ Bring rope/bungee cords for tying your trunk or rear door down.

~ Bring paper/pen to jot down addresses.

~ Bring a cell phone to call and ask, "Honey, will this fit in such-n-such a room?"

~ Wear comfy pants so you can squat and really look through those boxes on the ground.

Happy yard saling!

p.s. Gee, do I yard sale too much or WHAT?!!!