Yard Sale/Thrift Shop Savings Thread

angela2678 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 07:04 PM

I'm a big yard sale/thrift shop junkie, and I was thinking it might be fun to have an area where we can share those deals. I guess it would be under "Savings and Success Stories" or something like that...I know it's off-topic with regard to coupons, but it could be fun to have a place to share the deals we get.

ashcrouse · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 07:53 PM

We just had our annual neighborhood yard sale here this past weekend. Towards the end of the day I was practically giveing stuff away just so I didnt have to pack it up nd bring it back into the house lol Made great money though :0)

Cathe · #3 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 09:06 AM

Yesterday, I went yardsaling with my pregnant DIL, and we ended up with 21 sleepers and onesies for $10. These are her first baby purchase, and they are all like new. It was so exciting!! At every sale, the newborn clothes were yellow and green, suitable for either sex. Oh, and giraffes appear to be the trendy animal of the year.

This is a partial display of what we bought:

angela2678 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 11:13 AM

I have a vintage 1930's camel-back sofa that is so lovely, but the upholstery was a mess. I contacted a few seamstresses about getting a custom tailored slipcover made, and the cheapest price I got quoted was $350 (plus the cost of the fabric). All of the quotes for full reupholstery were more than $1000. And while I can buy a slipcover new for less than $100, they aren't made to fit vintage sofas (and I hate the way those slipcovers look, anyway--the only way to go is custom). So I've lived with the ugly fabric for about a year.

Well, patience paid off--at a yard sale last weekend, I found a PAIR of off-white cotton twill slipcovers in a trash bag. The sign on them said they were for a camelback sofa, but the woman didn't have any measurements or anything. She wanted $5 for the pair. I figured it was worth a risk because I could just resell them at my own yard sale, so I didn't even take them out of the bag to look at them.

They fit PERFECTLY. As if they were custom-made for my own sofa. I didn't have to do any tucking, stretching, tying, anything. They are even piped and have zipper closures. And there are two! So I have one to use when the other is being washed. I can't believe it--this is, by far, the best deal I've found at a yard sale.

mnm'z · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 04:07 AM

^^ Oh, that's so wonderful, patience is a virtue...

Regarding baby clothes at yard/garage sales. I always bought baby clothes second hand even if they had small stains. I'd soak them in 20 Mule Team Borax overnight and wash them in the morning. None of my babies clothing ever had stains on them and I formula fed them too. HTH

malmort01 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 08:33 AM

I help host a kids clothing, gear,toy yard sale 2x a year for a local charity and yes you can make a killing on stuff. We only sell our clothing for .50 each and can fill a gym with donations then make over 6000.00 in 3 hrs. The parents just love it. They buy and then redonate. If anyone ever wants to plan one of these events PM we (my team) are experts..

Enjoy

cboyer · #7 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angela2678

I have a vintage 1930's camel-back sofa that is so lovely, but the upholstery was a mess. I contacted a few seamstresses about getting a custom tailored slipcover made, and the cheapest price I got quoted was $350 (plus the cost of the fabric). All of the quotes for full reupholstery were more than $1000. And while I can buy a slipcover new for less than $100, they aren't made to fit vintage sofas (and I hate the way those slipcovers look, anyway--the only way to go is custom). So I've lived with the ugly fabric for about a year.

Well, patience paid off--at a yard sale last weekend, I found a PAIR of off-white cotton twill slipcovers in a trash bag. The sign on them said they were for a camelback sofa, but the woman didn't have any measurements or anything. She wanted $5 for the pair. I figured it was worth a risk because I could just resell them at my own yard sale, so I didn't even take them out of the bag to look at them.

They fit PERFECTLY. As if they were custom-made for my own sofa. I didn't have to do any tucking, stretching, tying, anything. They are even piped and have zipper closures. And there are two! So I have one to use when the other is being washed. I can't believe it--this is, by far, the best deal I've found at a yard sale.

total score! I love vintage........post a pic if you can

Leanna · #8 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 03:25 PM

I love garage slaes and go every Saturday! I am always on the lookout for vintage things, especially pottery, and have find about 5 to 10 lovely pieces (Rosewille, McCoy, Weller) per season for fantastic prices, usually $5 or less.

This week, my DH found some tools and was very happy. I bought a board game, mini etch-a-sketch and new in the plastic blanket, all for a few dollars which I will send off to my contacts at anysoldier.com.

I don't have a baby to buy for, but I have been seeing the most gorgeous baby clothing at sales which are in perfect condition. Some of these outfits are the $25 to $40 kind and are going for .50! Great, perfect shape toys, too.

cboyer · #9 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathe

Yesterday, I went yardsaling with my pregnant DIL, and we ended up with 21 sleepers and onesies for $10. These are her first baby purchase, and they are all like new. It was so exciting!! At every sale, the newborn clothes were yellow and green, suitable for either sex. Oh, and giraffes appear to be the trendy animal of the year.

This is a partial display of what we bought:

these items look like they are in mint condition...thats an excellent purchase!

angela2678 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cboyer

total score! I love vintage........post a pic if you can

I love vintage, too! Our house was built in 1936 and we have decorated to period...everything is from the 1920s to the 1940s. We're a little obsessed...everything is vintage. Dishes, linens, all the furniture, pottery/glassware, even the appliances in the kitchen! Even our kids' rooms have all vintage/antique furniture (but also plenty of newer toys!). We collect EVERYTHING--that's why we started yard-saling. I will post a pic of the sofa ASAP. We love it--we got it at an estate auction for $175 (there was a lot of competition for it!), but it fits perfectly in our tiny living room (you just can't try to put new furniture in an old, small house!).