Did you know designers—including ALL HGTV designers—go shopping regularly at thrift stores, vintage shops, and yes, even garage sales? One of my favorite things to do is garage sale-ing (30 years). Everything in this picture cost me less than $10 total at a recent rummage sale! Learn my secrets in this ‘Part 1 of 3’ series …
BLOG POST BY:
Carla Gentle with Design Realign, Inc.
ITEMS ABOVE AND THEIR ASSOCIATED COSTS
I purchased the items above at a local church rummage sale two weeks ago. You will notice the picture was taken with the price tags still on, and I had not yet cleaned anything (the sticker tag had fallen off the rug during transit).
Here is a breakdown of the cost for each item (from left to right):
Beautiful Cream Pedestal Bowl ($1.00)
Glass Cone Bowl ($2.00)
Two Antique Pure Silver Candlestick Holders with Handles from Hong Kong (Set for $0.50)
Beautiful Antique (Very Heavy) ‘Canopy’ Candelabra ($2.00)
High Quality Sharper Image Adjustable Desk Lamp ($2.00) – This is normally a $65 lamp
Antique Copper Kettle ($0.50)
Coffee Table ‘Summer Places’ Display Book (All books $0.25)
Never Used Multi-Pocketed Green Sling Bag/Purse (All purses $0.50)
2’ x 3’ Gray and White Rug ($1.00 – Sticker tag fell off in transit)
Folks, that’s less than $10 for all of that! It’s all high-quality merchandise. In all the years I have been doing this, I can tell you that was the best-priced rummage sale / garage sale I have ever visited.
NOTE: Below are several ‘after’ pictures to show how I incorporated some of these items into my home, which includes some big-ticket items from other sales!
THIS IS A 3-PART SERIES FEATURED POST: 'PART 1 OF 3'
I feel this topic is so important—and now more than ever—that I am highlighting it in a 3-part series. This is the first of three blog articles featuring garage sales which include:
All This Totaled Under $10 (this post)
Hold Your Garage Sale During Fall (next week’s post) – The best time is in the fall!
Stage Your Garage Sale for Success (post in two weeks) – Doing this will draw more interest and money to your sale!
… so be sure to read the next two blog articles to ensure a successful garage sale!
ABOVE: Antique candelabra ($2.00) from recent rummage sale. Beautiful!
ABOVE RIGHT: Copper kettle ($0.25) from recent rummage sale filled with organic birch wood chips!
THRIFT / VINTAGE STORES ARE REALLY GLORIFIED GARAGE SALES
You don’t know what you are missing! I do not know one designer who doesn’t go to thrift stores or vintage shops to shop for clients AND themselves. However, I do not know how many designers actually go to garage sales, like myself … but they should, if they don't! You do realize that thrift stores and vintage shops are just glorified garage sales, right? And, the cost savings is even greater!
There are only two distinct differences:
Some items are sold indoors in a store (thrift or vintage), while other items are sold outside in a garage or yard.
The items sold in a thrift or vintage store will be more expensive than items sold in a garage or yard sale but are still less than in a brand store.
PHOTO CREDIT (Left): Suzanne Tucker / Shutterstock | (To the Right): Blesser House
LOOK FOR BARN SALES
If you don’t live within a decent distance from cornfields, you may be missing out on some awesome barn sales. What I mean is people will advertise as holding a barn sale instead of a garage sale. I LOVE when I see an ad for a barn sale because that is a sign there is a ton of stuff for sale because of the size of the building. If you like rustic elements with lots of wood and metal, you are sure to find them at a barn sale!
My Huge Savings from a Recent Barn Sale
I already have an all-in -one printer, but it has seen better days; so last weekend, I purchased the printer to the left at a barn sale. It is a gently used $650 printer I bought for $50. It looks brand new and works just fine!
The 3-drawer file cabinet on wheels (with lock) I bought for $10 through a local newspaper organization that is shutting down one of its buildings and selling some of their equipment. If you know anything about file cabinets, they are not cheap!
THE BENEFITS ARE MANY
If you are someone who doesn’t want to be seen at a garage sale, stop it! Why? Do you know how many treasures I have bought over the years for very little money? It is too many to count.
Here are some of the benefits of garage sale-ing:
The cost savings are HUGE! Many times, you pay only about 1/10th the actual cost or value of similar items in the store. Some savings are even greater.
Many treasures can be found at garage sales. Some people don’t even realize they are selling something of high value (such as certain vintage items).
Many garage sales carry items that you just can’t find in stores anymore.
Going to garage sales is humbling and helps you appreciate the value of a dollar.
I WAS BLESSED BY THIS LADY
Twenty years ago, I lived in a Chicago suburb near O’Hare Airport one block from an older lady who held about three garage sales each year. And these were not just any garage sales; they were always filled with valuable, high-quality merchandise … and a lot of it. Her garage sales were so good and popular, that she told me one time that strangers would ring her doorbell throughout the year asking when she was going to hold her next garage sale!
At the time, she was in her upper 60s and lived alone, so one day I asked her if she would like my help in setting up her garage sales. I felt bad for her as it was a lot of work for her to do by herself. She took my offer and, in return, she ended up giving me some free items or at greatly reduced prices. I was not expecting that. She was truly a blessing.
ABOVE: "Summer Places" Coffee Table Display Book ($0.25) and the pic on the right shows the book opened to the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, MI.
BELOW: I used to live 2 ½ hours from Mackinac Island, MI. I had no idea I lived near such beauty! The “Summer Places” book I purchased above highlights Mackinac Island as one of its summer destinations, and you can see the picture of the Grand Hotel. The color photos below I took in 2019 while I was on a horse-drawn carriage tour passing the Grand Hotel. Breathtaking island and scenery!
USE YOUR NEGOTIATION SKILLS, BUT KNOW WHEN TO USE THEM
I have attended so many garage sales over the years, that I have a good idea of what prices typically go for. If I feel something is priced too high, I start the negotiation process. There is nothing wrong with doing this, just make sure you don’t take advantage of the sellers. Only negotiate on those items that you know are priced too high.
SET UP GARAGE SALE ALERTS
There are numerous garage sales sites you can subscribe to in order to receive alerts on upcoming garage sales. If this is something that interests you, I suggest you have these alerts sent to your inbox no later than Wednesday of each week to plan accordingly. I receive alerts on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays through www.garagesalefinder.com. On the flip side, if you are holding a garage sale, you can list your garage sale on this site FOR FREE!
THIS WEEKEND: FRANKFORT (IL) COMMUNITY GARAGE SALES
I live close to the Chicago suburb of Frankfort, and they are holding their Community Garage Sales event this Saturday, August 5. If you are familiar with this suburb, you know it is considered a luxury market in real estate. There is a lot of money there, so this is a good area to attend community garage sales. You better believe my calendar is reserved this Saturday for this event. :) Hope to see you there!
IN CONCLUSION
Yes, we designers—including ALL HGTV designers—go shopping regularly at thrift stores and vintage shops. Some of us even go to garage sales, including myself.
I love garage sales, and if you haven’t tried them, I suggest giving it a try. The benefits are many, including valuable treasures and items that you can’t find in stores any longer. Why spend full price when you can get the same thing at a garage sale for a small fraction of the price?
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