I went yardsaling this morning and just wanted to share my finds with all of you. Got a brand new (used four times) push lawn mower (the type without an engine) for $10 which I have been trying to find at the department stores and can't find; brand new (filter still wrapped in sealed package) Britta water filter for $3 (another item I have been interested in buying but didn't want to spend the money); a grass rake for 25 cents; a zillion baskets for no more than 50 cents each (I use them for gift baskets and we make dried flower arrangements for sale at the farmers' market); two queen size comforters for $3 each, one still in the plastic case; a brass plant stand for $3 which will look great in my new dining room with a Boston fern in it; a large drafting table in excellent condition (no dings on the corners or marks on the surface) for $15 (have been wanting this to design quilts on and hubby wants to learn to do stained glass work so we can both use it; a metal pitcher for $1; and three dozen quart canning jars for a $1 a dozen (always can use those). This trip was definitely worthwhile. Passed up a nice contemporary sofa chair for $12 which I wish I had bought because I could really use it and it was in excellent condition but that's one of the things about goind yard saling, sometimes you get home and wish you had bought something. But I am still very happy with the things I bought. Can't wait until next week.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), June 09, 2001

Answers

YOU GO GIRL !!! Love those yard sales ! We've been out a few times this season ourselves but it sounds as if you had better luck than we have - so far. I'm always waiting for the next go around ! Have fun!

-- cindy palmer (jandcpalmer@sierratel.com), June 09, 2001.

Made a pretty good hit myself today, met some nice people too. Seems like his brother in law's dad had passed away. So I managed to buy 9 pairs of pants, 5 shirts, 15 pairs of socks, and 1 like new reversable vest all in my size. $9 total ( I love to buy anything when I don't get charged sales tax).

-- Ed Copp (OH) (edcopp@yahoo.com), June 09, 2001.

Thanks to Sarah's post last week, I went yard saling today and spent all morning looking for a clay roasting pot- no luck, if you can believe it. I'll look again next week though- I know people get those as gifts and probably never use them so there must be a bunch of 'em out there! I will NOT go to the mall, I will NOT go to the mall,I will NOT go to the mall. (Have to keep reminding myself). A little moral support would be in order here!

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), June 09, 2001.

Elizabeth, don't give up. I'm sure you will find it and at a good price and meanwhile you will find other things that you can use. I am amazed at how often I find the very things I have been thinking of buying but didn't want to buy them new because of the price. Last year I found one of those expensive juicers at an auction for $17. They are normally several hundred and we have been absolutely pleased with it. It works fine. I had been really wanting to get one because we are trying to eat healthier and I thought this would be great. Same thing with the britta filtering pitcher I bought today. I'm already using it and am very happy with it. I had been wanting one of those for awhile as well. I pick up the comforters all of the time because I let my dogs sleep on them and I don't care if they tear them up because I am only spending a couple of dollars on each of them and they love to sleep on them. Just hang in there and I'm sure you'll find it.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), June 09, 2001.

We went Garage saleing yesterday----& my mother had a stroke & Other health problems & we need a walker & stool extender & other equipment- ----I got all we needed for under $50.00---most just like new!!! What a blessing!!!! Also found clothes for the grandchildren & books for all of us!! Had a great day!!!

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), June 09, 2001.

I stopped at a yard sale Friday and picked up an electric knife without a power cord for fifty cents since it couldnt be proved to work. Brought it home and sprayed some non stick cooking spray in the plugin prong recess as mold release, then injected low temp hot glue to make a plug body. After the glue cooled I removed the plug (the cooking spray stopped the glue from bonding to the prongs or plastic housing) and inserted an old lamp cord and built up the rest of the plug body. Looks almost store bought and works great.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), June 10, 2001.

Don't forget this: If there is something very specific that you want, place a free ad in the Bulletin Board or Penny Saver (whatever it is called in your area) in the 'wanted' column. You wouldn't believe how much response you get, and regarding the item you are interested in. This may be another way to STAY AWAY FROM THE MALL!! ;)For farm equipment you might try the equivalent of your atate's 'Market Bulletin' like we have in WV that runs free ads re: sale items and wanted. From chickens to plants to equipment.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), June 10, 2001.

Colleen, how do you find the yard sales? I don't get the paper. Are they in the weekly shopper/ads kind of papers, or do you just drive around until you find them. Now that I have this big dog, I'd like some comforters or blankets or something myself!

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), June 10, 2001.

Joy, I think it really depends on how organized you are as to whether or not you buy a newspaper and look in the classifieds. My girlfriend and I usually just drive down the main routes and look for signs. Because we live in a bedroom community of Washington, DC there are a lot of subdivisions near us and there are always yard sales in them. Since neither of us grew up in this area we don't know the names of the streets so the only way the newspaper would be any help would be if we have a street map. We did buy a newspaper this time to be organized about it but it turned out I couldn't find my county map so we weren't able to use the newspaper anyway except there were several group yard sales at churches and our county government employees had one at the county parking lot. We wouldn't have known about those if we handn't had the paper and we new where these buildings were so we were able to plan our route better because of having the newspaper. It would save you gasoline if you bought the newspaper and planned your route. Also, if you are new at this, I recommend that you go an hour earlier then what they say they are going to set up. You get the good buys if you are there first to get them. We went an hour early and met up with plenty of other people doing the same thing. Only one house wouldn't sell us anything before their starting time so we just went on to the next house. I recommend that you take a truck or a van if you have either so you can load things on that are big. We have a mini-van and a full size 15 passenger van between us and we usually go yard saling with the mini-van but if we find furniture we buy it and then go get the big van to come back and pick it up. If you pay for it up front you don't have to worry about anyone buying it out from under you. We literally completely filled up the back of her minivan from the front seats back this Saturday. Her back seats are out of the minvan because she normally has a dog crate in there so it gave us plenty of room. Besides what I bought, she bought a rocking chair, a desk, a quilt, baskets, some tins and miscellaneous small items as well. We were laughing that we should just pull off on the side of the road, open the back end of the minivan and hang out a yard sale sign to see how many things we could resell. We have a ball when we go and spend half our time laughing. Have fun!!!

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), June 10, 2001.

Joy, There's usually one day when the newspaper will list all the garage/yard sales. It's probably Thursday or Friday and sometimes they even group them by neighborhood. I have a "garage sale kit" in our truck with city maps, street lists, notepad, pen, and a magnifying glass for finding the tiny print on the map. Telephone books have great maps in them- just tear them out of old books. I use those because they are accurate and a nice size to fit in a gallon ziplock bag (my kit). The telephone books have the street lists in alphabetical order and numbers cross-referenced so you can locate them on the map. Looking for signs on busy cross-streets is much easier, but I like to look for special things listed in the ads, like kitchen things, kid stuff, spinning wheel, loom, tools, etc. Unusual things will be listed. Good hunting- and don't forget to buy old towels and blankets for your local animal shelter. They need lots of those too.

-- Peg (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), June 11, 2001.

I get a real thrill out of finding a yard sale bargain. Just recently I went to a sale at a local church and got: kid's books for $.10 a piece, kid's games for $.25 a piece, men's shirts for $.25 a piece, full size flat sheets for a quarter, and best of all a needlework holder that you sit on for $.50! I saw a similar one on a catalog for $65!! Last year at the same sale I got a large hoop stand for quilting for $2. Some of my favorite clothes came from yard sales. I have trouble finding things for my husband though because even though the size tag might have the correct size, it's been put in the dryer constantly and shrunk up (another reason I don't use the dryer). My husband, however, is threatening to leave me if I bring home any more furniture for him to refinish! Our paper lists all the yard sales on Friday and now groups them by town in order of when they open. Good hunting to everyone!

-- Cindy in NY (cjpopeck@worldnet.att.net), June 11, 2001.

Was with my older daughter going to the farmer's market when we spotted a yard sale across the park of her house. Got a Kitchen Aid mixer for $50, now I have 2. I do a lot of baking and when my youngest is ready, it will be hers.

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), June 11, 2001.