“Follow Me Monday”: How to Yard Sale!
Today’s “Follow Me Monday” video is actually not going to be following me, but instead one of my awesome readers! Reader, Sarah, shows us the ins and outs of “Yard Saling”! She offers lots of awesome tips, takes us along to a few yard sales and even shows up some of the amazing deals she was able to score!! With yard sale season upon us, this video will definitely motivate you to get out there and score yourself some bargains!
Enjoy!
**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it
Side note: I know, I know… it’s been 2 weeks now since I’ve done a “Follow Me Monday” video. Well, my excuse— I’m getting prepared to head out to Lafayette, Indiana this Thursday, 4/29! I’m getting my coupons clipped, spending time with my adorable kiddos and hubby… and just trying to get caught up on everything before leaving. BUT don’t worry, you will get to see lots of video footage when I’m in Lafayette. I will be posting periodic updates like I did in Tampa, so stay tuned! Oh and I may even have a few special guests too! 😉
I love yard sales! It’s so hard to get out to them during my son’s soccer season. 🙁
I totally understand my girls have soccer games every Sat. and I am missing the yard sales.
OK, Sarah is adorable, her baby is adorable and that cat in the rain coat is awesome. That was a super video and she had some really hot tips. Love the two new webisites for planning a route!
What a fun video!!!!! Very informative! Good job Sarah!!! I’m a yard sale kind of girl as well and I love Church’s rummage sales!!!! yeah!!!
Now…Collin!!!! RELAX!!!!! The videos not necessarily have to be from you personally!!! It’s not like you’re playing Tom and Jerry for us. Everything has been very cool and with lots of nice tips. We really just miss your beautiful face. But… you’re doing great!
To bad I won’t be able to see you here in Indy. But… have a good trip!
Just last week, we did a community flea market/yard sale. We made $190 this time. I had so much from couponing. I sold lots of things very cheaply because I wanted to move them out quickly.
Last fall, we made $250 doing the same thing. Because I get so much free, this is profit. We donate some of it to the local humane society. Love this hobby!
I think it is great to let other people do videos too!!
love yard sales…thanks for the video 🙂
Great websites!
My whole family went yard saling this weekend and my aunt picked up a Leapfrog activity table for my daughter for just $2! It’s clean, works perfectly, and retails for $40!
What a steal.
Nice score! This was one of the best toys we bought and my son played with it for many months! We find the Leapfrog toys have a long-shelf-life when it comes to keeping them interested.
Awesome video~~I loved it! I agree with Fernanda that it doesn’t always have to be you even though I always enjoy your videos…….and I LOVED Ma!!!! She looks like a sweet little spitfire! ;0)
Not my thing at all but good for u!
I am just going to remember to MYOB here! 🙂
yard sales are really not my thing either..but i don’t live in a city where many people have nice things, usually it’s junk. I have however, found some beautiful antique furniture at estate sales. and a few rare books that i enjoy. usually not fabulous deals…but fun, rare stuff. I try not to be too picky, but sigh, I am:)
yard sales ARE my thing. watching this makes me sad I don’t live in a big city w/ yard sales galore anymore. i used to come home with the best finds for my kids, saved a lot! my husband didn’t really understand. he thought i must have braked at every yard sale I drove by. uh uh Honey (I wouldn’t get out at the dung heap he stopped at). I explained my methods of selection & how I mapped them out. Don’t let a bad yard sale spoil your taste for them . . . . . . there’s another good one around the corner. Then again, everyone is looking for something different. I think it’s a lot of fun.
Yard sales are my thing too! I love them! Right now I can’t bring myself to shop for cloths at the store because I know I will find many great things at yard sales this summer!
question – i have never been to yard sales, but im curious, do people find things in hopes of using as gifts, or you buy more for personal use? Thanks.
I would say more for personal use only because there’s no “return policy” for yard sales. Now things like books and things not so much of a personal nature are fine to give as gifts, as long as they’re in brand new condition. I wouldn’t have a problem getting someone a book they’ve wanted and keeping it until Christmas or B-Day.
I would say more for personal use. I guess if you find something that is absolutely brand new, you could give it as a gift but I would feel weird about it. I don’t do a lot of yard sales b/c of time constraints but I do hit several of the large church rummage sales a couple of times a year. I got most of my baby stuff at those sales – high chair, swing, etc. Super cheap ($90 highchair for $10) and in GREAT condition. Like she said, you have to be willing to dig!
Thanks guys. I think I will have to try one soon.
Usually, most purchases are for personal use or for family. However, I have bought brand new items that I have given as gifts. For instance, a couple of years ago the EyeClops came out and my son wanted one for Christmas. I didn’t want to spend 50 dollars on one, but I might have for a gift. I found one sealed in the box at a yard sale for 5 dollars! My son was so excited Christmas morning. If it’s new I don’t see anything wrong with giving it as a gift…or keeping it as a gift for yourself!!
I don’t normally do yard sales but all of these videos make me want to go!! I’m all about the good deals on name brand things – got 31 items from our Goodwill the other day for $67. All Columbia, Eddie Bauer, Gap, American Eagle, Talbots, etc. One fleece jacket retails for $90! I almost passed out when I looked it up online!! Its all about the thrill of the hunt!!
Great video! I’ve never heard of the websites she listed in the start of the video, but I will certainly be using them next weekend!
Great job on the video Sarah and THANK YOU FOR THE WEBSITES!!! I can’t wait for garage sale season to start (in my area) and I will definitely use the websites. (Thanks again for the websites!)
I almost didn’t watch this because I thought “what could I possibly learn about yard sailing that I don’t already know?” boy was I wrong! I loved those websites you gave out, I didn’t even know that those existed…great video thanks!!!
I love tag sales! I have gotten so many items in my home that are things I probably wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. Plus the kids clothing and books are always such a steal. The season has just begun here and Saturday was my first day out this year, I was so excited. It has been a loong winter waiting. I love the thrill of the hunt. I have to say don’t get discouraged. There have been weekends that are awful and you get nothing, but the following weekend could be the find of the year. You have to keep at it!
wow, I am ready to go now that ive watched this one and the rummage-sale-lady’s video… (great, tune in head now)
So sad for me but excited for everyone else you get to meet in Indiana!!!! Have fun!
Thanks Collin and Sarah! Great tips! I love yard sales but dont get to them very often with little ones.
Loved the video! I’ve been writing a lot about my garage sale finds at my blog http://www.trenchesofmommyhood.blogspot.com lately. I found an awesome Coach purse for $5, Born shoes for 50 cents (well, my mom found those and I paid her $5 for them), huge Yankee candle jars for $1, Gap coat and Columbia coat for my son for $10 total. Garage sales are awesome!
I love yard sales. My husband and I just bought our first house and a few weeks ago and we started yardsaling to get things for the house. I recently picked up a washer/dryer set only 2 years old for $75 for the set! He has been able to pick up so many tools too! We even found a 100ft garden hose on the reels with no holes for $2!
Awesome video, Sarah!! I have to admit that I’m usually lost at yard sales and end up buying things I didn’t really need in the first place. But I’ve found so great deals, too, especially on kid’s items, so I’m pretty excited for the season to start. Thanks for all the great tips!
Amazing! I look forward to yard sale season too!!
Lemon grass!! Is Sarah in Maryville, TN???
You can see from the signs she is in the 865 area code as well as some Knoxville addresses she has plugged into her sites.
Knox area is yard sale insanity. I am convinced we have more yard sales per capita here than just about anywhere!
Many people move here and are floored!
I just thought that was interesting. I live in Maryville and didn’t know of any other Lemon Grass restraunts. Good to see a local on a video. Hello Sarah!
Hey Julie! I commented below instead of replying to your original comment (oops). I grew up in Maryville…went to Heritage High and then Maryville College. We are in Knoxville now. Lemon Grass is my FAV and there’s actually one that they opened up in the Cedar Bluff area! 🙂
I am in Maryville too, and was about to reply that I think that was the Cedar Bluff Lemongrass, but you beat me! How funny! This really is a great place to go garage saling; I also have a great time when I’m home in Birmingham, AL….those Mountain Brook garage sales are insane!
Oh, and for you Knoxville gals, make sure you hit the Junior League’s Bag-A-Bargain every year! We have it in March and it is a HUGE sale!
Actually, now that I think of it, a lot of cities have Junior League rummage sales, so it might be a good tip for anyone….
Great ideas Sarah and very well explained.
My DH and I spend most Saturday mornings from now through fall going to yard sales. We don’t do date night – this is our quality time together.!!
My tips are –
Take a coffee with you
SAVE YOUR QUARTERS ALL WINTER TO SPEND IN THE SPRING
If its a church sale take a big bag with you it frees up your hands to dig in boxes.
My husband used to hate garage sales and thought people only sold their trash but he is a total convert after finding lots of great things.
You will not find something at every sale you go to – one might be a household with young children so it will have baby things you may or may not want.
Another might be an older couple who have lots of china or furniture. Thats why its good to go to as many as you can to work the percentages in your favor.
Please try it – you might get addicted like we are!!
That website, gsalr.com is way cool!
Thanks..those two websites r great…
Thanks so much for the websites Sarah, I really enjoyed the video. I think the big shocker for me is that it’s 25 degrees in April where you live. I live in Atlanta so our yard sales started months ago. You’re certainly dedicated and boy did it pay off. Great finds!!!!
Well, I did the video well over a month ago (it’s what I submitted for Collin’s video contest) so it was much cooler in the mornings then. I’m in East TN.
Can someone list the websites she talked about? I couldn’t understand the first one and couldn’t read it on the screen! LOL
https://www.drivingrouteplanner.com/
https://gsalr.com/
Have a great time at your dinner. One of my friends(Lori) Hubby won her the dinner! I will wave at you guys since I will be driving through there this weekend.
Those two websites are great! I wish I would have known about the route planner in the pre-gps days. Thanks so much for sharing both sites. The first one is going to be quite helpful as the season is just kicking in here.
We just had our neighborhood yard sale two weekends ago. My family got rid of a lot of bigger baby items. Then this past weekend my mom’s neighborhood had their yard sale. I gave her a bunch of my leftovers to try to sell and boy did she do great! Between both we made a few hundred dollars.
So if you have been hesitant about having one, it’s a great idea.
We also go to yard sales to look for deals on childrens toys.
Great video idea Collin!
I am jealous at the awesome sales you found! We haven’t started garage sale season just yet (we are in Alaska and the snow just melted LOL) but can’t wait. I go almost every weekend in the summer but was still able to learn some new tips from Sarah! THANKS!!
Thanks for all the positive feedback, everyone! I had fun making the video. Julie, I am in Knoxville but lived in Maryville my whole life (until I got married). Lemon Grass is my FAV and there’s a Knoxville restaurant off Cedar Bluff. 🙂
Way to go, great job on the video. I just hope as your daughter gets older the doggies stay away from her stuffed animals. I am excited to check the sites out. Thank you!
Awesome video!! I have never heard of those websites but now I can’t wait to use them. I have to work every Sat. so those will be perfect to plan out my route from the kiddos daycare to all the great deals and still have time to make it to work. I wish we could have seen a picture of all the other great deals you scored to see what all $18 could really do! 🙂 Thanks for the great info!
I was on the fence about going gung-ho yard saling, but Sarah convinced me it can be worth it! Great video!
Ahhh…it warms my heart to know that I have converted another gal to yard saling! 😉
Yard sales rock! You have some impressive ones where you live too. Great video, good job and happy hunting!
Great Video!!! I love Yard Sales!!!
Great video and I have a three month old so I can totally relate to the quiet part in the beginning! Please do not wake the baby up! LOL
I am envious of ya’ll yard sales because people seem to want way too much money for their stuff in these parts. Really irritates me.
Thank you for the websites, but I have a question… do you guys just do yard sales near your house or do you venture out? Thanks!
If I know of a good neighborhood yard sale (ie, expensive houses, high income families with kids, who only have a yard sale in order to say “$1 per item” because they don’t want to take the time to tag it or haul it off to donate it), then I have been known to take one of my children (like a mom/kid date) an HOUR away, to get the good neighborhood. Just like Sarah, we go out to eat afterwards…and it’s ALWAYS been worth it. We have lots of fun and get great stuff for great prices.
I’ve also learned though that some of the fancy neighborhoods charge WAY TO MUCH because some people think their stuff is worth more than it is or something. I stick to the average neighborhood :).
My thoughts exactly! I didn’t know if I was the only one that has noticed that, but it usually seems to be the case. Perhaps they have never actually been to a rummage sale.
Yay!! I loveeeeee yard sales!!! I went to some the past two Saturdays and scored some awesome deals!!! One main highlight was a leafblower for $1!! yes, ONE DOLLAR!! And it works PERFECTLY!! Another was a soft yellow Alyn Paige dress (I wore one in the same style just a different color to my brother’s wedding) for $3.00 (three dollars!!)…… I can’t wait till next Saturday so I can go Yard Selling again!!
🙂
We typically stay within a 10-15 mile radius of our house because it kind of defeats the purpose of saving money if you’re spending a lot on gas. Again, this is where the “planning your route” comes in. The best sales are the neighborhood sales. Last Saturday, there were three neighborhood sales within 5 miles of my house. I was in yard sale heaven! 🙂
Hey, I went to the http://www.gsale.com site recommended and saw only a bad Dolly Parton video. Did I get that address wrong?
https://gsalr.com
It’s actually http://www.gsalr.com for Garage Saler.
It’s gsalr.com…and FYI, there is no such thing as a bad Dolly Parton video. J/K! 🙂
Too funny!!
loved the video! great info – especially on the websites she listed
https://gsalr.com/ and https://www.drivingrouteplanner.com/
(for shannon #28 ) for some reason i could not get the thing to post the reply… anyway hth. 🙂
whoops!! just ignore- i guess my comp is running slow… 😉
I love seeing the deals people find!!! Makes me want to go to a yard sale right now! (o:
OMG—-I feel like a groopie!! I want to go see you shop in Lafayette. I’m in Indianapolis,,,so it wouldn’t be hard!!!
Ha! Here here… I’m in Indy too. I would love to drive there too.
AWESOME video! 🙂 I love garage saling and my hubby and I live in a completely new state and are not familiar with the streets and where they are so it takes me forever to make a list and mapquest everything individually. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to see that there is a site that will map it all out for me. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
I love seeing the deals people find!!! Makes me want to go to a yard sale right now! (o:
Great tips…I didn’t know about the 2nd website for planning your driving route…awesome site.
I have an OT tip….many of us know how expensive perscription medications can be…in our family we spend over 360 per month in out of pocket copays. I realized about a year ago, on many of our name brand medications, that our doctor has samples or coupons. For some reason, they don’t freely offer these up, but if you ask, and explain how much your copays are, they are glad to check. My dr just gave me a coupon for 25 off my sons monthly med for 6 months….that brings his copay down from 30 to 5 dollars. He also gave me 3 months worth of samples of my daughters 4 asthma medications….560 dollars over the 3 month period!
Hey Tilla,
Did you know Publix offers free prescriptions? You might want to check into that.
Also, do they not offer a generic for those? I know you can usually get the generic for $4 at most places if you don’t have a publix nearby.
Also, we have two monthly prescriptions and they are like $9 or so for a 3-month supply (generic). I transfer them to/from CVS and Rite Aid each time I get it filled. Each time I get a $25 gift card per prescription, so it is a money maker for me 🙂
no publix in my state…near seattle. most of our meds don’t have generics yet…a few do, in which case i pay 10 dollars. our name brands are either 30 or 50 depending on tier. I can’t do the transfer thing with some of our meds because they are controlled substances and you have to have a hard copy perscription each time. I currently have 2 25$ transfer coupons for rite aid…can you get the gift cards if it’s not a transfer and just a new perscription?
Oh my goodness that purse you found is sooooo cute!
Thanks! I love it!!
Great video! I can never find good deals like that, it seems, but I’m probably not that dedicated. 🙂 Maybe I’ll give it a try!
Also, be cautious about giving your dogs childrens’ toys that they can rip up. There might be a material inside of them that could make your dogs very sick if they eat it. Check out this snopes information: https://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/stuffedtoys.asp
I didn’t realize that…thank you for the info!
Wow we do that all the time too we buy a stuffed animal for Fatboy at garage sales and give it to him. I wonder if those dogs ate the stuffing? All Fatboy really does is tear it out. I will have to ask our vet to be sure. Thanks for the info!