Rummage Sales

I figured that since I just told you about my fun night at the St. Paul's Rummage sale last night, I should tell you my rummage sale strategies.

In my opinion, one of the best ways to save money, bar none, is going to and shopping at rummage sales.   Rummage sales can mean "dirty, used, crowded" to some people.   To me, it means "great deals, great items, treasures."  I live near Philadelphia, so we are really lucky to have lots of rummage sales to choose from.  The majority are in early Spring, and in the fall (with the exception my favorite rummage sale which has been in July for the last several years).     If you go to every one, and buy tons of stuff from each one, then, yes, you will be probably not doing yourself any great favors, because you will soon be swamped with junk!   But if you go to rummage sales, and learn to shop like I do, you will soon realize what a fun way this is to save money.


There are lots of things I don't buy at rummage sales.   But there are things I would only buy at a rummage sale.   For example, these things I would NEVER buy at a store unless it was a fundraiser for a sick child.    Other than that, these things can be bought at prices usually 90-98% off what you would buy in a store.   The list:

1)  Children books.    I have 5 kids.   I would NEVER buy a child's book at a store.  You can get every imaginable title/kind/style of book at a rummage sale.  At the time, I got the entire collection of Harry Potter books, the entire Magic Tree House books,  the entire Lemony Snicket books, and the entire Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys series (in original, vintage conditon)  for my kids for never more than .25/book.    If my child was really into Harry Potter, for example, I would get the first one out of the library, and then I would start to put that into my mental file of facts--we need Harry Potter books.  I could usually assemble a full set within weeks.  When I see that the prices on the back of even softback books is often $10-15, I can't imagine who is buying those books in stores.   In addition, I have gotten dozens of softcover Henry and Mudge, Barbie, Spongebob Squarepants, and other books for my kids for a dime each that I will give them when they claim they are bored, or have nothing to read.     They are thrilled to get a "new" book, and after they have enjoyed it, or seem bored with it, I put it in the donate bag.  It cost me a dime, I got way more than a dime's worth of enjoyment out of it, and now I am ready to let another family enjoy the book.

2)   Those big, plastic, children's toys.    I can't imagine spending $69 on a Cozy Coupe.  I have gotten 5 of these over the last 15 years for a cost of no more than $2-4 each.    It is amazing what a little elbow grease and Lysol antibacterial spray will do to make these things look new (am I showing my age when I say things like "elbow grease"?   I also refer to walking as "shank's mare".    These are the sayings my kids will say some day).   When my kids were all really young, they would have amazing bumper car fights with those  5 Cozy Coupes.   I didn't care if one got a little roughed up and I didn't worry if they were left outside overnight in my backyard, because I know, that when I am done with them, someone will come and pick them off my sidewalk, and get the same amount of joy out of them that I have.

3) Toys.   Do a little looking.   You will find new Lego sets, and  new, often times sealed games.  I have gotten lots of sealed Barbies for my girls over the years.   Lots of Hot Wheel toys, too.   I saw  dozens of games and toys last night that were still new, and sealed.   I have gotten these at rummage sales over the years, and donated them to toy drives in December (now that I have been shopping the Target July Toy Clearance for the last 10 years or so, I buy my "toys to be donated" at that time, but this is always a possibility).    I imagine these toys going to children who might not otherwise get toys, and it makes me happy to know that these kids will get something.     If you do buy something for your child, resist the urge to share all these great toys with your child all at once.    A toy to a child is a toy, and in my opinion, just getting toys every week makes for bratty kids.  Save those toys for times when you really need to give your child something special.   I realized fairly early that most kids don't realize that the toy might have been opened already.   My boys just saw an amazing new Lego set.   Remember,  also, you need collateral for all sorts of parenting issues.   Child won't always agree to something you want him/her to do.   Saying that you are the parent and that you have authority doesn't always work.   Sometimes the promise of a new Hot Wheel was all I needed to have Matthew agree to do something.

4)  Housewares.   Things like metal colanders.  Pyrex.   Clear glass drinking glasses.  You never pay more than a $1 each.   I have gotten nice, full sets of dinner plates, with matching salad bowls,  desserts plates, bowls, and serving spoons, for $20 for a service of 64.    My all time favorite (purchased at the St. Paul's rummage sale about 4 years ago), was a set of three Pampered Chef pot holders, still with the tags on them, for $1 each.  If you know Pampered Chef, you know that this was close to $100 worth of pot holders (and yes, they are probably worth the $35 each they are cost from the catalog---these are really, really nice!)

Other thoughts--I usually don't have a plan when I go to rummage sales.   I have a few things I might want, but I am open to possibilities.   I might go thinking I will look mostly for just a few select housewares, but if I stumble upon an amazing selection of toys, then that is what I get.   Don't be too rigid.   That is what happened with the Pampered Chef pot holders.   I am glad I took the time to look more closely at these items.

Second, you must resist the temptation to over-buy.    Having 687 sets of dishes isn't a good idea, even if they are all amazing deals.   I will, however, buy every Lego set and sealed Barbie I ever see.  I have been TRYING to get rid of old things whenever I bring something into the house, with some limited success.    

Lastly, don't succumb and buy something just because it is new.   There is a reason the original owner didn't want it.  It may have the appeal of being a new item, but if it is a Chia Pet, do you really want it?