Published: July 27, 2009 02:33 pm      

Monica Green: Finding hidden treasures

I’ve had many requests from friends and readers to write about one subject loved by many: garage sales.

Because garage sale season, meaning summer, is in full swing, I thought it’s time to write about one of my favorite pastimes.

Garage sales are like thrift store shopping, but better. You never know what you’re going to find, but normally the price is going to be outstanding.

Most people like to go garage saling early in the morning, so they get first dibs on anything they find. I like going in the afternoon when people are tired after holding the garage sale all day and more willing to cut a deal with you. Most offer half price on their items after 2 or 3 p.m.

The best place to look for garage sales is, of course, the newspaper. I also like to go online to find them. Many people will list all their garage sale leftovers as giveaways on Freecycle late Saturday afternoon or evening.

The best kind of garage sales to find is multifamily or neighborhood sales. That way you’re guaranteed to find a lot of items in one location. Also, keep an eye out for church or organization fundraising garage sales, which often have tons of things to choose from.

Garage sales are also a gold mine for people looking for things to sell on eBay. Brand name clothing is easy to come by and usually priced low enough that you can buy quite a selection without breaking the bank.

It’s also great for parents looking for children’s clothing. Because children outgrow their clothes so fast, I tend to find tons of clothing items for babies and young children. Just last weekend I found a garage sale with lots of baby girl clothes at 50 cents apiece for one of my friends.

My favorite thing to buy at garage sales by far is books. I often go home with sacks full of books when I spend a few hours garage saling. Usually paperbacks are 50 cents and hardbacks are $1. I love to stock up on mystery novels. I have already read three this week that I purchased last weekend at a sale.

For tips on garage saling and how to find the best deals, visit www.garagesalequeen.com.