Features / Living
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.
- Features / Living
-
-
John Watson: Cleburne residents find pleasures in park
I recently found an old newspaper clipping with the headline, “Cleburne Pleasure Seekers Aided by City Park Growth.”
-
Monica Green: It’s a girl thing
Women, March is our month. What I mean by that is March is Women’s History Month.
-
Larue Barnes: The test: Dorothy Watts enjoys retirement
A story has been told for years in the Watts family — one of despair that turned into determination.
Nathaniel William Watts eagerly took a civil service exam during the Great Depression. He made a perfect score. -
Larue Barnes: A family effort
Teresa Barrera’s deliberate choice of words caught my attention at lunch that day. Referring to her busy restaurant staff, she said, “They work with us, not for us.”
-
Monica Green: What not to say to your wife
One of my favorite shows used to be “What Not to Wear.”
-
John Watson: Museum resource of American Indian history
For anyone interested in American Indian history, the Museum of the Americas in Weatherford is the place to go.
-
John Watson: The history of J.C. Penney in Cleburne
In 1902 James Cash Penney went to work for the Golden Rule Mercantile Company, a dry-goods retailer in the upper Midwest.
-
Larue Barnes: The crystal beads
I was on my lunch hour when I saw it: a crystal bead necklace on sale for $3.99. I stood transfixed. Even in 1958, I knew a bargain when I saw one.
-
Monica Green: They’ll leave the light on
Trying to plan our upcoming honeymoon was hard.
-
John Watson: Price’s Chapel
Price’s Chapel is a small community southeast of Cleburne at the intersection of county roads 429 and 312.
- More Features / Living Headlines
-
John Watson: Cleburne residents find pleasures in park
