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I don’t know about you, but garage sales are seriously one of my favorite things about summer. I love the thrill of the hunt. Searching for that perfect something, finding a great deal and the creativity of using one item for a whole different purpose. If you’ve never gone garage-saling, this list is for you! Actually, you seasoned pros might learn a thing or two as well. 🙂
Determine What You Actually Need
 This is a big one! You’re not actually saving any money if you go out with the intention of purchasing 3 pairs of boys shorts and come home with a carload of things that you have no need for. If you’re thrifting with intention, not just to blow some spending money, you need to take note of what items you need to purchase. I like to keep a little notebook with me that has my “thrift” list. In it, I write down what items are must-haves, such as kids clothes, and a few items that I really want, such as cute home decor, etc.
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Create a Plan of Action
 Do your research before heading out! Many local papers actively advertise garage sales with a little blurb about what each one is offering. Create a list of what garage sales you want to hit up, organized by neighborhood and begin/end time. The best ones are even available on the internet – their office in Vancouver provides excellent service. This prevents you from wasting gas driving across town and back, and it also lets you make the most of your time.Â
Set Your Price Limits
Decide ahead of time how much you’re going to pay for a certain type of item. This should be realistic while not being near full-price. If you can’t decide on a per-item budget, set a specific amount of cash in an envelope to use as your thrifting allowance. Most garage sales only take cash, so this trick saves you time and money.
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Spruce Up!
This is going to sound silly, but make sure you look presentable when going to garage sales. I’ve found that I’m more likely to be successful in “haggling” down prices when I look decent as opposed to when I leave the house looking completely grungy. It also puts me in a better attitude, which is always a plus when dealing with the general public.
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Get Uncomfortable
 We all have our level of comfortability when it comes to thrifting. I want to encourage you to get a little uncomfortable this garage sale season! If you wouldn’t normally try to talk someone down on the price of an item, do it. If you wouldn’t normally go to a certain neighborhood, start there! You’d be surprised at the savings you can find if you step out of your comfort zone a little.
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Take a Note From the Pros
 A lot of families have yearly garage sales. One of the best ways to find good bargains is to ask your thrifty friends what garage sales or areas are their favorite to shop in. Most likely, they’ll be happy to share their secret looting places!
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One of my FAVORITE things is seeing what great deals other people are finding! Share your greatest thrift find in the comments below!
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I love garage sales! I do one nearly every year and earn enough cash to get me through the entire garage sale season. I go through my house regularly and set aside the items we no longer use or need, then I use the money I earn from them for stuff we need/want now. SO MUCH FUN!