Weddingbee Blog

There are oodles of things I love about Mr. Jam. So many, in fact, that I couldn’t begin to list them all because this post would start getting a little more mushy and sweet than we would all be comfortable with.

BUT, there is one thing waaaay at the tippy-top of the “Reasons I Heart You” list: Mr. Jam loves a good deal just as much as I do. And I’m not talking about walking into Target and seeing that sundress you almost bought last week now at 75 percent off and magically in your size, calling your name even though you know you should save your money to, you know…eat.

Nah, Mr. Jam and I prefer to wake up at the crack of dawn & dig through piles of junk for our deals. Now I know that a lot of people claim to “thrift or die” and squeal over the first sight of a neon garage sale sign, but I’m telling you right here and now: there is an art to navigating these sales.

Photo: My two MUST-BUYS are retro furniture and vintage linens. That chair and footstool? ONE DOLLAR EACH at separate sales. Pretty much the best deal ever.

Garage sales, yard sales, community sales…whatever. When it comes to saving a buck, you better start hitting them up. Whether you’re looking for wedding-related awesomeness or something funky to spruce up your studio apartment, listen to the Jams: GARAGE SALES ARE WHERE IT’S AT, yo.

Mr. Jam and I are quite literally obsessed with garage sales, and digging through junk is one of our favorite things to do together; here are our favorite tips in great detail so you can find the next great deal.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Waiting is the Hardest Part: First and foremost, you’re gonna need a strong cup of coffee and a big ol’ dose of patience. Let me state the obvious by saying if you’re looking for a really cool coffee table to complete your retro living room, odds are you’re going to have to look for a while until the magical find appears among the various wreckage at a random sale.

There is the occasional lucky find (and the many that find you, because you don’t really need them and weren’t looking for them), but let’s remember that garage sales are FEAST or FAMINE. Prepare for the worst and carry on with the hunt.

The Garage Sale Survival Kit: Pack up some plastic bags, sunglasses, rope and blankets (more on that below), your sale order and itinerary (also below), and a few drinks or snacks. Nothing kills the thrills of garage sales more than a thirst for a large McDonald’s fountain Coke on a hot morning, so just nip that problem in the bud before it’s even an issue.

Cash is King: You’re also going to need a wad of cold, hard cash (and some in small bills and change, so you’re not trying to break your $20 on a 10-cent book), so plan accordingly. You may find the occasional kindhearted neighbor who will take a personal check if the item is expensive enough or give you something cheap for free so they don’t have to break a big bill, but don’t expect it, especially if the sale is in another town or you’re looking ultra-grimy because you didn’t shower that morning and the heat index is making you sweat through your fanny pack.

Hit up your good buddy ATM on your way to the sales just to be safe. And in the case you don’t bring quite enough cash and you come across the that perfect vintage milk glass lamp…it’s always best to take a friend you can leave as collateral to avoid losing your precious find while you run to the bank. Then decide if going back to pick up your friend is worth it. Kidding! Or am I?

Leave the Lanvin Luggage at Home: And while we’re on the topic of money, let me just say right now to leave that huge overnight-bag-looking handbag at home.

I’ll be the first to say that I love storing everything in my purse just in case I need something later (water bottles, hair products, snacks, multiple books, games, this list could go on forever), but you don’t need that extra weight or the worry if you choose to leave your bag in the car in an unfamiliar ‘hood. Wear comfy shoes, old clothes, and put that cash in your damn pocket.

Desperately Seeking Trunk Space: As far as vehicle space is concerned, it really depends on what you’re looking for (or as I mentioned before, what goodies find you). Keep in mind that most furniture will not fit into your teeny car, no matter how good the gas mileage is and how green the emissions are.

There are times that call for a big, bad monster truck or SUV, so be kind to your van- and truck-driving buddies the week before the sales, then bat your eyes when you ask to borrow their ride for the day. It’s either that or invest in rope to tie your trunk down, or be willing to pass up anything bigger than a kitchen chair.

While we’re on the subject, it’s also good to pack up some old blankets and sheets to safeguard your goodies…some of this junk is so dirty you don’t even want to touch it, and you don’t want to damage the cargo you do manage to smush in your Mini Cooper.

One More Necessity: You’re also going to need a plan of attack (I’m telling ya, garage sales are very serious business), but I’ll get into that more a little later.

Photo: Two more of our MUST-BUYS are antique lamps and random old tables. Can a person really have too many tables? No. Our house is full of them and we just can’t stop buying.

WHAT TO EXPECT

One Person’s Trash is Another Person’s Treasure…Sometimes: Like I said before, garage sales are FEAST or FAMINE, so don’t go in expecting delicious deals at every turn. Odds are you’re going to run into that pair of used underwear, picture frames with family photos still inside, half-used bottles of shampoo and hole-riddled clothing that you’d expect to see in a rag pile.

Prepare to do drive-bys on the picked-over sales, and don’t mess with stopping at the ones that seem to have only junk. Remember, most of this garbage came out of people’s basements and attics and they’re willing to part with it for just a few bucks (or cents, if you’re lucky). You’ll find the occasional clueless seller who doesn’t know that 50-cent Hermes scarf is actually worth more, but it’s really not that often. Yes, I’m speaking from experience!

If you’re looking strictly for antique items or the really valuable gems, there are other avenues to search, which we’ll go over later in this series.

No, I’m Not Going to Pay $3 for a Used Pair of Pantyhose: Another thing you need to expect are freaking high prices for stuff that ain’t worth that much. But don’t let that $5 price tag on one paperback book discourage you! HAGGLE. That is the best advice I can ever give to anyone going to any sale, anywhere.

You like that $20 picnic table, but know you’ll have to spend time painting it? Offer $10 or $15. Most sellers are anxious to make a little money and get this rubble out of their garages, so they will wheel and deal with you more often than not.

But if they don’t (grrr…), be willing to walk away. Don’t spend more than what you’re completely comfortable with on a used item that could be waiting at the next sale a whole lot cheaper. And bonus, sometimes a seller will come to their senses and let you take the dang thing anyway.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm & the Evil Eye: Be expecting rowdy crowds of deal-seeking thrifters who are out for garage-sale-blood, otherwise known as the Early Birds. These are the people who come in packs, hoard the best deals, arrive at 6:30 a.m. when the sale is advertised to start at 8 a.m.…get my drift?

Back in my hometown, the early birds get the best bargains and are intimidating and a little snarly. They won’t let anything get in the way of their good deal… Does this sound like a horror movie yet? Because it can be. Beware…

Photo: See this silk scarf? It’s Hermes, designed by Jacques Eudel in 1962. I have a another in the same series framed on my mantle, courtesy of a garage sale and a clueless seller who sold it for WAY less than it was worth. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, baby!

’TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE SALES

Strap On Your Padding and Let’s Get Serious: Remember when I mentioned the necessary plan of attack? Well this is where that game plan begins. The night before is just as important as the morning of the sales, so do some research and ye shall be rewarded heavily with goodies.

Mr. Jam and I scour the Internet for hours, finding the best sales and ranking them, depending on what we’re on a mission for. For instance, the only kids we have are the furry, slobbery kind, so we obviously avoid sales that heavily advertise baby clothes and toys. Remember, the ad will only list the most appealing items…so if there’s something you are hankering to check out (like a prized, advertised antique cabinet), get there early to beat out the like-minded deal-hunters.

That being said, it’s imperative to rank the most appealing sales in order of importance and hit them up in that order. While many people go in order of proximity and location, there is a far greater chance you will miss out on that advertised, quarter-per-item collection of 1950s and ’60s cocktail jewelry.

So not only will you want to scour the likes of your local Craigslist and enlist the help of your BFF Google to help you locate sales, it’s also very helpful to pick up a copy of your local newspaper a few days in advance. You can also check out local bulletin boards and newsletters for sales that may not be advertised anywhere else.

The More You Rest, The Better the Deals: You may notice that most ads say the sale starts at a certain time…just as long as it doesn’t specifically say, “No Early Birds,” make it a point to get there a liiiiitle bit early, especially if there is something you want to snatch up before the other vultures start circling the garage.

I don’t know about you, but that is earlier than I even have to get up for work during the week, so it can be a challenge for those of us who stay out the night before and indulge in a one too many mojitos (although I do understand how tempting patios are on a warm summer night). Just get a little sleep and get your booty to that sale. What’s more valuable to you…an antique set of dishes for $5 OR one more hour at the bar? Check your priorities, stat.

Pack, Prepare and Persevere: Utilize your car GPS or Google maps and get those destinations and directions all squared away. Last weekend, Mr. Jam and I got so turned around looking for a sale (without printed directions, natch) that we ended up at a different garage sale…that we had already been to that day.

Pack your garage sale survival kit, and make sure your gas tank is full. Some of the greatest garage sales aren’t even advertised and are seen only when you’re driving to the next destination. It’s like a high-speed scavenger hunt, so get ready for a thrilling adventure.

Garage Sale Wedding Goods: You can find just about anything for your wedding as long as you are looking far enough ahead of time. Centerpieces, vintage jewelry, random items you can throw in as décor (old picture frames, a cool chair, scraps of fabric aching to be turned into flowers, seriously anything), even your rehearsal dress or groomsmen’s ties.

The best part of it all? You can get a fortune, a seriously awesome haul, for a few bucks. Even better? Nobody on Earth will have the same combination as you. Step outside the wedding box and start sale-hunting this weekend (and tell me all about it so I can be super jealous of your dealios).

Do you have any garage sale tips? What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever found packed away in a garage? Are you going to start going this weekend? Let’s talk thrifty, people.

Part 2 of this series is coming soon…and it’s all about ESTATE SALES! Be still my heart. It’s my favorite sale of them all.