When I was a little girl, my aunt would occasionally bring my sister and me a box of old costume jewelry to rummage through when she visited. She lived over 1500 miles away, so her visits were few and far between, which made them all the more special. She would set the box on our kitchen table and let us dig through it while she visited with my mom. Then we’d go out to dinner, my sister and I each sporting a new-to-us piece of gently used bling.
Those times are cherished memories now. That’s why I get so excited when I see a grab bag of mixed jewelry. That’s also why I squealed in delight when I found an antique quart jar filled with old jewelry for $2.00 at the Neosho City-Wide Sale over the weekend. I spent three hours going through and separating things, and I thought of Aunt Alma the entire time.
Nostalgia is one of the reasons I love garage sales, but the thrill of the hunt is what drives me. My bestie, Tammy, and I nearly filled her SUV with treasures from the Neosho sales on Friday. I bought some great Cuisinart skillets that only needed a good scrubbing to look brand new. Other treasures included a narrow book shelf that can stand on its own or be hung on a wall, a brand new sheet set and blanket, cozy throw, hand painted vase, several homemade candles, a teacup with an insert for loose tea, a couple of lunch bags, a gorgeous backpack, a set of copper knives, a gorgeous painting, and a Care Bear for my sister. I even bought a set of 10 plastic plates for the office. At $3.00 for the lot of plates, it was a deal too good to pass up. I bought many other things, most of them practical, and had a wonderful time.
As usual, a lot of the people were grilling various food at their sales. We saw tamales, tacos, and brats. We also found several food trucks parked in a flea market parking lot, but no one was selling funnel cakes. The flea market had rented out parking spaces to people wanting to have sales, and the place was packed. That’s where I found the old jar of jewelry. I also found some really nice tops for $1.00 each.
Though I love the sales, it’s buyer beware. There are always sales where merchandise is marked way too high. I was looking around one man’s spot when he announced the jeans were $50.00 a pair. Yes, they were jeans that retail for around $100.00 a pair, but I’m not about to spend $50.00 on a pair of used jeans. I didn’t even look at them. I also saw $5.00 on a T-shirt that had stains on it. I might pay that if it was a really cool shirt that was pristine, but not on something I would only wear in the garden.
Tammy has suggested I write about garage sale etiquette in a future post, and I think that’s a great idea. From product placement and pricing to overall demeaner, there are a few things to keep in mind if you plan to have a garage sale. Be on the lookout for that exciting post soon!
When was the last time you found treasure at a garage sale?
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