Nana Disproves The Theory That Pre-Planning For Yard Sale Shopping Is Beneficial

Fridays in the summer are prime time for yard sales.  This week, as temperatures hit the high 90s, the residents of Hermiston seemed to realize that the lazy, warm days of summer were almost over and they were losing their opportunities to hold an outside sale.  The Nickel Ads had column after column of yard sales listed.  This week I followed the spouse’s advice and made a list.  Last night I entered all the addresses into Google Maps, organized the sales by proximity, and printed out a detailed plan of attack for Friday morning.

My first stop was an estate sale.  I bought a pile of old towels to use for cleaning rags and a Field Guide to Western Birds.  I also called the spouse and told him he should stop by to see all the tools and man toys in the basement of this sale.  I moved on to the next sale on my list but later received a call from the spouse.  He was ecstatic.  He had bought every drill bit they had.  He found several old Stanley planers which he is sure are valuable (as if he’d ever sell them!)  He purchased several tools that he’s not quite sure what they’re used for…but he’s sure they’re good ones.  He also bought, wait for it…five chunks of lead and a giant plank of steel!!!  It really doesn’t take much to make him happy.  Later in the day I heard him talking on the phone to his brother and bragging about his great finds.  It’s fun for me to see him so giddy about shopping.  I know the feeling, but I usually get that way after Macy’s has a 50% off the sale price special on shoes.

I expected to find some real treasures today because I spent all that time organizing.  I think I shattered the spouse’s theory of the benefits of pre-planning.  I was even out the door before 8:00!  I wasn’t any more successful today than when I follow my usual practice of sleeping in and then late in the morning aimlessly driving around and looking for yard sale signs.    That’s what I’m going to do tomorrow.  It’s Saturday and there are more sales starting, but I’m not getting up early.

Nana Goes to Yard Sales

We had a lovely early summer day today.  Perfect weather for a yard sale.  Late morning I left the home compound to see what I could find.  The spouse decided not to go with me because it was so late.  "It's 10:00.  All the good stuff is gone" he told me.  He fancies himself  a yard sale expert.  "Most of the sales started on Friday," he says.  "You need to get the Nickel Ads on Thursday and circle the ads and make a list.  You need to go early on Friday to get the good stuff."  Probably good advice, but it sounds like way too much pre-planning for me.

Today I didn't buy a thing, but  it's not like I really needed anything to start with.  I wasn't looking for anything in particular.  I operate from the "I'll know it when I see it" school of yard sale shoppers.  It was fun to be out searching for treasure.  It's the hunt that I enjoy, even when I come home empty handed.  The reality is that I don't need any more things...well, unless they are really cool things.

I wish I had thought to take my camera with me.  There was some unbelievable merchandise for sale.  I find it hard to believe that people think they can sell some of this stuff...and just as unbelievable is that I see shoppers walking away with armloads of crap they have bought.

One sale I went to was in the front yard of a house enclosed by a chain link fence.  Clothing was hung all along the fence.  I parked my car on the street and walked up to the entrance where I noticed special items of clothing hung on the gate.  Arriving shoppers were greeted by a half a dozen gigantic Triple D braziers in neon colors swinging on the gate.  Who buys bras at a yard sale?  Who buys used underwear?  Who hangs their enormous bras on their front fence? 

Last week at an estate sale I bought three duck decoys for $1.00 each.  The spouse says he can never have too many duck or goose decoys and for only a dollar, I'll indulge him.  Today there were no tools or fishing gear to tempt me.

I didn't find anything that even momentarily whispered out to me to buy it.  There were lots of plastic containers, many without their lids, used bedding, and old pots and pans with the Teflon almost gone.  I can usually find at least a few books to buy, but today the reading material was limited to Harlequin romances.  Do you really think all the good stuff had already been sold?

Next week I'll map out the sales on Thursday and get an early start Friday morning.  I'll remember to take my camera.  If I'm lucky I can snap some pictures to entertain you...that would be almost as good as finding a treasure.