Garage Sale Finds - $7!

I headed out this morning to a garage sale at our church. There were a ton of people there, and I talked with Susan, a lady from our church who was a part of the sale, said that there were people lined up for 40 minutes before the doors opened. You can tell that people are itching to start garage 'sailing' again!

Earlier this week, I was talking with a mom at the library and she said that she likes to spray her daughters boots and shoes with rain repellent...because she knows that if her daughter sees a puddle, there's no stopping here. I feel the same way with my boys, and so I debated on getting some this week from the store. I'm glad I waited, because I found a full bottle at the sale for only $0.50!

I found a set of cloth napkins, a cute ream of paper for the boys to color on, and later to be used to print coupons on. I also found reusable cupcake liners! I've recently run out of paper ones, so I'm excited to try these to see if they really work. If they do, that means less waste on our end!

I also got 2 cartridges of ink for $5! Thanks, Susan! These usually retail for about $10 a piece!

Overall, I felt like I had found some really great green items to help reduce our waste. Total I spent only $7! Thanks for looking!

Toy Sale this weekend!

If you're still needing to do some Christmas shopping, here's an opportunity to buy gently used toys. One Week Boutique is having a smaller-scaled sale at the Mattis Free United Methodist Church here in Champaign on November 20th from 8am-5pm. If you've never been to one of their sales, it's amazing how many items they can pull together. I have a party to go to this Saturday, but I will definitely be making my way over there to see what they have to offer.

For more detailed information click here. Good luck shopping!

Garage Sale Findings

Today was a beautiful and crisp day for garage sailing, and I got a chance to go without my two little boys! I had some friends from church that were willing to let me tag along with them. This morning was a little chilly, but overall, it turned out to be a gorgeous Fall day.

Here's what I came away with:

The first 2 sales we went to had so many name-brand clothing for real cheap, so I was excited about that!

I found multiple outfits for my oldest son, that were all from The Childrens Place, Carters, or Old Navy. So I was pretty pleased with that.

I found 3 long sleeved shirts for my husband, and all 3 totaled to $1! Can't beat that!

And last but not least, we ended up at an Estate Sale, where my friend found 2 Pyrex containers for $1! I heard from the Frugal Girl, that that is an excellent find. I also scored some Miracle Grow for my gardens.

Did you score any great finds at garage sales lately?

Trash to Treasure

Sometimes I cannot believe what I find in people's trash. I feel awful having people throw away perfectly good things. Take this for example, I found this outdoor rug that someone was going to have the garbage men haul away, so I saved it, and am selling it on Craigslist as I type.

It's in perfect condition too!

Another example of how people are just throwing good things into the landfill is this nice cookie jar:
There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. I think people just don't want to have to bother to take things to Goodwill, and just toss it. That's a shame. There were even wrapped up Biscotti's in the jar!! (no, we did not eat them!)

This same people who were tossing their cookie jar was also tossing 4 huge tomato cages! Which is a blessing in disguise, because I have been on the lookout for some free ones for our garden. Woo-Hoo!

I can't help but think, "why not have a garage sale, and save all those things that you're tossing, and make some money off of it?" Here's what we found at garage sales this weekend for under $3. The garden hose was only $1, the basketball net you hang from a door was $0.25, the garbage can was $0.50, and the pots were $1.

Another thought, why buy full grown plants when you can buy a whole packet of seed for under $1? Here's what we picked up at the local Dollar General. I love to watch things grow, so I was so excited to see that they had all their seeds 50% off. We're planning on growing a second crop of peas when the weather cools off a bit. My boys love growing peas in our backyard!

So thanks for reading some of my thoughts about people tossing out perfectly good trash that turns into my treasures.

Multiple Garage Sales

This weekend was a hit for us and garage sales around our neighborhood. The only bad thing was that it's getting hotter earlier in the mornings. So we only ventured out a couple days and made sure it was only for a couple of hours.

There were a couple garage sales on Friday that we went to, and here's what we came home with. Lots of clothing! What didn't get pictured was a handful of toys that the boys bought for a quarter each. So total spent for the items below was $2.

And the amount for the items below was $6.50. (The Christmas outfit was $4!).

So then on Saturday morning, we figured that we would go out garage sailing again. :) I love my family! (And once again I was unable to get a good photo of the boy's treasures). Here's what we came home with:

(Lots of PJs that will be good for them to wear in the winter too!)

Total spent for the PJs was $3!! What a find!! I think I should also calculate in that the ladies holding the garage sale were very much under the influence of the heat, so they gave me a deal on the PJs. I think they just wanted to get out of the heat and into the shade. :) No complaining here!

Did you find any good finds at garage sales this weekend?

Garage Sale Findings

It's taken me awhile to post these photos from this past weekend. The garage sales were kinda a flop (at least the ones I went to). So not much to post, but here's what I found:

These are a conglomeration of items from a FCA Sale and a Book Sale at our library. The plates and cups were a combined total of $1. The books were $1.50.

I'm on the lookout for 4T winter clothing for my eldest son, Z-man,

so I found a couple of items for him.

This very heavy sweatshirt (from Children's Place) cost me $1.

Another shirt from Osh Kosh, cost $0.50.

Now this interesting piece cost me $0.50. It's a dress that is a size 2, and knowing that I probably won't ever fit into it, I picked it up for other reasons. I have a plan for it, but I don't want to spoil it, until I finish it. Any thoughts?

Garage Sale Saturday

My family and I had nothing in particular that we wanted to do this past Saturday, so we headed out on our bikes to a couple of sales in our neighborhood.  I love these days, just because it's nice to be together and you never know what you'll find!

Here's what our family found this past Saturday:

My husband is still addicted to buying garage sale Scrabble games, because he loves the letters in them.  (total for 2 games = $0.75).  My husband also found an addition to my son's train set from Fisher Price for $5.  And the clothing for myself cost $5 for 5 pieces.  There are a couple other odds and ends that cost a total of $2.  

The jacket below was a great find.  I saw it at a sale and suggested my husband try it on.  The tag said $5 and it was from the Gap.  He tried it on and then took it off, saying he wasn't sure.  The owner saw this and bargained with him and said you can have it for $2.50!!  Can you believe it!  A Gap, winter lined jacket for $2.50!!  That's awesome!

 

So we'll have to see if he wears it in the end! :)

Garage Sale Saturday

My family and I got a chance to go garage sailing again this morning, and let me tell you, it was HOT out.  We didn't go to very many because either the sale was not worth it, or because alot of people didn't have sales because of the weather.  

Our total spent was $12.40.

There was a pretty decent sized sale at a church, but it was outside, so didn't stay too long.  That sale had the lamps, and books, and games, and a vase that will match perfectly with my newly spray-painted lamps.  

The swim shorts and shirt are for Silas, because Jason thinks that he needs a bigger size than the ones that he's been wearing.  What can I say, I like to see short shorts on my little boys! :)

Let's see...what else...oh yeah, our neighbor down the street is moving to a home, so she had a company have an Estate Sale in her home on Friday and Saturday.  So today we went and my husband found Woolite for carpets (which is what we've really been needing lately with our boys and carpet), he also found a glow stick (not sure what for yet), and I found all those Scotch Tapes for $1 total!!  

So overall, it wasn't a bad day garage sailing with the family!

Reupholstering Project update

Thought I would update you on how my reupholstering project is coming along.  Today I finished striping down the ottoman with only one tragedy...I accidently knicked my thumbnail with the screwdriver, and it hurt like nothing else!!!  

Here's what the ottoman looked like before:

And here's the ottoman after being stripped:

Here's a photo with the top cushion taken off:

Here's a photo of the underside of the cushion on the ottoman....

I'm a little nervous about this part of the reupholstering.  

So, I'm just glad that I've made some progress, and I think this blog is keeping me accountable to keeping up with my promise to get it done by July 4th!

Garage Sale Saturday

So my two little boys, husband, and I ventured out this morning at 8 am for some garage sailing!  My oldest was SO excited to go to garage sales, I think it's mostly cause he can play with other kids toys! Here's what we found after about 8 sales:

Total spent $8.25 for the above items.  The frames and mirror were all $1 each, and the lamp shade was also $1.  We also scored LOTS of tupperware for $1.  The brown lamp was $2!! I was excited to find that (and it came with an energy efficient light bulb!), I feel that we always could use more lighting in our home.  And the green little car cost $.25.  Everything else was in a free bin. 

Here's another find that my husband did not want me to get.  But I convinced him otherwise.  It is a cute little sofa chair and ottoman (on wheels) for $5!!!  I've always wanted to re-upholster a chair, and I think this is my opportunity.  I'm a little nervous about it, but I'm sure it'll be fine.  My goal is to have it done by our 4th of July party.  

I'll keep you posted on how the whole process is going.  Wish me luck!

Saturday Garage Sales

I snuck out of the house again at 6:45am 

to check out the early 7 am garage sales.  

Here's what I found:

Dark Purple Iris' for $8.  

This is a picture I got off the internet, 

I got about twice as much as the picture above.  

I planted them around our mailbox and some by the house.

I got most of these items for $1 a piece.  

And most of them are from The Children's Place.  

Which is a great find because they are expensive in the store!

This is my favorite shirt that I got for $.50.  

Zechariah will be wearing this to a wedding we're going to tomorrow. 

I'm such a sucker for nice boys clothes! 

Garage Sale Finds

Got up early this morning - 6:45am - and hit the sales!  Here's what I came out with:

Everything in this picture was $0.50 each, making my total $6.50.

This is my inspiration pillow that cost me $1. 

It is my inspiration to bring these colors into our family room this summer.

Here's the picnic table that I picked up for my mother-in-law.  

She mentioned the day before that she was looking for one, 

so I found this for $15!  

Garage Sale Finds

On Thursdays I usually hunt for garage sales or whatever kind of sale is going on in our neighborhood.  I pick Thursday because most sales are on Friday and Saturday (some even on Thursday).  I look up sales on Craigslist.com and our local newspaper online.  

So I was excited to see that there was a HUGE sale at a local church down the street.  St. Matthew's church was having a pre-sale today from 5-8pm with a $2 admission.  The sale will continue through the weekend.  Here's what we found:

Nalgene Bottle = $.25 (what a steal!!)

Scrabble = $.50 (artwork for hubbie)

Hardback books =$.50/each

Stage 3 kids toothbrushes = $.50/each

Kids Sandals = $.50/each

Boys Clothing = $.25/each

Bumkins Bibs =$.25 for all three!! ($20 for 3 bibs online)

We also splurged and got the boys the pink stroller (see photo below) 

for $.50 because they love to push it around the house with their toys in it! 

So total we spent $10 on all of our items 

and then $4 on admission for the pre-sale.  

I think it was worth the trip.  

(I don't know why this last part is underlined???)

Garage Sale Finds

I love to go to Garage Sales! Sometimes I find great things, other times they're a flop. But today I found some GREAT items! First I looked on Craigslist to find the certain garage sales that were of my liking, and then off I went! (of course found a sitter for the boys).

Today I was so happy to finally find a wagon that I'd been waiting to find used!!! It was from a family who is moving to Switzerland, and her price was .... $10!!!

Here is Silas taking a ride in it for the first time! He loved it!

Another great deal that I found was this extended train track for only $8!!! Our oldest son was so excited to see the huge tub of trains that I brought home!

So today is a very exciting day with the awesome finds at garage sales!!