Cost Conscious in CT

Well, it’s no secret to you that I spend Saturday mornings hitting the local tag (aka yard aka garage) sales. For years I’ve maintained a private rant about poorly executed sales—now I have a forum to expound. Read carefully, if you want to have a successful Tag Sale, and avoid being ticketed by the Tag Sale Police.

Signage

There is one reason for signs—to direct traffic to you sale. SO PUT AN ARROW ON THE SIGN! The only info that needs to be on the sign is your address, the date of the sale, and a BIG, BOLD Arrow. I need to know before I get to the corner which way to turn. Your sign should be big, bright and clear. It should be of stiff, large poster board. Computer printouts are easy but useless—to small to be seen in the distance, and too flimsy. They will flop over in half an hour and no one will be able to read them. Bold block lettering on bright orange, pink, or florescent green is ideal. And did I mention the arrow?

Advertising?

I plan my tag sale trip around the ads in the paper, and/or on Craig’s list. But I stop at any sale along the way. And with the cost of ads going up all the time, I can understand some sellers hesitating to have this bite taken out of their potential earnings. Here’s my tip: If you live on or near a major thoroughfare, you can probably get by with just signs (with big arrows). But if you live in the back of beyond, on East Podunk Road, you’re gonna have to make the advertisement investment if you want anyone to come to your sale.

Merchandise

You can sell whatever you want, but please—make sure it’s clean. Nothing turns me off sooner than looking at grungy junk. (Clean junk is fine.) The best sales are somewhat organized by category—but no need to drive yourself crazy. Just separate grandma’s jewels from grandpa’s tools and baby’s rubber duckie. You should have a source of electricity if you are selling electrical items. People will want to check if they work. And BTW—you can sell stuff that doesn’t work, but play fair and label as such.

Pricing

Why are you having a yard sale? Because you want/need to get rid of your stuff. Price accordingly. I don’t care if you paid $75 dollars for it new, and only used it once. It’s not my fault you’re a stupid shopper. I got out of bed early Saturday morning cuz I’m looking for bargains. If I wanted to pay full price, I’d have gone to the mall. Things at your yard sale should be cheap, cheap, cheap. You can plan to lower prices later on, but remember, you’ll get your biggest influx of people in the first three hours—they won’t come back again. Be willing to negotiate. Don’t be insulted if I offer you $2 for the Lenox vase you got for your wedding. That’s what it’s worth to me. If you don’t want to sell it for that price, just say “No, I really want to get $10 for it.” I just asked. (BTW—you may be packing it back up at the end of the day.

More tag sale do’s and dont’s soon!

I try to get down to the beach for at least a few hours every summer afternoon. There are really only ten weeks or so to do it—two in June, four each in July and August, and maybe a week or two in September.

As a Milford resident the beach is free, as long as I’ve remembered to get my resident sticker. And it packs a million dollars worth of enjoyment. Sitting in my sand chair, feet in the water, watching the sailboats and the motorboats, kids and families frolicking in the surf. Or lying face down on my towel, toes dug into the hot sand, eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the surf, the seagulls—and of course snippets of conversation overheard as folks walk by.

An afternoon at the beach engages all of your senses—the aforementioned sounds, the gorgeous views, the smell of salt water, along with the tang of the salt on your lips. The hot sand and the cold, salty water feel wonderful.

Even when I’m reading my book or magazine, or dozing, the feel of being at the beach pervades my actions, making the moments special. It’s hard for me to imagine the unfortunate souls who live inland, and can only visit the shore for a week a year—or never! Kids that have grown up without ever spending a sunny summer afternoon at the beach.

Makes me all the more determined to take advantage of my good fortune. Look for me there again next Sunday!

Sorry for the week-long absence, oh ye faithful blog-followers. I was away on vacation. A cheapskate’s vacation, of course. I opted to spend the 4th of July with my sister in her new Maine abode. My sister Anne and I drove up to Marjie and Bob’s condo in Belfast (north of Camden) anticipating a long, sunny weekend after weeks of rain. Unfortunately we were looking at the forecasts for Milford (me) and Boston (Anne). The sunshine hadn’t quite made it to Belfast, ME. We managed to sneak in a few hours of outdoor activities during breaks in the rain on Thursday and Saturday, but the rest of the time we devoted to playing games (Scrabble, Boggle, Rummy, Pictionary, and Charades) and that other vacation past-time, shopping.

“Shopping?” you ask, Marie?

It all started when I visited the Belfast thrift shop looking for a pair of jeans (I’d packed only shorts—silly me—and the temps hovered in the low 60’s). The jeans cost $3.99, and had an elastic waist—perfect for that other vacation pastime, eating.

“We’re having a special,” the checkout clerk told me. “Fill a bag for $5.00.”

“Marjie? Annie? We have a mission.”

We filled our bag quite full, and were very pleased with out purchases. Except that I realized I had no tops to go with my new pants. We were forced to visit GW’s, which since it rained the next also was no hardship. Scored quite well there, too. Next, Annie wanted to visit Remy’s, “the Maine Department Store”.

Not exactly Macy’s—but a bargain-hunter’s dream. I found the sleeveless, gauzy, long, white Indian dress I’d been looking three yeas for. Cost? $19.99. Not bad, for retail.

Our last stop was Ocean State Job Lot, which just happened to have a lot of tops and pants from a famous maker, which happens to be one of my favorites (to buy second-hand—never new from the shop). Pants $10; tops $8.

I came home from my vacation with several hundred dollars worth of new clothes, yet I’d spent less than one hundred. Not bad.

Sunday dawned beautifully sunny, and we spent the day indulging in another cost-conscious pleasure. Sight-seeing. The vista from the top of Camden Hill State Park is incredible, and the town of Camden was fun to stroll through. Made a big purchase there, too. Two postcards.

Saturday evening. I was sitting outdoors at the Café Atlantique, with my husband and some good friends. Enjoying the (finally)summer sunshine. Listening to the thoroughly enjoyable blues of Dan Stevens. A little boy, enjoying an outdoor supper with his mommy, clapped enthusiastically after every song, increasing everyone’s enjoyment. Friends waved as they strolled by. The sun slowly set. A perfect evening.
The cost? Under five bucks for an Italian Soda and a Diet Coke. Slightly more if we’d wanted a glass of wine, or one of their scrumptious cookies.
Too steep for you? Then how ‘bout one of the free concerts that nearly every town offers weekly throughout the summer? Bring your own cold drinks, and nibbles. Unfold your lawn chairs or spread out a blanket. Watch the little kids “dance” to the music.
Summer is a wonderful time for a cheapskate