In Praise of Yard Sales

Springtime comes early in Georgia, and with the sunny skies and the flowering of the dogwood comes yard sale season. In my part of the country, it’s a long season, stretching from early spring (March) into late fall (November), and sometimes later if they are held indoors. The best yard-saling weekend of the year in Royston coincides with the local October-fest.

I’ve already visited a few sales this month and have come away with:

A brand-new pair of pristine-white Adidas--my new flying shoes, y’all!--($2), a cute denim dress fit for a homeschooling mom ($2), a lovely like-new Liz Claiborne handbag to replace the embarrassingly worn-out diaper bag ($3—this was technically a thrift store find), a messenger bag in case I need a change of bags ($3), the makings of a Pilgrim costume for biography fair ($6), a wallet to replace my worn-out old one (.50), a nice portfolio-style CD holder for 4yo’s computer games ($1 and he carries it everywhere with him), and a hardcover copy of *If You Give A Pig a Pancake* (.50—4yo also carries this everywhere).

Now, I know Flylady disapproves of yard sales, and I understand why--they are simultaneously repositories and purveyors of clutter. Nevertheless, for a homeschooling family of seven on a limited income, they constitute a bountiful provision. So I sing their praises.

For one thing, yard sales are quite instructive on the nature of clutter. They warn me: today’s happy meal toy is tomorrow’s yard sale fodder...don’t drop your hard-earned cash on it! Other things I see in abundance at yard sales: old Danielle Steele novels, novelty mugs, half-burnt candles, silk flower arrangements, tubs of broken crayons, the hot-hot-selling toy from two Christmases ago, bags of half-used vials of craft paints, the once-popular diet or exercise craze.... Oh yes, yard sales speak volumes to the flybaby committed to decluttering. She who has ears to hear will carefully evaluate all "new" purchases she makes, after making the yard sale rounds year after year. If for no other reason than that--learning what not to throw money away on--yard saling is worthwhile.

But of course, among all the worthless clutter are to be found the gems, the items worth purchasing secondhand. A nice large gilt-framed art print, with large holes drilled in the top and bottom of the wooden frame, is easily repaired with wood filler, doctored with (yard-sale purchased) gilt and hung in the formerly empty foyer. A three-tiered wire basket ($1) holds a few little items of sentimental value spared from a fling boogie. My wardrobe gains new additions (some with the tags still on) and old clothes can be tossed--welcome changes I could never afford otherwise, as I have no clothing budget to speak of. Brand-new candles or bath luxuries, still in their wrappings, are bought for cents on the dollar and yet feel like a big indulgence. Yard saling: a fun, inexpensive way to really FLY (Finally Love Yourself). Don't get me started on vacuum cleaner bags. For years, all my vacuum cleaner bags were yard-sale purchased.

Also, considering the rapid attrition rate in this home of five young children, purchasing secondhand definitely keeps the parents’ stress level down. If one of the little ‘uns rips a hole in a pair of pants, so what? The pants only cost a dollar. That CD-ROM or book the baby just demolished? Twenty-five cents. The Laura Ashley comforter my daughter just stained with ink? It already had a small tear in it, so it was only $5...no biggie. It’s much easier not to sweat the small stuff when you paid a small price for it.

Then there’s the neighborliness factor. Yard saling enthusiasts get to know one another; you meet up with the same people sale after sale. Bring a baby and watch the prices drop and the freebies flow into your minivan! Folks around here love to indulge small children. You also get to know people when you have kids as a conversation starter. They tell you their life story. Bring all five children, and oh, the comments! It’s funny to hear the same observations repeated at every sale, but people are always kind to the children, so I don’t mind. The most common refrains I hear: "How old is that 'un?" and "You got your hands full, dontcha?" No better way to get to know the people in your town. Some of them gear up to sell only once a year, but they still remember you from last year’s sale.

And finally, there’s the elimination of buyer’s remorse. Sometimes--I admit it--I come home with a few duds. They either don’t work out, or I use them for a while and then decide they are superfluous. Knowing that I spent no more than a couple of dollars on it, and knowing that Ms. Mary’s family (who always take my "blessings" with great enjoyment) or someone in my church will benefit from it, I can impulse shop on occasion without a twinge of guilt. No guilt! Now that’s got to be the biggest blessing of all.

I believe Amy Dacyzyn (I hope I spelled that right), of Tightwad Gazette fame, once figured out that, of all her homemaking tasks, one of the highest returns in terms of "hourly wage" was yard saling. She concluded it was well worth her time, in other words. I must concur. Judiciously purchased, yard sale items are a great value, a huge income-stretcher, and can bring lasting enjoyment to one’s family. I can point to dozens of things we still use and love that came from yard sales.

I know it’s FLY for me. How about you?