By Glenys O'Connell, @GlenysOConnell
August, frankly, is yard sale addict heaven. Lots of people buy homes with the idea of moving in for September, before the weather turns bad or in time for the start of the school year. And moving, for most people, means shucking off all the junk and unused or unloved items that have accumulated since the last move.
That means
fine pickings that for people like me, who have Magpie somewhere in their
genetic history.
Unfortunately,
the let’s-sell-it-rather-than-move-it logic doesn’t apply to us yard sale addicts.
Picking up treasures (sometimes highly questionable ones) is fine, but when it
comes to parting with them…well, you can hear our screams for miles around.
How do you
recognise a yard sale being held at a yard sale addict’s home? Watch her play
tug of war with would-be customers over those cracked dishes, or weep as that
odd looking piece of machinery or kitchen gadget (she never did know what it
was intended for) is carried away triumphantly, probably by another addict.
I have had
some great finds – the set of Captain’s Chairs that I refinished and sold for
six times what I paid for them – oh, did I ever feel self-righteous about that!
Pity that I then took the money and – you’ve guessed it – went yard sale-ing
again…
Then there’s
this lovely antique nursing rocker that I got for so little I felt guilty about
it. Good finds, yes?
And the
quilts – oh, I love hand stitched quilts. I guess it would be more ethical to
make my own, but why bother when someone else is willing to part with their
family heirlooms for just a few dollars?
Oh, the shame of it…..
Glenys O'Connell is planning to finish her next romantic suspense novel, Dark Revenge, just as soon as she can find her laptop among the latest yard sale clutter..... You can read first chapters of her other books at http://www.glenysoconnell.com/firstchapters.htm
But this
made-in-Kashmir brass and enamelled Item – not only does it not fit in with
anything else in the house, but I haven’t got a clue what it was intended to be
used as. Let me know if you have any ideas!
And the
quilts – oh, I love hand stitched quilts. I guess it would be more ethical to
make my own, but why bother when someone else is willing to part with their
family heirlooms for just a few dollars?
Yard sales
are also great places to stock up on books – yeah, 5 for $1! Who can just take
five? Of course, some writers say it’s wrong to buy second-hand books because
the authors don’t get a royalty. Well, I can honestly say that I’ve found some
great authors I might never have read if it hadn’t been for a cheap yard sale
pick up – and I’ve gone on to buy their all their back lists and new releases,
so book-buying at yard sales is guilt free!
I’ve
donated a few of my own treasures (yes, it hurt to part with them!) to the upcoming
annual auction and yard sale fundraiser at our church. I heard a rumour the
other day that they’ve a nice little sideline fundraiser on bets as to how many
of my donations I’ll try to buy back…..Oh, the shame of it…..
Glenys O'Connell is planning to finish her next romantic suspense novel, Dark Revenge, just as soon as she can find her laptop among the latest yard sale clutter..... You can read first chapters of her other books at http://www.glenysoconnell.com/firstchapters.htm
11 comments:
Too funny, Glenys. I can picture you in a tug-o-war with another addict! LOL Me, I never go to garage sales--or have them. Last one was to get rid of baby clothes for my now teenager. Maybe that's why there's so much crap cluttering up the closets! As for used books, I don't have an issue with buying them. With the philosophy of re-reading books hurting authors, you'd have to ban libraries!
Too funny, indeed. My last yard sale was a bust. Less stressful to donate. But then not nearly as much fun.
Thanks for commenting, Jannine. Cluttered closets? I opened the one in my study and so many files fell out - well, it looks as though the room was ransacked by a (very disappointed) burglar....
Margo - I've noticed fewer people at yard sales. Means there's more for me..er...did I say that out loud? The problem with donating your stuff to thrift stores is the temptation to buy it back. After all, we have great taste in stuff, right?
LOL, Glenys. The amount of work that goes into having a garage sale outweighs whatever monetary gain. I had my last--very last--garage sale three years ago. Never again.
Thank goodness we're not competing for the same yard sales. Although I have the goal of stocking my trailer right now, those odd pieces do promise to look nice in my home.
Like Jannine, the last yard sale I had was to get rid of baby clothes. I had washed every single item, and some were only worn once or twice before they were outgrown. I was amazed (and annoyed) at how many new mothers turned their noses up at those clothes that were in perfect condition...until a nurse came along who was shopping for clothes for low-income babies in a local pediatric unit. I ended up giving the whole bag to her for either nothing or maybe a dollar. I think God was saving them for someone who really needed them. :-)
Diane - I admit I've given up having yard sales myself - not just because I hate letting stuff go,:-) but because it's so much work for so little return. Instead I pile stuff into the van and drop it off at a local thrift store - a warm fuzzy feeling of doing good without dealing with someone haggling over 25 cents for some item....
Barbara - lol, yes! Your trailer looks great, though I envy you the upcoming road trips! I'm sure you'll have lots of fun and find lots of new material for books...
Leah - isn't it amazing the attitudes a people have? Some would rather spend hard-earned cash on poor quality stuff from the stores than pay far less for obviously good second hand stuff. I remember buying a beautiful crib with lace canopy, etc., second-hand for my first child . Everyone envied it and I never did tell that I hadn't paid hundreds of pounds for it at the fancy downtown baby store.. :-)
PS, Leah - it was nice of you to pass the baby clothes on to the families who really needed them. The angels will put many more jelly beans on your pile in heaven for that good deed :-)
Post a Comment