The following is an excerpt from the book Quit Your Job! You Really Can Afford Stay at Home Parenthood! by V. Jeanne Gormick.
Save By Buying Secondhand: Thrift, resale and consignment shops have popped up everywhere and smart parents are now discovering them. Visit on a regular basis to check out new merchandise as it comes in. Get onto email lists, so you'll know when a sale is coming up. Watch for broken buttons or zippers and decide if they can easily be repaired. Pass it up, if it looks too difficult to fix. Don't forget that items such as strollers, playpens, with car seats, toys, etc., need to be checked to be sure all the moving parts work correctly and that they meet current government safety standards. For safety reasons purchasing new simply makes more sense, especially in car seats. Some automotive stores and hospitals have great prices on them and don't forget to check your wholesale outlets and the Internet. I still remember visiting my mother years ago and the only car seat she could find for our son, Todd was one that sat draped over the front seat of the car (obviously from the '50s). Safety was obviously not a consideration, when that one was built! I suppose today it might even be considered a valuable collector's item.
Some Secondhand Cautions and Ideas: If you are buying anything from a second-hand store, take the same precautions you would at a garage sale. Unlike garage sales, consignment stores sometimes offer lay away plans. Be sure to check it out. Consignment shops offer an opportunity not only to purchase, but also to sell or do a little of both! I loved the ones for children's clothing, especially when one of the boys needed a suit. I'd buy it for, maybe $15; use it and resell it in the same shop for 20% less. It ended up costing me $3.00. Generally, the clothing in consignment shops is of higher quality, whether you are looking for children's clothing or adult clothing. Magnificent evening dresses, brand name work suits and beautiful maternity wear offered at some consignment shops can stretch even the most modest of budgets and make you feel really special. There are tremendous bargains to be had around every corner. You just need to know where to look.
Garage Sale Shopping: Garage sale participation really began to increase as an obsession as our kids grew out of their baseball and soccer games. Suddenly our Saturdays were free. Yes, there is life after Little League! We had extra time on our hands, so we just headed out for trouble. No sleeping late on Saturdays for us. Bright and early we hit the garage sale trail. Our addiction has gone so overboard that we actually got it down to a science. I'm here to convince all of you of the wisdom of what I call "ultimate recycling"!
One Saturday, when our adult son, Tim didn't have to work it was just like Christmas morning. He couldn't wait to "get on the road!" He brought us our coffee and encouraged us to hurry, before the bargains were all gone. What have we done! Oh, what have we done!
Later Tim, actually started a business selling garage sale finds on Ebay.
When our son, Todd headed off to his own college apartment, he learned the value of garage sale buying. Within a month Todd had a great wooden dinette set for $35; a sleeper sofa for $25; a couch for $50; 2 bar stools (which I recovered for him) for $12; and a wooden parquet coffee table and end table for $40. When was the last time you furnished a home for under $200? Admittedly, that was some 30 years ago, but second hand finds can still save you lots of money. He had enough left to buy a brand new mattress! (As a matter of policy, we don't buy mattresses at garage sales!) Our adult daughter, Julie, wasn't as dedicated to participating in these weekend endeavors, but when she moved out she picked up a nice leather chair for $25. The rest of her stuff she got from friends.
Buying at Estate Sales: Cal and I generally prefer garage sales to estate sales. Estate sales are often conducted by a third party who will be paid a percentage of the sale. Prices tend to be higher and may not be as negotiable, since you are not dealing with the owner and the selling agency takes a percentage of what is sold. On the other hand, estate sales can produce some beautiful furnishings and antiques. A lot depends upon what you are looking for.
Cal's Important "50% Rule": Cal always used this at garage sales. In negotiating price he started with an offer 50% less than the marked or asked for price. Many times sellers just want to get rid of the thing so much that they agree right on the spot. Other times, they continue the negotiation and the price comes up from there. Sometimes they refuse to budge. At that point you must decide how much you really want the item. Cal's 50% Rule saved him an incredible amount of money. He loved applying it. Bargaining is so much fun. This kind of negotiation and bargaining is commonplace in other countries. Now you, too, can enjoy the sport of it without even leaving this great country of ours.
