yardsale

Did you know yardsales are good for the environment? They really are, you’re buying something that has already been made instead of requiring a company to make a new product.

I remember the first yard sale I ever went too. I was probably 4 or 5. It was in the basement of a huge Methodist Church. I went along with Granny and her mother, Gazzie. All these years later, 2 incidents from that day still stand out in my mind. The first I got the cutest little purse for only a dime, the second Granny Gazzie told me if I didn’t stay close to my Mother someone might kidnap me and put me in a suitcase. So I left the yardsale clutching my new purse in one hand and Granny in the other. But I was hooked-a cute purse for a dime!

I believe you’re either born with the “thrifty gene” or you’re not. I AM-The Deer Hunter is NOT.  I hate to waste money. I don’t even like to waste other people’s money it just seems so pointless.

I frequent yardsales and thrift stores to find clothes for our family, frames and canvases for my artwork, gift items (I love to give gifts and by shopping for items this way I can!), and I’m always on the look out for items we need. The Deer Hunter scored me a dandy pair of pruners at a yardsale last week.

Tipper

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29 Comments

  1. That thrifty gene was built into my DNA from Grandmom and Grandpop. She taught me to use everything as many times as you could until it wore out. She also taught me to shop for foodstuffs so that I could make the most out of every recipe. He taught me the way to fix some mechanical things and how to barter if I couldn’t do it myself. Their knowledge has helped me survive on my own for as long as I have. xxoo

  2. Well Tipper I guess I fall out on the thrifty side. I like to reuse and refurbish. I was green before green was green—haha!
    Went to a few yard sales yesterday and found some real treasures—a food processor for you and an electric meat slices for the Deerhunter. And yes two picture frames!
    I used to think I like to build a house from items other people throw away. I watched how much building materials people put in the trash, it’s shameful. Now please understand I mean a nice house not one that looks like trash!!!
    How green would that be!

  3. Yard sales… I have had several somehow. I am not a collector, but the stuff appears. I guess that’s easy with a child. There are always toys.
    It’s fun to go with a purpose. I am thinking going for frames would be a cool thing. I will have to try it.
    I too was born with the thrifty gene. I’m so out of style I’m in style!

  4. I wasn’t born with the thrifty gene, but being thriftful has been thrust upon me. When I have extra money, i just have to spend it. I buy gifts for family, gifts for friends, very seldom do I buy myself something. I think my spending stems back from growing up on the mountain when everyone contributed to the family pool. I’m still in that mindset. If I have the money, I’ll buy Mom some gardening book, or have her chickens sent in the mail, or buy Dad a new set of tools, or a beehive…the list goes on.
    I’m not materialistic by any stretch, it just seems that I don’t value money. It isn’t important to me to have it. I like the conveniences that it brings, but as long as I have food and shelter, not much else matters to me.
    Matthew

  5. Yes, I am thrifty. I rarely got new clothes when I was a child…either hand me downs from cousins or garage sales. A new pair of shoes came about once a year…for school. I never felt that I lacked, however. {: It seems with the economy, everyone is turning out thrifty. Enjoyed your post. blessings,Kathleen

  6. Tipper,
    I’m not sure if I was born with it, but Grandma and Mom made darn sure we were taught to be thrifty when we were young. I am thrifty. I buy lots of things at garage sales. Hubby isn’t so much, nor is my daughter, but I’m teaching the grandsons.
    Enjoyed this post. Going now to read about your mother.
    Blessings,
    Mary

  7. Tipper,
    This is a great posting on yard sales. I need to clean out my closets and have a yard sale, but hate to depart with any of the “stuff” that I might use later, but seldom use later.

  8. I have it, inherited it from my grandma. She used to go to “rummage sales” in the 60’s and bring my sisters and I presents. This was way before some people considered it acceptable to give a “used” gift. I remember one time she brought me a faux leopard fur stole and pill box hat. My mom didn’t appreciate the choices, but she did make us some nice Barbie clothes with the fabric.

  9. I am not 100% thrity, but I certainly tend that way. Most importantly, I love yard sales and sifting through other people’s junk!

  10. Ahh crumbanitly another test I flunk. Darn split personality puts me squarely in the thrifty and the not thrifty department. As a young girl my mom would give me her Nordstrom’s charge card and send me for something to spruce up my wardrobe. After spending the whole day searching the racks and trying things on, I would come home empty handed, wishing I had spent the day scrounging around the park for something interesting to note.
    But occasionally my Nancy Nordstrom side takes over, I loose my head and buy stuff I really don’t need, even from a thrift store.

  11. Tipper: What a neat story, I hve to admit that it is the same in my family. Only I’m the one who is thrifty and my wife likes to spend. I try to throw nothing away.

  12. I am definitely a thrifter, too, Tipper. Yard sales are awesome and I love going to thrift stores and flea markets, too.
    I got a good chuckle out of what your Granny told you- that is hilarious! I’ll bet that did scare you!

  13. I got the gene for sure! My Mama loved a good bargain! I cannot bring myself to pay full price for clothes. If they’re not on sale they don’t go home with me. I got Liz Claiborne jeans and a top at Penneys Saturday for 50% off.
    I love Goodwill and resale shops too. That’s where I get a lot of my clothes.

  14. I admire those who have the gene and the knack to recognize a treasure when they see it. My friend Mike K. turns out the most wonderful art from things other people discard.
    I’ve become much more thrifty as i get older and as the economy gets worse. But I learned not to waste from my parents who knew how to squeeze a dollar.

  15. Ah, yes. I love the look of a home decorated with “collected” furnishings rather than shiny-new matchy-matchy stuff. When I need something, I hit the thrift shops and yard sales. My most favorite jacket is a “collected” item. Thing of it is, at my point in life, I don’t need anything anymore of anything. No fun! I need to have a bodacious yard sale of my own one of these days.
    y’all come!

  16. Oh, yeah!
    Love finding bargains at yard sales and such. It has become a challenge for me and my Mother-in-law. We like to share our bargain hunting stories with eachother.

  17. A definite yes. Mom’s motto all my life has been “make do with what you have”. Dad had the clever repurposing gene and passed that on to me. Thanks Mom and Dad! I loved seeing the video you did of your angel paintings with thrift shop frames.

  18. I can’t say that I have the gene, however, I love going to garage sales, yard and estate sales, too. When I still worked and had extra, my vice was flowers and such for the yard… flagstones to make a walk way, yard statuary and stuff like that more than going out and splurging on new clothes or frivolous stuff, knick knacks and such. So I guess I have the gene, but it took me years to figure out that I did.
    Helen

  19. I believe you are either born with it or not. It seems to be a recessive gene in my family. I’ve not passed it on to my kids and my parents didn’t have it. I still believe the gypsy’s dropped me off on my parents doorstep. LOL But that’s another tale.

  20. Oh yes indeedy I was! I could not be my mother’s child and not be thrifty. In fact, I’m more like her every day. I used to be less thrifty when I had young kids at home and I was more into convenience.
    And I think thrifty goes hand in hand with being green. I’ve always said our mothers and grandmothers were recycling and reusing before it became a catchword. I’ve had the same roll of paper towels on the holder for over a month now and it’s only half gone. I’ve been washing and reusing foil, just like Mom.
    Well, you get the picture. I could go on and on!

  21. I am definitely more frugal & thrifty than my husband! I love to shop thrift stores and enjoy the pleasure of seeing our savings account grow when we are faithful to add to it.

  22. Well, anybody that’s been to my site know I was born with the thrifty gene. I love yard sales and thrift stores. It’s gotten to the point where I hate buying new things. I think it runs in the family, my mom loved yard sales and was always buying things at them for my kids. I can’t remember the first one I went to, but when I was a child there was a woman who had used clothes in a little building and I remember us walking down to it and looking around. The main reason I remember it is because on the way back through the field I stuck my finger in the end of a small pipe and a wasper stung me.

  23. I’m an avid couponer and I love Goodwill, etc. There are days when I might splurge on something, but they are rare. So, I guess I got the gene! blessings, marlene

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