Yesterday, I started talking about community yard sales and shopping at them as a family. There are a few different things you can do that will make the trip to a community, or multifamily, yard sale more productive and enjoyable.
I think going together as a family to these types of sales can serve a few purposes. You can have a bit of fun together, as well as impart knowledge and experience to our children. For example, check out my next tip.
Let the kids buy things with their own money
Our children don’t get an allowance, although they do have the opportunity to earn money by doing various extra chores around the house. By letting the kids use their own money to make yard sale purchases, they will learn valuable money skills. With your guidance, they can see how the money process works, how to make change and how to make good consumer choices.
Comparison price
Just because something is at a yard sale doesn’t mean that it is a bargain. I’ve seen items that are priced higher at a sale than can be gotten new. For example, I can get a box crayons for a quarter or less during back to school sales, so I wouldn’t purchase any for more than that, even if the regular price is higher at around $3. My son spotted a video game that was offered for $2. I knew this game, even used, was at least $15, so in this case, the game was a bargain. Know ahead of time what things that you are looking for cost., It really helps.
Divide and conquer
If you are in a time crunch, you can split up within your family and then report back on the best sales. For example, you can each walk together but on different sides of the street. This way, if a good sale is spotted, you can check in with each other, while not wasting time on less desirable sales. See, shopping as a family can have great advantages.