Initially, ‘Glasses of Grace’ started because my niece, Grace, had to get glasses for reading. Since grace is such a spiritual topic and the fact that my niece is such a doll, I started thinking about the ways God shows us His grace on a daily basis. From His servings, His 'glasses of grace' to us - to seeing the world through the eyes of grace (or Grace, since she had new glasses and better sight), it made sense in more ways than one, so a title was born. Blessings and all, this is my life…

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Yard sales

Here's something I've realized as an adult: As a kid, I never knew what deals you could get at yard sales. We never went to any. Occasionally my mom would have one and we got rid of some stuff, but I always thought that people who went to them were poor and didn't have the money to pay full price for what they wanted like we did. (AAAwwwww....they can't be lucky and pay full price like us! 'Poor' them! Yeah, right!) I assumed that those poor people had to go perusing through someone else's used goods to try to find items they wanted. I don't know where I got this impression, but it was there. Boy, was I wrong!

Well, here's another thing I've realized as an adult: I was not a smart kid! :-) People who go to them are NOT always as 'poor' as I thought....and it is not always a great, fun thing to pay full price for something I want! NOW, I pride myself when I can get a real deal on something I can't wait to call my own! :-) Funny how times change!

Long story short....the neighborhood my friend Gina's sister-in-law, Wendy, lives in had a neighborhood yard sale today. Anyone who wanted to participate could and it was at each person's house throughout the neighborhood. Wendy had to leave to go to her son's baseball banquet this morning, so Gina took some stuff over and was going to watch things for Wendy while she was gone. I had told Gina I'd come over and keep her company while Wendy was gone, so I got there about 10:00. There were LOADS of people there. Gina's son, Chris, was also there selling some old guns and toys that he's outgrown. Gina had clothes, some household goods, things she'd cleaned out of a camper they just bought, etc. As I was sitting there watching Gina and Chris make money hand over fist, I remembered that I had some things in my trunk that my sister had given me months ago to take to Goodwill.....so Chris helped me get those things out and I sold some of them myself!! Some of the clothes my sister had given me still had the tags on them and I sold them for .50 each! I had clothes and books mostly that sold, but when I got ready to leave, I had made about $13 - $14 off my sister's stuff! :-) I had bought some of the kids books that I sold to have at my house when my nieces were younger and they were still just like brand new, but those were the only things that I had paid for myself. I know for a fact that some deals were gotten today from Gina, Chris, Wendy and me....and Wendy's neighborhood is having another one on October 14! My mind is already thinking about what I can take over there then. I'd better start getting my stuff together now!

Seriously, before it was over, my friend Gina and I were planning to pick a weekend in the next month or so to go 'yard sale-ing' ourselves....after all, 'One man's junk is another man's treasure,' huh? Who knows what we'll find! :-)

(And for those of you who may ask, I am not going to tell my sister that I sold her stuff and made money unless it comes up. They are in Florida this weekend looking at land to build their house on so they can move in a year or so and I'm dreading that, so the way I figure it, that's what they get!) :-) (just kidding of course, but I'm probably really NOT going to mention it!)

9 comments:

Tracey said...

I love to have yard sales, but I don't frequent them! Good for you making a little extra money!

You need to check out a link on my blog--Rhoda at Southern Hospitality. She goes yard saleing all the time and it is AMAZING the stuff she finds.

Her house is absolutely beautiful and so much of it she finds at yard sales. She posts pictures all the time and tells how much she pays for stuff.

Justabeachkat said...

Dianne

Don't feel bad. I used to think the same thing about people who went to yard sales.

And it's funny because I was going to mention Rhoda blog http://southernhospitality-rhoda.blogspot.com/ and then I saw Tracey beat me to it.

Andrea over at http://truesouthernheart.blogspot.com/ is another good one.

Both of these girls really know how to find gorgeous things.

Anonymous said...

I need to go to yard sales with Rhoda. I went to a few yesterday and saw nothing I could even think about using. I must be in the wrong part of town - all babies here and I definitely don't need a Diaper Genie. But I bet Rhoda could find a use for one!

I love having yard sales though. I always price things cheap and they sell. I'm not looking to make a lot of money - just clear out some things I don't need. But I usually wind up with about $300 - not chicken feed!

Rita Loca said...

I love yard sales! hello from Venezuela.

Jean said...

I love finding good deals at yard sales, but I rarely have time to go to any. When we downsized two years ago, I had FOUR yard sales. It was great. I made a bunch of money selling cool stuff and clothes that young adult foster kids had left behind and forgotten all about.

That is so funny - you selling your sister's give-aways!

Deedra said...

I love yard sales too! Especially ones with furniture involved! The HGTV queen in me comes to life when I see a piece of furniture sitting on the side of the road! I have 2 pieces in my garage at this moment waiting for paint! I have also bought a ton of my baby stuff at yard sales. I got his swing at one for less than half price and it was practically brand new!

Anonymous said...

I love going to em and having em...although the getting ready for part is not as fun....since I am moving I will let you all know when my next one is...we have lots of stuff...I don't want to pack it...and I am in the mood to clear it!!
Too funny that you made $ off of sister...oh well those that know you well know her girls will just get the $ back in some form or another from Aunt Di...they are your weak spot>>;0)

Tracey said...

For the LOVE of all that is bloggity good...PLEASE POST SOMETHING!!!

I want to know what you are doing?!

Jean said...

I agree with Tracey!! Aren't there some pretty flowers blooming or how 'bout those nieces - aren't they up to something?? Heck, I'd settle for a statement that said you went to work, then came home and ate supper and read blogs..... just to hear from you. Ha, ha!!! Just teasing you. I do appreciate all your caring comments on my blog. I would just love to meet you sometime.