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It's finally here... garage sale season! There's nothing better. My mom and I wait all winter for this. Even when we come home empty handed, the morning doesn't feel wasted. Spring and summer are short, precious seasons in Cleveland, and there's nothing like getting out and enjoying it every weekend. Couple that with the hope of finding one-of-a-kind treasures for pennies on the dollar and you've got the recipe for the perfect weekend kickoff!
Below, you'll find photos of each treasure I got along with the retail price, what I paid, and a link to shop either that same item online or something similar. Unfortunately, you won't get the same crazy deal as I did, but it's still fun to shop, no?
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I may make a commission if you choose to click through and make a purchase. I only link to products that I truly recommend. Thank you for your support!
May
Total Value: $243.50
Total Spent: $37.50
Savings: 85%
We got a bit of a later start this year since she was out of town for the first two Saturdays in May, but we were out bright and early each Saturday for the second half of the month. There are always a few small community sales in May, with the majority not coming until next month, but we're still able to piece together a good assortment of sales (we like to think of this as "training" for the huge sales!).
Sometimes, the individual sales are even better than community sales. A lot of the time with community sales, they get oversaturated with people just wanting to participate since everyone else is, and their one table of 10 things isn't even worth the effort of walking up the driveway. Large community sales also draw in a lot more buyers, so things get picked over pretty early in the morning. If someone is taking the time to plan their own sale and pay for advertising, you know it will be worthwhile to make the trip over and see what they have. My mom likes to look in the city newspaper classified ads to find sales, and I usually look on yardsalesearch.com or on my city's Facebook page to see if they have any photos of their items for sale. Read on for my May finds!
Vintage-Look Washboard
Value: $20
I reorganized my laundry room last fall, adding cabinets and a stainless steel table for storage. I've been on the lookout for some decor of any kind for down there, and this little washboard was calling my name. It fits perfectly on the skinny wall next to the cabinets, and doubles as a bumper for the cabinet door.
Gutter Guard
Value: $26 (4 rolls)
We have huge mature trees in our backyard and a big maple tree out front, and our gutters take a beating as a result. Two days after getting them cleaned out last year, I could see sticks and leaves poking out again. This stuff will be a life saver once we get it installed (I stole one roll to use as a rabbit fence along my vegetable and herb garden, but 3 should do the trick!).
Ralph Lauren Sweatshirt
Value: $50
Got this right at the end of cold-weather season. I typically don't even look at clothes at garage sales, but since this had the tag on it still, I snatched it up. It's a men's XL so I shrunk it down about a size (it's still huge) but I LOVE the oversized trend, so I've worn it a couple times with leggings (aka my winter uniform). Love it.
Trivet
Value: $10
You can never have enough of these. I love the pattern and look of this one, and I actually use it as a candle holder when I'm not using it to hold hot casserole dishes!
Tissue Box Cover
Value: $15
This little beauty had the HomeGoods sticker right on it that said $15! It's sliiiightly too big for the shelf I have it on (I'm talking like 2mm here), but hey, it's better than looking at my winter scene tissue box all spring and summer, and the pattern goes great with my shower curtain.
Black & White Pictures
Value: $60
Paid: $20
I absolutely love black and white photography. I found a pair of similar photos at a local consignment shop over the winter, so I had to get these. I had no idea where I wanted to put them at first, then after a couple weeks of them sitting propped up on the floor, this perfect little cove popped into my head. I love how they elongate the short walls!
Bath & Body Works Candle
Value: $22.50
Omg. This candle. It's a three layer one with sweater weather, sweet cinnamon pumpkin, and pumpkin apple, and if you could bottle up exactly what fall smells like, THIS IS IT. As much as I love spring and summer for garage sale season, I live for fall (#basic).
Sally Hansen Nail Polish
Value: $40
My nail polish collection is absolutely ridiculous. I know this. But these drew me in because I love Sally Hansen polishes and can rarely find them on super-sale. I'm always on a quest for a good nude that doesn't look strange when it's on, and I love a good opaque white for toenails in the summer.
June
Total Value: $844.50
Total Spent: $80.00
Savings: 90.6%
The warm-up is over and the peak of the season is upon us! The biggest community sale of the year happened to fall on the first Saturday of the month, and we almost missed it with how quickly May flew by! After a couple weeks of scraping together any sales we could find, this month we had to be picky and strategic about which sales we hit. Community sales were in full swing, and we even took a Friday off work so we could squeeze in an extra day one weekend.
One thing I can say when navigating through community sales is to learn what to look for. If you're a new parent, look for the sales with brightly colored toys lining the driveway - they probably have bins of barely used baby clothes and other essentials inside the garage. If you're looking for home decor, look for the sales with things like bar stools and other furniture pieces in the driveway. Chances are, you'll find coordinating things lining the tables inside the garage that you may have missed otherwise.
One more thing to note: ALWAYS check inside of outdoor items like watering cans. I found three beautiful vintage galvanized watering cans that I was going to use as planters going up my front steps. I was scooping them up in my arms and saw what looked like a mouse turd (sorry, I know there's a nicer name for turd but I can't think of it) on one of them, and I thought, oh that's ok, I'll just rinse them off before using them. No. No. Before I could even finish that thought, I got a waft of DEATH coming from the can I had under my arm and against my chest and I looked down and theRE WAS A DEAD DECAYING MOUSE IN ITFjidofjeiwogjw I am still so grossed out. I calmly placed the cans back down and told my mom, "I changed my mind. I'll tell you in the car." Thank the LORD she had a pack of Purell wipes. I wiped every inch of my soul. Moral of the story? Be careful. But honestly, I oddly regret not getting those... but like what was I gonna do, dump the mouse into the yard? Use him as compost? I don't know. But how cute would that have been lining my front steps? Ugh. Oh well. Read on for what I actually did bring home in June!
Scroll Napkin Holder
Value: $10
Going along with the scrolls I got earlier in the month, this napkin holder adds beautiful contrast against white napkins and a light gray wall. It replaces my old blonde wood one that didn't really go with anything. Little touches like that make all the difference!
Funnel
Value: $5
This is one of those things that's a kitchen necessity and I have no idea why I didn't have one up until this point. Garage sales are a great place to find things like this as well as grilling tools, casserole dishes, mugs, anything to stock your kitchen cabinets.
Copper Pitcher
Value: $20
I try to keep my color palette pretty cool and neutral, but I love having pops of copper throughout my decor. This little copper pitcher is simply adorable, and it will one day hold some flowers or greenery!
Copper Pitcher 2
Value: $20
Love the patina of this copper piece. I didn't have this in mind when I got it, but it's similar in size to the first copper pitcher and they now live on some shelves I have on either side of the front door. I love when things are symmetrical but not identical!
Oversized Snowflakes
Value: $40
Paid: $1
This set of 6 snowflakes will go on the big maple tree in the front yard at Christmastime. Garage sales are the best place to go to find dirt cheap holiday decor. It's hard to put yourself in the holiday mindset in the summer, but try making a list of things you want or need during the holidays and keep it in your phone for next garage sale season!
Artificial Lavender Plant
Value: $15
I love adding artificial flowers to my decor. I feel like they make everything come to life, and I can stick this in the downstairs bathroom and not have to worry about remembering to water it!
Wall Scroll
Value: $30
It's hard for me to find any paintings that I like enough to put on my wall for an extended period (I much prefer photographs), so I'm always on the lookout for Joanna Gaines-ish wall decor pieces that are something different than a picture or photo. This fits perfectly on the slim wall and I love the contrast of the black iron against the light wall.
Closetmaid Stackable Drawers
Value: $80
I picked these up at a sale the day after I redid our second and third bedrooms. After moving some furniture around, we suddenly had more space to fill, and these two units stacked on top of each other make an awesome little dresser.
DVDs
Value: $10
A Charlie Brown Christmas is a classic everyone should have. I loved watching it every year growing up and it brings back so many memories! The Departed is another classic for other reasons. I didn't notice until my husband pointed it out, but I accidentally got the fullscreen version! Whoops. #fail
Closetmaid Cube Storage Unit
Value: $30
These go along with the drawers I got above from the same sale. They're so versatile, I feel like we can always find a use for them and even use them inside a closet if we want to.
Bath & Body Works Candle
Value: $22.50
How funny that I ended May with a Bath and Body Works candle purchase, and started June with another! This one was a better deal, but I'm not mad about it. There's no room for regret in garage sale purchases! This one is Marshmallow Fireside and will go absolutely perfectly with my We Love Fall candle from last week come September.
Slate Coasters
Value: $20
I have these exact coasters in my living room already, and paid way more than $2 a set! Even though we're set on coasters, I had to get these to either replace the ones in the basement or to keep as backups.
Under Table Basket
Value: $40
If you're ever in need of a basket and don't want to spend a lot on it, go to a few garage sales. I'd say one out of every three sales will have an assortment of great baskets. This one is the ideal size and shape for under my round coffee table and creates a place to put extra pillows.
Handmade Pot
Value: $20
I'm not sure what the true value of this pot would be since it's handmade (has a name and date carved into the bottom). I love things like this that are one-of-a-kind pieces!
Levolor Cordless Blinds
Value: $100
These blinds are like new. The lady told me she only had them up for about a year and then hung curtains instead. They don't quite fit either window I had in mind, but I'm going to try and cut them to fit. It's risky to get window treatments without knowing the exact measurements, so if that's something you're looking for, keep the measurements in a note in your phone so you have them on hand!
Bath & Body Works Bath Care
Value: $30
I know you can get these things for around the same price during semi-annual sales, but how convenient to pick it up while already out at sales! I'm using this as part of a Christmas gift (yes, I am one of those people who has Christmas shopping done in July).
White Shutter
Value: $15
I'm not even sure what this is. It says NuTone on it, and it opens up and is metal on the back half. I put this propped up on a little table at the end of the hall to add some texture as a backdrop for a big orchid plant.
Wall Scroll
Value: $130
Garage sale tip: look for store price tags. It may set you over the edge when you find something you're on the fence about getting. Of course, it's all relative, but finding a $130 wall scroll for $5 is a day-making deal!
Black & White Photo
Value: $30
This photo goes along with the other black and white photos I got last month that I have in the hallway. It's actually part of a set of 4, and I've been staking out eBay for the other 3 to show up on there because I absolutely love it!
Travel Sized Hair Care
Value: $12
I almost bought a $10 travel sized set off of Loxa Beauty for the one night of the year that I go out of town. It sold out before I could get it and thank goodness for that, because this set was only $0.75! Redken products have always been a favorite of mine, so that was another quarter to make it an even buck. No brainer.
Mortar & Pestle
Value: $35
This thing is the real deal. We had to make a stop at the car after I picked this up! I have two mini marble ones that I got awhile ago that are great for grinding spices, but I can picture myself using this one for things like guacamole and hummus - not to mention it looks cute just sitting on the counter!
Pottery Barn Curtains
Value: $90
Pictured are a $3 pair of Ikea curtains my mom got at a sale that she was kind enough to gift me after the "84 inch set of 2" that I got turned out to be a (stained) 63 inch set of 3. They're not pictured here because they're already in the garage with my painting gear. They'll make super chic dropcloths.
July
Total Value: $607
Total Spent: $48
Savings: 92%
With the rush of June behind us, we're back to the slower pace of garage sales. July is the point where if you're not trying to look, you may think the season is over. We traveled as far as three cities away to hit a couple of community sales this month, and we took one Saturday off from garage saling to go to Hartville flea market. Unfortunately, it was raining that day, so none of the outdoor vendors showed up. I did get a cornhole set, some storage bins, some cheese and roll butter (a must when you go to Amish country!), and rainier cherries from the farmers market.
One of my favorite purchases from this month was a vintage wooden sled. I only spent $15 on it, then came home and looked for similar ones on Etsy and eBay to compare prices, and was shocked to see the same ones selling for $150+! I'm going to use it as part of my outdoor Christmas decor this year. I mentioned in June's blog that it can be difficult to put yourself in the holiday mindset when you're out at garage sales in the middle of the summer, but you'll love yourself for doing so and snapping up some crazy good deals on holiday decor once the holidays roll around. You'll find a table of Christmas and Halloween decor at most sales, with things like ornaments for a quarter, brand new strings of lights for $1, and themed candy dishes for next to nothing.
This September when you decorate for fall and Halloween, make a note in your phone of anything you're missing or wish you had for decorations. Do the same thing at Christmas and Easter, too, or any other holiday you celebrate. Once garage sale season comes around net year, you'll be ready with your list when you come across one of those sales with tables of holiday goodies!
Black & White Framed Photo
Value: $40
Paid: $1
Whenever I find black and white photos in black frames with white matting, I feel like I have to get them. This one has a sepia tone to it, which is going to be perfect to hang in the stairwell to tie in the new basement color with the rest of the house!
Vintage Wooden Sled
Value: $150
I'm so excited about this. I'm going to use this as part of my outdoor Christmas decor! I'm thinking of hanging a wreath from it, maybe some lights... I'm off to Pinterest to find some inspiration!
Grill Topper
Value: $12
You know those super hot summer days when the last thing you want to do is turn on your oven? This grill topper is going to be a lifesaver when I want to make an entire meal on the grill. I can picture myself using this for vegetables like asparagus and even green beans. Everything is better on the grill!
Trivet Set
Value: $30
I bought these with the intention of using them as wall decor, but I feel like they're so versatile that I'm thinking I could use them as the bottom part of a centerpiece on the dining room table (which would be handy when serving something in a hot casserole dish) or even outside on the porch as planter stands!
Wall Sconces
Value: $25
Going along with the theme of finding things for the walls that aren't paintings or photos, I love pieces that come off the wall such as shelves and sconces. I'm always looking to add dimension and texture to a room, and I'm picturing these against a black wall with white candles. Perfection!
Wall Scroll
Value: $150
Remember the wall scroll I got last month? This is the daddy version of that one! We were originally going to hang the first smaller scroll above the front door, but now I'm thinking this would fit even better. I'll have to get my husband to bust out the ladder and hold them up for me to see (that's what we marry them for, right?).
Clothes
Value: $150
Paid: $6
I found all of these in a $1 box at a sale with racks of new and like new clothes. I plan on reselling the t-shirts and possibly the tank tops, but that cami dress is all mine. I love basic pieces like that! Brands are Victoria's Secret, White House Black Market, and Nicole Miller!
Rustic Framed Photo
Value: $50
Paid: $2
I painted the walls in my bathroom Rising Tide by Valspar and I've been decorating with blues and grays, so what's better than a black and white serene water scene for in there? The nice lady selling this said I would probably have to repaint the frame, but I actually like the chippy, rustic look!
2017
Total Value: $1,695
Total Spent: $165.50
Savings: 97.6%
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