Wish It and Ye Shall Find It

Garage Sale Rules of Engagement 


#1: Wish It and Ye Shall Find It

I was browsing The Pioneer Woman's blog last week and got excited about her post on the Perfect Iced Coffee.

Two reasons for my excitement. One, coffee makes my day. Any which way you make it, I'll take it. Two, the glass dispenser in which her coffee concentrate lives is very handy, not to mention good looking.

Seeing it reminded me of two things. One, I needed to go make a large batch of iced coffee for a no hassle iced coffee experience morning, noon and night. Two, I needed to go find myself one of those nifty glass drink dispensers for the backyard birthday party we were hosting later that week.

Admitting that I never buy stuff like this at a normal store, my only hope for securing one of these handy glass beverage jars would be during my routine Saturday morning garage sale hopping.

Which brings me to the first topic in my series of posts on The Garage Sale Rules of Engagement.

When heading out to a garage sale, it is a good idea to have a few specific wishes in mind. This Saturday I wished for a large glass drink dispenser. Low and behold, the very first garage sale I stopped at had a 3-gallon, recycled glass, brass spigot beverage jar. Completely aware that this backyard BBQ treasure would cost upwards of $50 at the store, I was happily dancing away with my new jug for $2.

I will admit that the 'wish it and ye shall find it' rule isn't always so immediate. There are times when it will take weeks—even years, as was the case with my nifty handheld blender—before you find exactly what you're looking for at garage sales and thrift stores. But when you walk in with a few specific items in mind, it is ten times more likely that you won't walk away with an armload of s*#t you don't need.

And that brings me to The Cardinal Rule of Garage Saling:

Don't bring home s*#t you don't need.

Now get out there, have fun and discover your treasures!