Yard Sales
by Andrea Rennick
The snow finally melted, at least in the sunny spots, and the rain stopped,
for now, so you know what that means.
Yes folks, it is yard sale season again on the river. It seems like the first sunny Saturday people can go out before 10am
without requiring mittens, heralds a flurry of signs by the road and hastily set up tables.
There's nothing like the morning dew settling on someone else's cast-off
goods, neatly priced at a bargain. And I love me a good bargain; I would be kicked out of my gender if I didn't.
I was inducted into this fine Miramichi tradition sometime last summer,
when we were thinking of moving here. Oh sure, I had gone to yard sales before, even held one or two, but people here make
it a serious business indeed.
So here are a few things I've learned that I'd like to share.
Don't even think of leaving the house after 10 in the morning. First
off, by that late hour, all the goods stuff is gone. You'll just be looking at faded plastic flowers and novels someone hasn't
read since 1972. Though you might find some clothing so far out of style, its back in again. You really need to get out of
bed and on the road by 8 or 8:30. Don't forget to swing by Timmy's.
If you see it, grab it. No point in yelling across the yard to your daughter that there are books over here she may be interested
in. Chances are, that lady sidling up next to you with the shifty eyes is just waiting for you to turn your back so she can
grab them. Buy first, ask opinions later.
Price tags are just a guideline. Face it, the people selling the items
just couldn't bear to give them away. They want something, however small, to show for the effort of standing there that early
on a weekend morning. If you have a pile of really good finds in your arms that adds up to something uneven, like $6.25, round
down. Offer $5, unless they are seniors, then give them extra.
It's best to travel in a large vehicle, which you will curse at every
small driveway, but be thankful for when you see the child's hand-painted table set (only three wobbly legs) for $10. I never
would have been able to fit it in my Mom's trunk.
Pay off your children. A few dollars in their pockets is money well spent.
Face it, they will ask and nag and beg and plead at every stop, so you might as well hand out some quarters (and loonies and
twoonies) while you are still in your own driveway. Sure, you could leave them home, but someone has to train up the next
generation of bargain hunters. Right?
Always buy something for your spouse at home. The most I everheard from my sweet husband on a Saturday morning was grunt from
under the covers. He was considerably more verbal that time I brought home those clamps for him. He was also verbal of a different
sort the time I brought home all that other stuff, but I digress.
Now sometime that fall, my husband presented me with a fistful of gas
receipts. For some reason, he saves them. The total for August was some astounding figure that couldn't possibly be right.
After all, I just went to 3 or 4 or 6 sales most Saturdays. Besides, I saved a bundle!
Ah well, this season, my wings have been clipped a little. Time to go
through those boxes in my attic from last summer and see what I can dig out for my own yard sale. See you at 8?
Andrea Rennick is a home-schooling mom of four children,
ranging in age from 2 to 15. A sense of humour is a big part of dealing with the ins and outs of her day. She can also be
found at her website, www.atypicalife.net. Reach her at andrea@atypicalife.net
