ESM Talks Yard Sale Shopping & Selling Strategy

Yard Sale season is in full swing, my favorite time of year! I am not a collector of junk like a typical yard sale shopper is labeled, I simply shop yard sales to find the things I need versus going to buy them brand new at the store. Shopping yard sales is an inexpensive way to decorate your house while having a blast doing it. Having a yard sale is a great way to get rid of your junk to someone who has use for it, plus you make a little money while you do it! I have compiled my tips below, from an experienced yard sale host and shopper, for you to be successful while yard sale-ing.

Tips for those shopping a Yard Sale

1. Make a List: Make a list of things that you are looking for and/or need. This will keep you on track while bouncing from sale to sale instead of getting overwhelmed. Like consignment sales, it is very easy to get overwhelmed while yard saling because there is so much stuff for such a great price. While yes, it is a steal of a deal, you already have enough lamps to light the empire state building so you probably don’t need anymore. Your goal: NOT to have to have a yard sale for the stuff you purchased at a yard sale.
2. Create a Budget: This is what helped me A LOT when yard saling. It is so easy to get caught up in what you are buying and not realize how quickly cash is disappearing from your wallet. Instead of just grabbing cash, put a set amount in an envelope. I usually set aside $20 inside the envelope to spend. If there is a larger item on your list- TV, couch, table, chairs, and other higher priced items my suggestion is to keep that money in a separate envelope. That was you are not spending the big item money on little trinkets.
3. Map your Strategy: Take a look at the paper on Friday or on websites that have yard sale sections such as craigslist.org or your local newspapers website under the classifieds for garage sales. There you will get a brief description of what is being sold and the exact address of the sale. Create a map of where you want to go first then use the other addresses to plan out which ones are near your first sale and map out your trip from nearest to farthest. That way you are not driving all over the place and spending more time in the car than at the sales!
4. Approach: There are two approaches when shopping yard sales, the walk up and the drive by. The walk up is where you walk through the yard sale, quickly scan to see if there is anything you want, and move on. The drive by is for more fast paced, goal oriented yard sale shopper. This is where you drive by the same first and scope it out before getting out of the car. While this method could be unsuccessful because you miss seeing some things from the car, if you are in a hurry to get to another sale you know if going to be good, this is the best way.
5. Barter: Never assume what is on the sticker is the absolute lowest price. Now I am not a big barterer, in fact it makes me a little uncomfortable. But the times that I have steamed up the courage to ask the seller if they would take a lower price they almost always say yes. Especially if it is getting late in the morning, usually they will take a lower price since it has not sold yet.

Tips for those hosting a Yard Sale

1. Plan your Sale: Schedule a good day to have the sale, even go in with a neighbor. It is always more appealing when there are two sales rather than one. When getting your items ready clean them up a little but not too much. Typically yard sale-ers don’t mind cleaning something up as long as it is a good bargain. Also, don’t put too much effort into pricing things. In fact, a simple pre-made sticker with the price is sufficient. I have been to sales where they have used a bar code or tagging gun… WAY overboard.
2. Market your Sale: What kind of sign should you have? Should you advertise in the paper? The key to a good sale is a good, eye catching sign. I have been seeing less & less yard sale ads in the newspaper because the cost has gone up so much. There are so many FREE opportunities to list your sale, like craigslist.org, I see no need to pay to advertise your sale unless you are hosting it in an area that gets little to know traffic. Good signs are the key and I recommend big & WHITE (colored signs are hard to read while in a vehicle) with black lettering. I would say the sign should be about the size of an average vinyl sign. Spend about $5 at the dollar store and get some balloons to attach to your signs to make them stand out. This will also help them find you sale- tie balloons on your signs and then tie a single balloon to your mailbox instead of having to make another sign that says “SALE HERE”.
3. Pull out the Stops: Make your sale one that people want to stick around. I have been to so many that they seller is staring at me and everything is laying on the ground and I just feel really uncomfortable. If you have big items display them, lay rugs out so people can see them, etc. Use what you are selling to decorate the place and make it look appealing.
4. Secret to Selling Clothes: Clothes are not always a hit item. Sometimes I fell they are way overpriced for a yard sale. The best sale I have been to that sold clothes did this: Hang clothes that are “good” brands and in good condition and price them $$ for shirts, $$ for pants. Then all of the other clothes lay them on a blanket and charge a $$ amount for (1) FULL Walmart bag. Provide the bags and allow them to fill a whole bag and pay you per bag.
5. Extra Earnings: It is EARLY Saturday morning and most people did not grab breakfast or a drink before getting on the road to snag their bargains. Need something to occupy the kids? Sell soft drinks, water, and baked goods for $.50 each. The kids will have a blast with it (or do it yourself) and you will be surprised at how much you will make! Those yard-sale-er’s LOVE snacks and drinks!
6. Early Birds: Decide ahead of time if you are going to allow early birds. There will always be someone 15-20 min. early looking for “tools” and stuff that sells quickly. If you decide not to allow early birds, simply put a sign up on the mail box of the time of the sale and “no early birds”.
7. The Sale is almost Over: When time is ticking away and it is getting close to closing, have a pre-made sign that says 50% OFF. Put the sign out around 10AM or 11AM in the morning when traffic starts to slow down. You can put it out where the people already at your sale can see it OR you can post them on your signs around town. Do not advertise that you will go 50% off at 10AM before 10AM. You want to make the most of your money before then, you don’t want people to wait until 10AM to buy because they know it is going to go half off!

Are you an avid Yard Saler & have tips of your own to share? Comment below and let us know your 7am Saturday strategy!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. Thanks so much!

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Frugal Family Fun – Easter Food and Fun

Spring is in the air and Easter is right around the corner!  For this week’s Frugal Family Fun post Tracy gives us for FUN ideas for an easy, adorable craft that kids of all ages are sure to love and the recipe – BREAKFAST PIZZA – YUM!

Head over here to see the Frugal Fun Family post for some Easter Fun ideas

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ESM Exclusive: Camera Moms Pre-Order Discount!

We have another EasternShoreMom.com exclusive deal just for YOU! Camera Moms, a new e-book created by the very talented Megan at Clarity Photography, will be releasing soon and they have a special offer for all you ESM moms that want to learn how to capture your kids moments like a pro without paying a pro!

Hi everyone! My name is Megan, I’m a teacher turned photographer and specialize in newborn and children’s portraits. Photography has always been a passion of mine, but it was the birth of my daughter that jump started my photography career. I absolutely LOVE photographing little ones but the educator in me has always dreamed of sharing my passion. And that dream is now a reality!

I could not be more thrilled to announce my newest business venture, Camera Moms: Photographing Your Little Ones Like a Pro, an ebook and toolset. Camera Moms is a less-overwhelming approach to children’s photography. In the ebook you’ll learn only what you need to know in order to take amazing photographs of your little one without all the math and technical info that comes with learning how to use your camera. I make it simple and approach a variety of topics from planning to lighting to editing to printing and everything in between! Camera Moms also includes a posing guide and fresh, modern product templates (cards, collages etc.) which I will walk you through how to use.

So, if you want to know how to use your camera (DSLR, Point-and-shoot, or even an iPhone!) to the best of its ability without all the math that goes along with it, you are in the right place! I will walk you through:

• planning
• prepping
• locations
• lighting
• outfits
• equipment
• camera modes
• posing
• moods
• cheap studio set ideas
• editing
• creating cards and collages
• professional printing
• displaying your soon-to-be gorgeous work in your home
• lots of other tips and tricks

 I can’t wait to share it all with you!

Teach me how to shoot professional looking pictures with my iPhone!? Sign me up! I am constantly taking blurred out pictures with the fancy camera that I had-to-have last black friday, but Megan is going to teach me how to use it plus take good pictures of the kids without having to leave my house!

 

 

 

Camera Moms will be available as an instant download once released for $80; however, ESM readers can pre-order for only $49! Don’t miss out, pre-order today!

How do you pre-order?

1. Go here
2. Scroll to the bottom
3. Click “add to cart”

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. Thanks so much!

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Frugal Family Fun – St. Patty’s Day Fun

Are you guys doing anything special to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?  Well, for this week’s Frugal Family Fun post – Tracy has a cute craft and cute cookies to help the family get involved in some GREEN fun!

Head here to check out some St. Patty’s Day Fun

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. Thanks so much!

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Welcome Studio 10 Viewers! How to Shop Consignment Sales with EasternShoreMom.com

Interested in Consignment Sale tips? Be sure to read Cosnignment Sale tips & Tricks: Preparing to Sell as well!

It’s the hottest season of the year, Consignment season that is! Soon, consignment sales will be filing your nearest convention centers & vacant buildings preparing to sell all your outgrown & unused stuff! What a great time of the year it is because not only do you get a DEEP discount on items by being a shopper but you also get some money back for your investment by selling your things as well.

Where do you begin when preparing to buy?

This might seem like it would be the easiest part of consignment season, however it is the most difficult to do successfully. The goal of shopping consignment is to

AVOID PAYING RETAIL

and purchase everything you may need for the upcoming seasons at the consignment sale. This way you avoid having to buy clothes at retail price throughout the year! You will not be successful at this if you walk in to the sale unprepared. Here are our tips for PREPARING TO SHOP the consignment sale:

BYOB- Bring your own Basket! I carry my rolling laundry hamper with me this time, since I am carrying a load of my own out front! It really helped to be able to pile everything in instead of trying to carry it around.

Write Down Sizes & Measure Your Child’s Foot- When you are shopping, it is easy to forget that you need to be checking the size 2 shorts but size 3 pants, etc. Be sure to write down the current size your child is in and also shop one size above as well. Kids grow fast & you don’t want to have to run out & buy a new wardrobe at retail price because you didn’t buy anything for the next size up. Also, trace your child’s foot on paper or cardboard and take it with you. This will allow you to know if the shoe will fit their length & width of the foot.

Estimate the # of Certain Outfits you Need- Be sure to write them down on a note card to take with you as well. I break my outfits down into play outfits, nice outfits, church outfits, & pajamas. From there I decide how many of each outfit I feel like we need for the season. This helps so much when shopping because I can narrow down outfits by how many I need for that category. It gives me a sense of organization to know “I am done shopping for play clothes. Now I need 2 more outfits in Church clothes..”

Remember Upcoming Holidays- For example, this coming consignment season we will be shopping for Christmas. During this season we will need more “nice outfits” than we would usually have because of all the functions we will be attending. Also keep in mind family vacations coming up (like Disney World) and look for outfits themed to fit. I know many people spend LOTS on Disney outfits that children only wear a few times.

Sign Up to Work- Check out the consignment sale’s website or call them and ask if they offer pre-shopping tickets if you work the sale. Many consignment sales offer this perk and it allows you to shop the sale before the public, sometimes even before the consigners!

Enjoy saving money & look for the clip from this morning’s segment to be featured in the post as soon as it comes available on the Fox10Tv.com website. 

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. Thanks so much!

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Disney on a Mouse’s Budget: HOT NEW Free Dining Offer & Details!

I would like you all to help give a warm ESM welcome to our guest columnist, Krista from Ears We Go travel agency. She has been writing Disney posts for ESM for almost 6 months now! When I got to know Krista, I found how truly great of a fit she was to write these articles on frugal living your way to Disney for EasternShoreMom.com. I am no expert at planning Disney vacations, but from the OVERWHELMING response I have had to three articles I wrote while planning our trip to Disney I knew we needed to have a regular column on ESM to give the insider tips on how to do Disney on a budget. Krista is a travel agent of the best kind, a penny pinching one. If you are looking to do Disney the right way while not breaking the bank, Krista is your girl. I hope you all enjoy her below introduction as much as I did, and I can’t wait to hear all of the tips she has for us in the months to come!

Click HERE for the previous articles written by Krista on EasternShoreMom!

Exciting news from Walt Disney World Resort!!! Free Dining has just been released for August/September 2012! This offer can provide significant savings for families staying on property. If you want to experience character meals or many of Disney’s fantastic sit-down restaurants then the Disney Dining Plan is a great way to save money!

Magic Your Way Package with Free Disney Dining Plan Booking Window:

3/5-5/18/12 Travel Window: 8/25-9/27/12.

Purchase a non-discounted 5-Night/6-Day Magic Your Way package at select Disney Value Resorts and get a FREE Quick-Service Dining Plan, or at select Disney Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts and get a FREE Disney Dining Plan.

5 Nights/6 Days with FREE Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan (reg. $69 PER PERSON, PER DAY FOR A FAMILY OF 4 AT A SELECT DISNEY VALUE RESORT IN A STANDARD ROOM)

Total Package Price: $1,642

That’s a savings of $584!

5 Nights/6 Days with FREE Disney Dining Plan (reg. $87 PER PERSON, PER DAY FOR A FAMILY OF 4 AT A SELECT DISNEY MODERATE RESORT IN A STANDARD ROOM)
Total Package Price: $2,073

That’s a savings of $848

Enjoy a FREE dining plan with this great offer! Email info@earswego.com or call 1-800-898-6012 for more information!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. Thanks so much!

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From the Buggy of ESM: Third Trimester & New Features Coming Soon!

Previously this post has been called “from the desk of..” however, I thought “from the buggy” seemed more appropriate :)

It’s been a while since I have updated you guys, set aside the deals and let you in to what is going on behind the scenes! As most of you know, we are expecting our LITTLE BOY May 5th and the impending due date is making me go into a tail spin. I work a separate job aside from ESM, which ESM is a full time job within itself, so I haven’t had much time to prepare.

My busy season with my day job is finally coming to an end so this week I finally got to nail down some of the fun, new baby things that all moms love to enjoy. Converting my office into a nursery, however, seems to be a bigger task than I thought it would be. I want our little one to have a space of his own without mommy’s work cluttering it, but I am not sure if I can operate without an office so we may have to come to some sort of compromise! Meanwhile, the task of finally finding baby bedding that suited my nursery dreams but didn’t break the bank is complete! I love his new bedding, I can’t wait to show all of you his completed nursery.

We finally made it to the third trimester, which hasn’t come without it’s challenges. I’ve had what they believe is to be a kidney stone since before Christmas now, and the pain has severely intensified in the last couple weeks. Some days you may not hear much from me, other than the regular deals, which means I am probably in bed nursing my pain. Along with dealing with that, last week I got the stomach bug as well & boy was THAT interesting! I am blessed with super in-laws that came to our rescue as EasternShoreDad (as we affectionately call him) came down with it as well. The only was who was spared was Addison, who knew she had a stronger immune system than Mommy & Daddy?!

For all you mommies out there, I am also putting together a list of the clubs, programs, and places to request coupons for baby from. It’s been almost 5 years since I have done the new baby thing, boy have things changed! I will compile everything I can find in a post, or over several posts, in the coming weeks for all of you to enjoy as well.

Also, various wonderful opportunities have been popping up lots lately! Some local pregnancy/new baby related businesses have emailed asking if I would write about theirs services after trying them out for myself when we have the baby or in the weeks approaching it. I have never really done much of this, but I think this will be beneficial to all of you and lots of fun for everyone involved so we are FULL STEAM AHEAD! You will see some of these start popping up. Also, if you have a local business feel free to contact me. We always have our wonderful advertising prices, and love getting local businesses attention from our wonderful readers, but the new baby features seem to be a wonderful idea and are turning into a series so it may be something you are interested in to spread the word about your services!

Thanks so much to all of you for your emails of encouragement, stories of your own pregnancies, and for continuing to love and support EasternShoreMom.com! I am sure I will have another one of these posts very soon as our special day gets closer and closer!

 

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. Thanks so much!

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Beginners: How you “do” Coupons.com like a Pro

How do you do Coupons.com like a pro?

Coupons.com is a site we talk about A WHOLE LOT on EasternShoreMom.com. However, it can be very complicated to know how I find all these coupons, how to print again, where are the coupons I just printed, etc. Let me help you with a little Coupons.com 101:

Entering a Zip Code

When you are on Coupons.com, the coupons that come up are based on what zip code you enter. You can enter ANY ZIP CODE YOU WANT, there will be no indication on the coupon that it is only valid in the area you selected. What are some HOT zip codes?

• Try selecting “no zip code” (in my experience, this brings up EVERY coupon any of the zip codes bring up)
• 90210
• 30306
• 12345
• You can also go to USPS.com and use their zip code finder to find other zip codes. Usually big city zip codes have better coupon selections.

Printing the Coupons

You want to select “Clip this Coupon” to print. But as you know, you can print (most) coupons twice on Coupons.com! However, when you go back to the page that coupon was on it is no longer there. Where did it go and do I have to scroll through all 18 pages of these coupons to find it?

• Once you have printed a coupon once, when you go back to print again try the last few pages on coupons. Usually when you print a coupon they send it to the last page to hang out, letting you know you have either “reached your print limit” or you are almost there.

When do the Coupons Expire

Once you print a coupon from Coupons.com, the coupon should expire 30 days from the date on print.

When do the Print Limits Reset

So once you have printed a coupon twice, it gives you the “print limit reached” message. But when can you print it again? At the beginning of every month, Coupons.com will reset and allow you to print again. That is, if that coupon is still available. At the beginning of the month Coupons.com also reloads with new coupons and gets rid of some of the old coupons.

• Be sure on the last day of the month to scroll through and print ANY coupon you might want because tomorrow it might not be there anymore. If it is still there, you will be able to print it an additional 2 times, ending up with 4 of the same coupon!

When Should I Check Coupons.com for New Coupons?

Be sure to head over there once a day to check and see if there are new coupons to print! EasternShoreMom.com also puts of Catch of the Day posts to alert you of new coupons, but you never know what you may find! Download the FREE ESM Toolbar for a quick link to Coupons.com to remind you each day to check.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. Thanks so much!

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Consignment Sale Tips & Tricks: Preparing to Sell

It’s the hottest season of the year, Consignment season that is! Soon, consignment sales will be filing your nearest convention centers & vacant buildings preparing to sell all your outgrown & unused stuff! What a great time of the year it is because not only do you get a DEEP discount on items by being a shopper but you also get some money back for your investment by selling your things as well.

Where do you begin when preparing your items to be sold?

Deciding what to sell, the GREAT DIVIDE:

Clear a few hours from your schedule, sit in the middle of the kids rooms and begin to make your FOUR piles…

Donate Pile- These are items that are too worn to consign. Small stains, small tears, cheaper items that would not make much money consigning, etc.

Trash Pile- Items that are too worn to donate like big rips, not reparable items, soiled clothes, large stains, etc.

Keep Pile- Things that you want to keep as treasures for your child when they grow older like special outfits (coming home, first birthday, etc.) and any other sentimental things.

Consign Pile- This pile is for all of the other things that did not fall into the categories above. Hopefully this will be A LOT, the more items you can consign the more MOOLAH you make!

Preparing your Consignment Items:

As with any other item for sale, one that looks appealing is the one that sells. Be sure to take some time & make your consignment clothes look good on the hanger so they are eye catching to the consumer. Here are some tips:

Wash & Wrinkle Release your Clothes- Be sure to wash your clothes, use stain remover if necessary, then spray with wrinkle release before hanging them on a hanger. If needed, iron the items that are more delicate.

Stain Removal Tips-

• Best stain removers we have found are OxiClean Baby, OxiClean Versatile, Clorox Bleach Pen, Carbona, Mother’s Miracle and Tide Stain Sticks.
• Some innovative stain removal items:
  • Tilex Bathroom Cleaner works wonders on white clothes with mildew stains, contains bleach so stay away from dark clothes.
  • Greased Lightening, sold with household cleaners. Spray directly on stain, don’t be alarmed if the clothing changes color, it will return to original color after washing. Most stains will come out, for difficult stains repeat.
  • Goop works well on grease stains.
• Fresh protein stains can often be removed by soaking and agitating in cold water before washing. If hot water is used first, it can cook the protein, causing coagulation between the fibers in the yarns of the fabric, making the stain more difficult to remove.
• Never put a stained fabric in the dryer, the heat will set the stain. Start the treatment process again.
• Soak dingy white shoe laces in Biz and you will see a remarkable difference!!!

Clean Shoes- Shoes are a high ticket item when you buy them new, so you should be able to make a good amount off of barely worn to semi-worn shoes. Be sure to take a hosuehold cleaner & clean the shoes. Even try soaking the bottoms in water to rid them of any dried on gunk. For Crocks, try using Armor-All wipes, they restore Crocks to almost their original sheen & look!

Package Items Properly- If you are attaching bloomers to a dress, use safety pins and attach it to the back of the dress for easy viewing. If you are selling shoes, be sure to put the pair in a plastic bag that is clean & crisp ( you can find a package of these for $1 at the Dollar Tree).

As consignment season continues, EasternShoreMom.com will host your headquarters for Consignment Sale Success with our frugal tips & tricks.  A BIG thanks to our friends over at Kidz Klozet (Mobile, AL consignment sale) for the stain removal tips!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. Thanks so much!

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Valentine’s Family Fun

Since Valentine’s Day is coming up – our Frugal Family Fun ideas for the week are Valentine’s Day related – I know those chocolate-covered strawberries sound yummy to me!  Who knew they were so easy to make ;) YUM!  And I think we can try making those stamps – have you guys ever made them before??

Make sure you head over to Having Fun Saving for your Valentine’s Family Fun!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. Thanks so much!

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