With the 35 below windchill days of December far behind us, we are (finally) just around the corner from sweet tea, sunshine and the 2023 yard sale season.
Some of the best bargain hunting in the midwest is right here in central Indiana. So grab your coffee and your cross-body bag, and let’s go junkin’!
We are all well aware of the high cost of putting together a summer wardrobe, but you can be stylish for a fraction of retail if you know what to watch for at the Summer sales.
Designer bags are a great find and will be marked at a fraction of their original price. I find these most common at the upscale ($500,000+) community sales. Also, while you’re in the neighborhood, check out the racks of clothes. Items may be from last year, but you will often find quality brand name and designer labels. This is also a good time to look for vintage clothing items. These are more common at estate sales but do occasionally surface at yard sales.
Now that we once again have a toddler in the family, I am always on the lookout for toys. I have been very displeased with some of the “made in China” knockoffs of classics from Fisher Price, and yard sales afford me a wide selection of the “real” thing.
Since 1950 FP has made their toys of molded plastic. As such, they are easy to clean/sanitize and they seldom break. Fisher Price focuses on the various stages of childhood development with age specific toys that have kept all of my kids and grandkids entertained for hours. PLUS, I get to be the cool grandma that always shows up to visit with a toy!
For many years I have been a collector of pottery and of my 130+ pieces, the majority of them came from yard sales. From mid-century California stylings, to jardinieres from Weller and whimsical cookie jars from Shawnee I have accumulated dozens of pieces by shopping in my neighbor’s yards. And I will, no doubt, add more this year.
Whatever your passion, you can enhance your collections for pennies on the dollar by shopping wisely. Military memorabilia, fine china, antique dolls, vintage jewelry, Pyrex, whatever you fancy, this is the time of year to get some incredible bargains.
Remember: start early, have a plan of where you are going, wear your most comfortable walking shoes, take plenty of smaller bills and as the days heat up remember the bottled water! Good luck and happy hunting. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett70@gmail.com