Garage Sales

It's garage sale season again.  Every year, the city holds a Garage Sale Day, in which all households in the city are encouraged to hold a sale, or go shopping at the many houses in the various neighbourhoods.  Since moving to this city, we've gone shopping on Garage Sale Day every year.  We choose our neighbourhoods, make a list of the houses we will be visiting, pack the car with the kids and various snacks and drinks, and make a full morning/afternoon out of it.  We've developed our own strategies and methods for this annual event!

In most of our previous years, we've purchased kid books and games, toys, kid clothes, CD's, DVD's, a shelf, etc..  Since starting a family of our own, we've realized how quickly babies and toddlers grow out of their toys and clothes.  Buying new at full retail prices is a waste of well-earned money, and so long as the used item can be washed or cleaned, Husband and I are in complete agreement that buying used is the way to go.

I know there are some people who get icked-out from buying used, but there really should be no problem in buying used if the item can be cleaned or washed.  I also see it as a boost to healthy environmental practices.  If more people purchased used, then it would be less of a toll on our landfills - something that our city recognizes.

I'm sure I've posted about this many times before, so to re-iterate the "fun" of garage sale shopping, I'll list a few items that we've purchased in the past:

• Record player
• Shelf (for storage under our stairs)
• Toddler slide
• Peg Perego stroller
• Play-pen
• Kiddie Pool
• Toddler chalkboard
• Outdoor play-kitchen
• Numerous Kid DVD's, and books

We've also contemplated on used chairs/couches, barbecues, camping gear, exercise equipment, bags/purses, kitchen items, etc..  I always feel like a Prospector, when shopping on Garage Sale Day.  :D