Rummage sale love

I seldom venture into rummage sales because I don't like crowds and I frequently get overwhelmed by mass quantities of stuff. But yesterday Renee said she was going to one, so I decided to tag along (as a bonus she drove so I wouldn't have to use any of my precious gas). Plus it is totally in-line with my effort to reuse items rather than purchase new ones. To damper the overwhelmingness, I tried to think of items that I wanted to find: cloth napkins, clothing for the kids, retro outdoor furniture and a good book or two.

It was great! I'm hooked. I found armloads of good-quality clothes for the kids, which they so desperately need (my poor daughter doesn't have any shorts that fit her) and bunches of cloth napkins. The furniture was a bust, but I scored some 50's era flashcards and educational posters that I'm not sure what I'll do with, but I just loved the illustrations. For $14 I felt like I'd scored the deal of the century. In the spirit of reuse I'd also remembered to bring my Envirosax and ChicoBag. (I just love people's reactions when I pull out those bags, particularly the Envirosax, which is so pretty.)

Now I'm making a list of other items that I'd like to find should I happen upon more rummage or garage sales this summer. Are you a rummage sale junkie? An early-bird garage saler? Any good tips to share?