Stop! It's A Garage Sale!

Now that the weather has finally warmed up and the weekends are sunny, befitting our California reputation, garage sales are in full swing. Lately I’ve noticed that by weeks end many intersections around town sport cardboard signs with balloons or ribbons advertising a sale nearby.

I’m always tempted. I usually drive by, but don’t always stop. Unless…

I have four Hitchcock reproduction chairs and a small bureau that I spotted at garage sales. Great finds!

It may take a good eye to identify an upscale item hidden under layers of paint, but beat-up, scratched and broken discards are easy to spot. I draw the line at buying castoff junk. For my money, junk is junk, plain and simple.

Years ago, I made periodic runs to the dump in an old Chevy pickup. Taking trash to the local landfill back then was commonplace–the impact on the environment not yet fully appreciated. My kids loved it. We often returned with someone’s discard.

My rationale? We kept something out of the landfill and gave it new purpose. We were ahead of the curve.

However, I must confess I’m a bit of a snob. Truthfully, I think we’re all snobs on some level. Admit it, you have certain brands you like and use, and you’re willing to pay a little extra to get them. Me too. But when it comes to safeguarding my finances or doing my part to preserve the environment, my snobbery takes a backseat.

Today’s three "R" buzzwords–recycle, repurpose, reuse–the cornerstones necessary to establish a greener planet, make garage sales almost chi-chi. One person’s reject is another person’s treasure. Garage sales are vehicles for selling items to someone else to reuse or repurpose.

Even after downsizing, I have too much. Quite possibly, you do too. I need to consolidate and condense, but parting with things is not my strong suit. What if I want or need it someday? I need to use less and use what I already have differently–re-shopping at home would be a great idea.

I know someone who recycles her dishes every other year. Once she finds something she likes at a garage or estate sale, she sells her current dishes. She calls it being shabby chic and delights that she’s found a creative way to constantly change her “look”. And she does it on the cheap.

I’m all for creative solutions. How many sets of dishes does someone need anyway?

With this in mind, I’ve developed a new system. If I haven’t used an item (including clothes) for over 6 months, and have no plan for its immediate use, it moves to a shopping bag or box in a remote corner of my garage. If it remains unused for an additional six months, it’s going, going, gone.

So far, my new plan has done little but create a rather disorganized pile in my garage. I did retrieve a pair of pants and a bowl last week, which makes taking the final step of letting go more difficult, but it’s progress.

I think the key is re-educating one another about putting the “re” into more areas of everyday life. The green concept is here to stay–it’s our new basic black–easy, effective and essential.

Let’s also think about some other re’s–repainting, reclaiming, reducing and refurbishing. If we all consciously lived in a manner that curbed harmful effects on the environment, everyone would benefit.

Baby steps can lead to giant change, and once we get used to doing something new, it becomes a familiar habit.

So the next time you see one of those homemade garage sale signs, stop and check it out. There’s no telling what you might find, or whom you might run into. If you happen to have access to a pick-up, lucky you.