(March 7, 2009) – I have a friend who considers herself a professional yard sale shopper.  She passed on these tips to me.

• Go through the newspaper and craigslist, then map out where the sales will be.  You’ll cut down on driving expenses and save time.

• Wear good shoes, not flip-flops.

• Carry a beverage in the car.

• Stuff a plastic grocery bag into your pocket.  That way, if you find a number of good items, you don’t have to stop shopping to look for a container.

• Take along plenty of small bills and change and be ready to negotiate prices.

• Church and organization sales frequently have lower prices than individual yard sales.

• Pay attention to the neighborhood.  Better neighborhoods have better stuff, though it may be priced higher.  If you’re looking for kids’ clothes or toys, skip the sales in retirement communities.

• Sometimes going late in the day is best – a lot of times the seller drops the price on whatever is left just to get rid of it.