Tiny Resources

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Tiny Learning
    • Infants
    • Preschoolers
    • Toddlers
  • Tiny Living
    • Cooking
    • Lifestyle
    • Organizing
  • Tiny Playtime
    • Books
    • Crafts
    • Toys
  • Tiny Products
    • Reviews
    • Things I’m selling

Category Archives: Tiny Living

Garage-Sale like a Pro: Tips to get great deals!

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Katelyn Posted in Lifestyle, Tiny Living .

Garage Sale Cover

Before I had Tiny One, I didn’t garage sale very much. I never found items I wanted, and it felt like a waste of time. Once T1 was born, my mom (an avid garage-saler) told me I should reconsider. She saved thousands of dollars each year buying clothes and toys for my five siblings and me when we were young, and she told me it would be worth giving garage sales a try. She taught me all of her tricks, and over the last two years I have learned to LOVE going to garage sales.

I see other parents purchase clothes for $10 each at Wal-Mart to save money, but I get Baby Gap and Gymboree clothes for $1 each at garage sales. A better deal AND better quality…win-win! I now buy 95% of T1’s clothes this way, and almost all of our toys too. I have good (aka “expensive”) taste in clothes and toys and love name brand items, so it’s fun to find Pottery Barn toys/furniture, and even some exclusive items that can only be purchased overseas…all for great deals.

Not only do garage sales save you money, they are also good for the environment because you can recycle gently used items instead of buying new. Plus it’s fun to find awesome deals on things you will really use!

Weather you are a pro at finding sales, or are just getting started, here are some tips that may be helpful (most of them came from my Mom and have worked wonders for me).

I’d love to hear YOUR tips below!

 

1)      Make a list

It’s important to know what you are looking for before you start shopping. Without a list, I sometimes buy stuff I won’t ever need, or I can’t find anything that will work for me.

For example, I had a hard time finding items for a toddler dress up box until I itemized what I was looking for: fun hats, capes, purses, etc. Once I had a list, I found what I needed right away.

 

2)      Know your price-point

Garage sales can have a wide variety of price points. Some people list almost everything for $1 or less, while others price items at only 50% off whatever they paid for it brand new (yikes!).

 

Based on where you are, the prices may vary slightly, but here are price point guidelines:

 

Clothes:

o   $1 for most clothes

o   $.50 or less for accessories (onesies, bibs, etc.)

o   $2 on average for shoes (I’ll pay more for some name brands if they’re in perfect condition)

o   $2-5 for nice coats or really nice clothing

 

Books:

o   Up to $1 for hardback and $.50 for paperback.

 

Toys, furniture, and everything else:

o   My mom’s rule of thumb is to pay up to 10% of the original price. So if a piece of furniture is $300 new, she will pay up to $30 for it at a garage sale if it’s in good/great condition.

o   I sometimes will pay a higher percentage if it’s a specific item/name brand I was looking for, and especially if it’s still available in stores. I’ll also pay more if it’s a harder item to find (solid wooden toys, Pottery Barn items, etc.). My max is usually no more than 20% of the original price though… and that’s only if it’s in great condition.

 

3)      Plan where to go

I use the “Yard Sale Treasure Map” website and iphone app. It pulls sale ads from craigslist and maps them out for you. You can star the garage sales you like, and it will plan a route. Easy! I’m also part of a facebook page in my area where people list items for sale and advertise their garage sales, which is super helpful when I’m planning my routes.

If individual sales advertise specific things I’m looking for, I plan to hit those first. Neighborhood-wide sales are also a priority since there are lots of opportunities to find things I want.

Keep in mind that garage sales farther back in the neighborhood are often missed by traffic and stand-alone sales in remote locations also may lose traffic, so they are usually more willing to negotiate prices with you!

 

4)      Plan when to go

The first day of a sale (right when they open) will guarantee the most “hot ticket” buys. The last day, mid-morning, will guarantee the best deals on what’s left because people just want to get rid of everything.

If you want popular toys/electronics, go the first day. If you want clothes, go the last day.

 

5)      Negotiate prices & group items

Most people running garage sales just want items gone, so they are willing to negotiate. If something is priced higher than I usually pay, I’ll offer a lower price. This is easier to do by choosing several things I want, adding up the total price and offering a lower price for the group of items.

For example, if the total is $20, I’ll ask if they will take $16. If the total is $10, I’ll ask if they will take $8. Most sellers are willing to negotiate this way- it’s a pile of stuff they don’t have to bring back inside!

Sellers are MUCH more willing to negotiate if you are friendly, and maybe even if you mention what you plan to do with the items. I went to one sale last week and I heard the sellers saying “no” when others asked for a lower price. I talked with them for a few moments, and let them know they had great educational material I could use to teach my daughter preschool. I made a pile of what I wanted and asked if they would take less. They took the overall price down by 25%. Very nice!

Note: If I find sales where the asking prices are more than fair, I won’t negotiate as I don’t want to take advantage of anyone (some sales only ask $.25 per book and $.50 for clothes, so I’ll take it!). 🙂

 

 

Garage Sale 3

 

6)      Walk away, if necessary

If someone won’t negotiate, I walk away. Sometimes there are 1 or 2 items that I really do want (and probably won’t find again), so I decide if the asking price is worth it. If so, I will put everything else back and just get the item(s) I really want.

 

7)      Don’t give up

There may be a few weeks when I don’t find much… but I regularly have days when I shop for 1 hour and come back with a whole car load of high-quality items. Sometimes I find things I was planning to buy full-price soon, so it’s always a rush to realize how much I’ve saved!

 

8)      Continue the process

During garage sale season, I start getting rid of my stuff as I bring new stuff in. I don’t like my house to feel cluttered, and I use whatever money I get from items I sell to buy new items I need.

 

9)      Have fun!

Garage sales can provide your family with quality items that are needed/useful at a HUGE savings. Once you get started, it’s exciting to realize what you are providing for your family for a fraction of what it would have cost! You’ll be able to get things you never could have afforded and/or feel good about recycling things that are in almost-new condition!

Garage sales can also be a fun time to meet up with friends – you can visit and help each other find what you’re looking for. Win/win!

 

Hopefully this is a helpful list. I warn you – garage sales can be addictive once you get started! 🙂 If you have any helpful tips, I’d love to hear them below!

 

–          Katelyn

 

 

Leave a comment .

Don’t be stressed! How to shop Black Friday like a pro

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Katelyn Posted in Lifestyle, Tiny Living .

Black Friday final

 

I love a good deal, so I’ve been shopping Black Friday for years. My whole family gets involved, and every year we perfect our strategy.

 

With the big day coming up, here are some helpful tips (most of which we’ve learned the hard way):

 

 

1)      Make your list

BEFORE shopping for Black Friday, make a list if what you’d like to buy. Otherwise, it’s too easy to buy items you’ll never use (or no one wants).

If you won’t use it, it’s not a good deal. Even if it’s free.

 

 

2)      Follow deal sites

Scope out sites that highlight good deals – it will save you lots of time.

I follow www.blackfriday.com to see Black Friday ads in advance.

I also follow www.hip2save.com because it highlights TONS of individual deals as they happen.

Let someone else do the work for you.

 

 

3)      Consider prices & set alerts

If there are a few hot ticket items you want, figure out what a good deal would actually be. Consider buying BEFORE Black Friday if a good deal pops up (you can always return it if you get a better deal):

  • Visit www.amazon.com and find the item you want
  • Copy the URL
  • Then, visit www.camelcamelcamel.com and paste the amazon URL in their search engine
  • They will find the item and tell you the lowest and highest price it’s been, so you know what’s reasonable
  • You can also type in your email address & it will alert you when your item drops in price!!

 

 

4)      Map out ads

On Thanksgiving Day (or ahead of time if you view them online), spend an hour or two looking through ads and make a list of items that match your shopping list.

Several of my family members do this, and then we combine all of our lists, organizing them by store.

 

 

bf2

 

5)      Buy online

Many stores offer Black Friday deals online before stores even open – use this when possible.

It’s much easier to search for items online then to fight through a crowd.

Also, most stores (including Amazon) offer free shipping if your purchase is over a certain amount. You can beat the rush AND have purchases delivered to your door for free. Win/win!

 

 

6)      Arrive early

If you do go out, remember to arrive early if you want big ticket items and/or to avoid wrap-around-the-store checkout lines.

I skip the electronics, so I don’t need to line up at midnight, but for general sale items I arrive right when a store is opening. This usually means I can find 90% of the items I want, which is good enough to me.

 

 

7)      Go in pairs

Use the buddy system in stores by taking someone with you.

My family will send “teams” of people; each team has 2-3 stores they shop, using the lists we created the day before. We shop together, splitting up to find items when needed.

If a store line starts getting long (this can happen immediately), one person can wait in the checkout line while the other one finishes shopping. This will literally save you HOURS of time, and is worth bribing someone with a free breakfast to get them to go with you.

 

 

8)      Let your children sleep

Every year I run into frazzled parents with their infants or young children bundled up and crying in a stroller. They often arrive before a store opens so their kids are freezing and upset before shopping even starts. Yikes. These same couples are seen frantically trying to navigate aisles with their (still crying) child in tow while crows of people jump in front of them to get the good deals.

Not worth it for parents OR kids.

If you have a child, stick with online shopping, or arrange for someone to hang out at home so your kid(s) can sleep in their warm beds. Then do your shopping like a champ (without a stroller) so you can get in and out of stores quickly… and maybe even get some extra sleep when you get back (if you’re lucky).

 

 

9)       Evaluate purchases & return excess

After you shop, evaluate your purchases and return anything you don’t use or plan to give as gifts. You’ll likely have a few impulse buys or items that you need to send in for a rebate.

Keep all receipts just in case, and send in for any rebates within a week to make sure it happens.

 

 

10)   Remember the REAL reason for the season

It’s easy to get so caught up in finding great deals that we forget to enjoy our family and friends. This season is about thanking God for what we already have, remembering God’s greatest gift to us, and showing love to others.

Slow down. Pray. Invest time in those around you. Call someone. Play a board game. Smile.

Quality time with others is worth far more than a new TV or fuzzy slippers.

 

What are YOUR tips for Black Friday?

 

Happy shopping!

 

– Katelyn

 

bf3

Leave a comment .

Rules for Toys – Part II, Access to Toys

Posted on November 9, 2013 by Katelyn Posted in Organizing, Tiny Living, Tiny Playtime, Toys .

Toy Rules

 

Earlier this week, I posted four rules to follow when purchasing toys. Today, I will share my rules for organizing toys (aka: giving children access to them).

As previously discussed, children do not play well when:

1) Toys are not age appropriate

2) Toys do not allow children to learn or imagine

3) There are too many toys out at once

 

I keep this in mind when organizing toys.

 

Overall, every toy must have a home.

When toys are brought out, they must have a purpose (for a specific child, age, or skill).

 

 

Access to Toys

 

1)      Simplify everyday-access toys

Choose a few classics to leave out all day every day.

I switch these toys out each week or two, to keep kids engaged.

I don’t use toyboxes because this can become a hidden toy dump. Children cannot find or access the toys they want, so they dump everything out to get to one toy.

 

For example, here is what I keep out:

 

Living Room (all the children play here):

A set of blocks

a few ride-on or push toys

5 books

2 cars/trucks

2 baby dolls

Preschool/learning room:

play kitchen

dress up box

6 books

1 game

1 learning activity

Loft (this is for Tiny One only):

select wooden toys

a small box of books

a small box of other toys

Tiny One’s bedroom:

10 books

A few stuffed animals

 

 

2)      Bin method

Store extra toys by theme in plastic bins. I also store learning activities, extra books, and craft supplies out of sight.

The bins for younger children are in our entryway closet. We select one bin or activity at a time; usually 1-2 each day.

In the Preschool room, toy bins are accessible on a shelf. Older children can get out bins & mix them together, but each bin must be put away before they leave the room.

Children can ask permission to get out a game, puzzle, or craft item, as desired. (We tried letting them do this on their own, but it resulted in too much “dump and run” time.)

 

3)      Clear unused & dump-and-run items

If a toy or bin of toys is regularly ignored (or dumped and left untouched) something needs to change.

Sometimes children need to grow into a toy. Other times, they are simply tired of using it. Either way, I put the toy away for a while, to try again later.

If it doesn’t hold interest after a few tries, I get rid of it.

Why use up my space with unused toys?

 

4)      Five minute clean-up rule

When ALL accessible toys in a room are dumped out (which inevitably happens), it should not take more than 5 minutes to clean everything up.

I don’t like to spend all day cleaning, and neither do the kids!

When clean up time in a room starts taking too long, I move more toys into bins. This keeps clean up time short & more enjoyable. It also reminds me to continually use the bin system I have set up.

 

 

Well there you have it. By limiting the toys that come into my home and carefully planning what toys to leave out, children can experience more quality playtime. There are fewer distractions and fewer toys to fight over. Children can focus easily on mastering skills.

Also, by rotating toys, children are excited to play with something “new” each day or each week, which holds their focus.

The bottom line, of course, is try a few systems out and do what works for you. Everyone is different!

Blessings,

 

Katelyn

 

 

binsbasement

 

Leave a comment .

Rules for Toys, Part I – Types of Toys

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Katelyn Posted in Organizing, Tiny Living, Tiny Playtime, Toys .

Toy Rules

 

I have toy rules.

Why?

Because with 9 children in and out of my home (1 of my own + 8 joining us for preschool classes and/or care during the week), my home could easily be overrun with toys.

 

I run a household.

I take care of & teach children.

I do not run a toystore or a toy “dump”.

 

I don’t want the toys on the floor to take over my home or stop children from truly “playing”.  

My home will get messy…but it should be with toys that children USE and enjoy!

 

I’ve found that children do not play well when:

1) Toys are not age appropriate

2) Toys do not allow children to learn or imagine

3) There are too many toys out at once

 

When this happens, children often switch into “dump and run” mode. They only touch toys to dump them off the toy shelf, rip the pieces apart, and/or throw them across the room.

Not worth it.

 

I want to surround children with items that encourage cooperative play, creativity, and independent learning.

 

Because of this, I have developed guidelines to monitor toy purchases and toy accessibility.

Today I will focus on the types of toys I look for. Later this week, I will post about access to toys in my home.

 

 

 Types of Toys

 

1)      Quality.

Cheap toys often break quickly and need to be replaced. Or they do not function as well as higher quality counterparts.

Toys that last & work well will save money in the long run, because they won’t need to be replaced.

A few high-quality items are better than a pile of toys that break quickly.

Last Christmas, we gave Tiny One a beautiful wooden push cart (I meticulously researched to find the “best” one), and a few smaller carefully chosen items. She had a BLAST and every toy has been used all year long.

Quality trumps quantity.

 

2)      Durability.

Toys must be durable. I love wooden toys, but there are some great plastic toys as well.

Play with toys and/or read reviews before purchasing.

If a toy might break within two years, do not buy it.

I like to find toys that will last at least 5 years. Even if Tiny One outgrows it, a sturdy toy can be re-sold or given to someone else to enjoy. Bonus!

Sturdy play food over cardboard play food. A wooden ride-on toy instead of a flimsy plastic one. You get the idea.

 

3)      Open-ended.

Toys must allow for some creativity. Blocks, legos, dolls, play-dough, balls, cars, etc.

I avoid TV/movie themed items & toys that only do one thing. There is nothing inherently wrong with these things…they just don’t allow kids to create. Character toys and toys that serve only one purpose are already defined.

Open-ended toys allow children to constantly redefine what they are. They naturally grow with your child’s interests.

Kids won’t outgrow legos for a long time, but a “Spongebob” addiction may only last a year…or a month.

 

4)      Multiple Ages & Stages.

Toys that can grow with your child and be used with multiple ages at the same time (siblings, friends, etc.) are well worth it.

For example, alphabet blocks can help infants develop fine motor skills. Toddlers can use them to practice stacking, learn colors, and introduce the abc’s. Preschoolers can use the blocks for pretend play and for number/letter recognition. Older children may use alphabet blocks to practice their spelling or play games they make up.

Obviously, this won’t work for every toy, but it’s good to keep in mind.

There were some toys I just “had to have” for Tiny One…until I realized she would likely outgrow them within a few months!

Not worth it.

 

 

 

Well there you have it. Four rules  to govern the types of toys I let into my home. There are exceptions to every rule, but I do my best to follow them closely.

Surrounding children with carefully chosen toys, instead of a random pile, will increase quality playtime & avoid “dump and run” sessions.

 

“Part II – Access to Toys” will come later! 🙂

 

What rules do YOU have for toys?

 

Blessings,

 

Katelyn

 

Bins

1 Comment .

Subscribe


 

Or register for updates using any of the below social logins.
Connect with:
Facebook Google Twitter

Recent Posts

  • Garage-Sale like a Pro: Tips to get great deals!
  • Product Review: Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten Curriculum
  • It’s Official!
  • New Years Stuff
  • Protecting tinies during the holidays

Search

Pages

  • About Me

Archives

  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013

Categories

  • Tiny Learning (3)
    • Infants (2)
    • Preschoolers (3)
    • Toddlers (2)
  • Tiny Living (4)
    • Lifestyle (2)
    • Organizing (2)
  • Tiny Playtime (5)
    • Crafts (1)
    • Toys (4)
  • Tiny Products (3)
    • Reviews (2)
    • Things I'm selling (1)
  • Uncategorized (4)

WordPress

  • Register
  • Log in
  • WordPress

CyberChimps WordPress Themes

© Tiny Resources