How A Stick-It Note Helped Me With a Frugal Hack
Monday I was on my way home from a dentist appointment and I passed an unattended yard sale. That is, there clearly had been a yard sale, and there were still some pieces of furniture and a large table set up on sawhorses with plenty of stuff on top and beneath. But there was nobody around. There wasn't a screen door or anywhere to stick a note.
Then I remembered that when Stick-it notes were on sale at a local shop a few weeks ago- I got a package of five for about a dollar, and I put one in my van and left it there.
"What for?" asked somebody in my family.
"I don't know," I said. "Just in case."
So I got out the stick-it note and left my name and phone number, explaining that I was interested in some of the items I'd seen, then I drove home.
About half an hour after I arrived home a stranger called and said she found my note, she was done with the yard sale, and a local second hand store in town was coming to pick everything up, if I got there first, I could take whatever I wanted, it was all free.
Well. I grabbed my son and brought home:
Two bamboo chairs. They need cushions but are otherwise nice.
One white metal headboard, curved enough that it might end up making a wedding or garden decoration.
A denim jumper which is strangely buttoned down the back, which we all think sounds terribly uncomfortable. But it can be cut down to a skirt and turned buttons to front.
A very cool, smooth, sheet while will make a few nice, light, summer slips.
Several tins- decorated with peonies, a Jessie Wilcox illustration, and acanthus leaves, respectively.
A blue blanket
A LARGE thermos (our family could all have a cup of soup from this thermos with maybe enough for a couple people to get seconds).
Some kitschy porcelain figurines which are going out amongst the flowers in the tire retaining wall, the better to amuse Blynken, Nod, and the coming grandbaby.
Three porcelain soup bowls in an Asian pattern and style that I've been wanting- it reminds me of our time overseas.
Straw plate holders for paper plates.
Various and assorted craft paints from Tulip, Plaid, and art-deco- these bottles are all nearly or totally new, in a variety of colors.
Beads
pipe cleaners
embroidery floss
dressmaker's tracing paper
A pretty blue glass sort of gizmo/bottle/thingie for hanging from a shepherd's crook in the garden.
One small white shelf for storing shoes for our summer guest to take to her new apartment in the fall.
polarized clip-on sunglasses still in their package with the 13.00 price tag
Several coiled metal bases for necklaces
Some of these items will be money-makers, too, as one of my daughters uses embroidery floss and paints for craft items that she sells.
And all for the price of a stick-it note.=)
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9 Responses to “How A Stick-It Note Helped Me With a Frugal Hack”
August 8th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
WOW!! What a great find!! I can’t wait to go garage saling next weekend.
August 8th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I have been to two “free” garage sales in the past 2 weeks. Apparently the sales were done and the people decided to put a “free” sign up rather than cart everything away. I found some useful things ( a couple that will end up being gifts as they are in new condition). In fact, I found a cake topper that is on my son’s birthday cake today!
August 8th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
My husband likes to say, “Free? I got a pocket full o’ free!”
August 9th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
[...] I put one in my van and left it there. “What for?” asked somebody in my family. …original article Share and [...]
August 13th, 2009 at 3:51 am
WOW that is awesome! I think that must be the best deal I ever heard of
August 13th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Wow!
I don’t think I’ve even seen that many items at ONE garage sale here, at the beginning of the sale!
I would have taken several of those same things if it had been me! That’s great!
August 18th, 2009 at 6:08 am
Love it. I’m going right now to put post-it notes and a pen in my van!!!!!!
September 4th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Right after seeing this dh and I went to our local dump which has a separate place for metal items. I saw the prettiest white curved metal headboard. We didn’t think we could get but couldn’t get off my mind (esp. after seeing this post)so finally called and was able to go back and get. (Only because their loader wasn’t there that they use to load the metals onto the recycler truck they call to come get – so glad)
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Your note made me laugh ! I love synchronicity…
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