How to Make More Money Selling at a Craft Fair Booth | eHow.com

How to Make More Money Selling at a Craft Fair Booth | eHow.com

How to Attend An Annual City Wide Garage Sale | eHow.com

How to Attend An Annual City Wide Garage Sale | eHow.com

Ann Castle's Online Auction Tips: A Garage Sale Survival Kit

Going to garage sales is great fun, quite profitable and can save a bundle of money on both spendy and everyday items. There are a few items you should have with you when you venture forth on Saturday to inspect the treasures set our for your review:

A small, sturdy crate. The plastic kind that kids keep toys in is perfect. There are also versions that collapse. But I use mine to hold my tools of the trade.

An old blanket. This is to protect any nice furniture pieces or extra large finds from damage.

A small stash of bubble wrap, some tissue paper (don't use newspaper, as it often leaves marks on china, fabric and wood) and a plastic bag of old plastic clothing covers from the dry cleaning. These are excellent for protecting delicate items.

A magnifying glass. There are some nice ones that are plastic and are about the size of a postcard. You can usually get a good look at a hallmark, scratch, or other detail with a small one. If you are looking for jewelry, then pack a jeweler's loupe. These are also very useful for reading the small print on maps.

And speaking of maps...be sure you have a good one for your entire area and that it has a detailed index of streets and roads. The best ones are in book form, usually spiral, and you can photocopy the most-used pages for easy reference.

A tape measure. This way you can check the size of furniture, measure off fabric, etc.

A magnet. This will help you to detect the kinds of metal in items that appear to be brass, copper, silver, etc. If the magnet sticks (be sure to try both ends or sides) it is not the real deal. A small one the size of a quarter is all that is necessary.

A small flashlight. The ones with a small light that are used in theaters is fine and will let you check for marks, flaws and look in concealed spots.

A pocket knife. This is for cutting, scraping and testing...be sure you ask the owner before you do it, or better yet, have them use the knife. A lot of rust, patina or dirt can disguise a treasure. And it is generally handy for cutting up fruit and opening packages for lunch on the run.

A small pad of paper and pen. This is for addresses, phone numbers and names if you have to return or want to come back to make a deal later, etc.

Calling cards that have your name and phone number and whatever other information you want to disclose. You can get 250 of them free at VistaPrint.com, and they are very handy.

A large piece of plastic. These are available at the dime store and are usually 9 X 12 and fit into a regular size envelope. Your can protect stuff from rain as it is being transported.

A length of rope and some bungee cords to keep items in place for transport.

Personal information: Swatches of your colors for decorating and wearing. Sizes for you and everyone you buy for. Measurements for areas for rugs, furniture, window treatments, beds, etc. Trace off the soles of everybody's shoes so you can size them at sales.

Several sturdy canvas bags for books and other finds.

A large bottle of plain water. Garage Saling is thirsty work!

I keep all of the small stuff in a small zippered bag and the rest in the crate. You'll be glad of your Garage Sale Survival Kit. It can save you time and money.

About the author:

Ann Castle has been a manager and logistics expert for companies large and small and has a successful eBay business. She enjoys helping everyone achieve their goals and her greatest desire is to live in a world where everybody wins.

How to Get the Most Out of Rummage Sale Shopping

Rummage sale shopping isn't for everyone. Some people cringe at buying other people's junk. Others find it much easier to simply go to the mall or their local specialty store to get what they need. Still others think that there's a stigma attached to visiting rummage sales.

As someone who absolutely loves rummage sale shopping, I'm not too concerned with what other people think. I'd rather buy five books for a dollar at a sale than one for twenty dollars at a bookstore. If I can find clothes for a quarter a piece, I have no problem expanding my wardrobe with something someone else wore at one time (as long as it's in good shape). I know firsthand how much easier furnishing a home can be when you scour a rummage sale than when you browse the showroom floor.

Not only can you save a lot of money by shopping at rummage sales, you can have a lot of fun doing it as well. If you're dead set against the idea of making someone else's trash your treasure, read no further. This article isn't for you. If the thought of treasures to be had for practically pennies interests you in the slightest, read on.

If you're a seasoned rummage shopper, you're probably already familiar with these tips. For those not so well read in the art, there are several ways to get the most out of your experience. With summer just around the corner, endless sales are sure to be on the way. This season, try these tips for getting the most out of rummage sale shopping.

To see the tips...click here!

BEST BUYS OF SPRING (March, April, May) - Kiplinger

BEST BUYS OF SPRING (March, April, May) - Kiplinger

BEST BUYS OF SPRING (March, April, May)

Bargains are blooming this time of year. Here are seven purchases to make in March, April and May.

MARCH: Coats and outerwear
At the end of winter, retailers clear out their cold-weather clothing to make room for T-shirts, shorts and swimwear. That makes March an ideal time to plan ahead and stock up on bargain coats, hats and gloves for next winter.

MARCH: Flood insurance
It's not any cheaper to buy flood insurance at this time of year, but this is as good a time as any to do so before the spring thaw puts your home to the test. Create a flood-risk profile at FloodSmart.gov to see if you could benefit from flood insurance.

MARCH: Frozen food
It's national frozen-food month, and sales and coupons abound. If you have a freezer, stock up. You can store some foods as long as one year. (Use this storage guide from the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service when deciding what to stock up on.)

APRIL: Used cars
Looking for a used car? This is the best month to shop. Every year, car dealers stock up to kick off the spring selling season. Buyers have a full selection of inventory to choose from and plenty of willing negotiators to land the best deal. We'll show you some Great Deals on Used Cars.

APRIL/MAY: Kitchenware and utensils
Kitchen items make a great gift for new grads and newlyweds, so sales are often plentiful this season.

MAY: Mattresses
As retailers make room for new models, mattress shoppers will find a lot of wiggle room on price, says Luke Knowles, founder of FreeShipping.org. Look for discounts of up to 50%, as well as promotions for free delivery or free disposal of your old mattress.

ALL SPRING LONG: Vacations
Besides the week of spring break, you can usually grab a stellar deal on travel throughout the spring shoulder season -- until Memorial Day weekend, when summer pricing goes into effect. Plus, you'll get pleasant weather and fewer crowds.

BEST BUYS OF WINTER (January, February)

Story from Kiplingers.com

Yes, deals abound on Black Friday, but you can save money on plenty of things all winter long -- particularly electronics. Here are ten things whose prices thaw despite the cold this season.

DECEMBER/JANUARY: Weddings
From dresses to reception halls, you'll save a bundle with a winter wedding, according to Denise and Alan Fields, authors of Bridal Bargains. It's the industry's slow season, so don't be afraid to haggle your way to even lower prices -- you might find people are willing to deal.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY: TVs
New TV models arrive in the spring, making January and February prime time to save a few hundred dollars on the outgoing model year, according toConsumer Reports. (It's worth watching for Black Friday deals and holiday sales in December, too.)

JANUARY: Linens
It may be cold outside, but you can make the indoors warm and comfy -- and save money in the process -- by shopping department stores' "white sales" in January. It's not uncommon to find discounts of 10% to 60% on sheets, blankets, towels and more (and not just in white).

JANUARY: Gift wrap
With prices marked down as much as 75%, post-holiday sales make a great time to stock up on gift wrap, ribbon and tags. Look for neutral patterns that you can use year-round to make the most of this deal.

JANUARY: Carpet and floor coverings
Few people buy carpet in January, so that's the time to snag a discount as dealers try to drum up business, says Alan Fletcher, author of The Complete Carpet Buying Guide. Make your purchase by February 15th, though. As people start receiving their tax refunds, business -- and prices -- pick up again.

JANUARY: Furniture
New furniture hits showrooms in February, according to the American Home Furnishing Alliance. That means you can save 10% to 50% in January as retailers make room for the new inventory. (See summer for another good time to buy.)

JANUARY/FEBRUARY: Digital cameras
With the Consumer Electronics Show and Photo Marketing Association convention at this time of year, new camera models start arriving at retailers. That means deep discounts on last year's perfectly good merchandise.

ALL WINTER LONG: Real estate
Most people don't shop for houses in the winter. But lower demand equals lower prices. You'd usually sacrifice selection by house-hunting in winter, but with the current lagging market -- and large number of foreclosures - bargain hunters should have plenty to choose from.

Competition brings deals to online shopping websites

The Wall Street Journal lists the Big Three online merchandising sites as Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Ebay.com. In their testing, they found the best overall shopping experience was to be had on Amazon. Ebay came in second, featuring cheaper prices overall. Walmart lagged behind, with a far inferior user experience.