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By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.

Oh, the joys of yard sailing. You never know what you might find. Each yard is an adventure. A possibility. Untold riches might be sitting on that table in the driveway, just waiting for you to say, “How much do you want for this?”

There are several yard sale items one would not readily consider to be worth digging for, but indeed, they are the golden jewels beneath old paperbacks and broken toys. Here are eight examples of treasures found:

1. Electric toothbrush replacement brushes. These little gems sell for $10 a piece. They are individually wrapped, but sold in packages of four. I have twice found packages with 3 still sealed brushes. Both times, I purchased all three for a dollar, saving myself $58.
2. Bookshelves. It seems that no matter how much people originally paid for their bookshelves they always sell them for $20. Just an interesting tidbit that has saved me a lot.
3. High end beauty cream. I had the good fortune to stumble upon a yard sale being held by someone who coordinated conventions at a ritzy hotel. She had oodles of unopened beauty supplies that had come in swag bags. I paid a $1 each for $100 beauty supplies.
4. Shelving hardware. People decide that they are going to put up shelving and then realize that it is harder than they think, so they buy a bookshelf. I purchased $20 worth of hardware for fifty cents.
5. All sorts of odds and ends hardware from the garage. When you go to Home Depot, you can no longer buy 4 screws and 3 nails. You have to buy packages of these items. But you only needed 4 screws and 3 nails. So, the rest of the package sits around until you have a yard sale. It’s not just screws and nails. It’s all sorts of weird and wonderful manly items that come from the mysterious world of Lowes and other building supply stores. Ohhhh. I just love looking through that stuff. No matter how much it originally cost, you can usually get the package for 50 cents.
6. Linens. Always check out the linen closet at an estate sale. You will find towels and sheets that were too good to use. Buy them for a buck and give them a life.
7. China. Similar to linens, these easily breakable items have spent a lifetime tucked away in cabinets so that they won’t be chipped and broken. I recently saw a set of china dishes that easily cost over a thousand dollars when they were new. The tag said $90 but I am certain that if I had offered $50 they would have gladly taken it.
8. Office supplies. With paper getting more expensive and supplies being made cheaper and cheaper, finding office supplies at a yard sale is a great find. I especially look for manila folders. I can pick up a large box of thick folders for fifty cents. That same box in the store now costs almost $20. Another favorite of mine is business card paper. These perforated yet printable sheets also cost around $20 and can be purchased for under a buck.

Find the wealthiest neighborhood you can find. Print out your yard sale treasure map. Grab a good friend and a tall cup of coffee. Follow the signs and have a frugal scavenger hunt. WAY better than the mall!

Tagged: Frugal Living, yard sales on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 · 5 Comments »