OR
Getting up early. throwing on some clothes, preferably clean though definitely not a necessity. eating in the car. and driving around shopping at the beloved Neighborhood Yard Sale.
I love summers. And The Yard Sale is one aspect I love. For oh-so-many reasons, but one of which is because I get to "fun shop"!! Something I rarely, if ever, do because:
1. We don't have the extra money right now.
2. I can no longer bring myself to buy brand new. My theory...it gets stained and/or broken in record time. AND...why not let other people spend the big bucks and then, turn around and sell it to me for a quarter?!
That said, I've been shopping on and off these last months of Saturday. sometimes for naught. But it finally happened!! The Saturday that I've been waiting for ALL SUMMER: The Jackpot Saturday Of Yard Sales
...where I find things we truly need. laid out in someone's front yard.
...specific multiple someone's who have households of all GIRLS!! older than mine. who obviously are perfect children who do not stain or wrinkle their clothes.
...who's parents apparently cannot buy outside the doors of High Priced Chain Stores. and who come equipped with a lovely little inclination to price their yard sale things for a quarter. by the masses.
....I'm sorry but I must pause for a Moment of Silence. 'Tis a truly sacred moment. This serious provision of God I'm getting ready to reveal....
Okay. I'm better.
*BEHOLD!* The Booty in All Its Wonder:
Girl Clothes Round One:2 pairs of pants, 2 sweaters, 6 dresses, 16 pairs of new socks. Mostly for Charis, who is the one in need! ...Gymboree, Limited Too, ...All name brand. ALL like new.
Girl Clothes Round Two:11 like new shirts, 1 newborn outfit, 1 sweater, 1 lounge outfit, 1 pair of pajamas, 1 (more) dress... Again, mostly for Charis, the oldest girl and therefore incapable of receiving hand-me-downs from her sisters. Again, Old Navy, Gap, Gymboree, Limited Too brand names.
Maternity Clothes:
1 summer sleepwear set (I'm sure Jet is tired of me wearing his boxers...I know I am), 4 shirts (all of which can be worn post-pregnancy too!), lounge/exercise pants, 2 pairs of capris. ....more brand names.
School stuff:
Two gorgeous, brand new "nature books" that we were going to have to buy. Soon. Complete with handmade paper inside. Perfect.
A large set of colorful bulletin board type "posters" for language arts. Like new.
A book of daily holidays and unit studies for each. I'm loving this book!
An organizational thingy for their room. In the true color of girls. Pink.
Summer Time stuff for Kids:
3 like-new swimsuits (two for Charis, one 2T) All brand name. All like new.
3 pairs of much needed shoes (one of which is brand new with tags)
1 swimsuit cover-up skirt
1 Gap winter coat for Charis. Like new. Paid $6. Fits her perfectly.
Can I tell you how stoked I am?!!! Because really, I am. Ask Jet's family, who was here, when I returned home with The Booty. I couldn't stop talking about it. looking at it. smiling over it.
Ah. Sweet bliss.
And why you ask? Because I came away with (at a very modest Internet-educated guess) at least $750 worth of clothes.
All for a whopping $33.
So how are we attacking debt (or at least not going into more), you ask? By having yearly yardsales and using the money for necessities. By not buying new (when it can be helped. obviously undergarments, food, diapers are new. You gotta draw the line somewhere, eh?). By utilizing other people's need to purge their house of things and shopping their yard sales. And By being willing to go without for a while.
Because yes, there are things that I'd like to have. Trust me. There are LARGE lists of Wants if I'm perfectly honest. But sometimes you just need to wait. And give God a chance to provide.
Like He did for me. Yesterday at my JackPot Weekend of Yardsales!!!
