I
immediately turned to garage sales. I knew I could buy sturdy, high quality items
for much less than retail store prices. But back then, $10-$15 dollar purchases
could break the bank if I didn't make it back somehow.
The
big shaggy rug was the first thing in my home to go. It was huge, didn't fit my
style, and had sand permanently ingrained from being in my mom's beach home. It
was a nice rug and served its purpose for years, but I just didn't love it.
Buy Low (which sometimes requires a little TLC)
When I stumbled upon its successor at a garage sale, it was COVERED in dog hair, and my husband wouldn't even let it come in the house until I cleaned it. It was smaller, didn't hold in dirt, and matched my home well. For $7, it had to come home with me. Sometimes second hand requires work, but you be the judge on its worth!
Sell higher than what you paid
So what did I do with the monstrosity I had before? Sold it for $50 and made a profit for upgrading my home!
Another fun exchange was my dining room table. Before, I had a drop leaf table that fit perfectly in my small home, but when I got more space, I could upgrade. Nothing wrong with the previous table, but when I found this one for $90 and sold the previous one for $150, I made $60 and had a table to better fit my style.


Over
the years, I have used this trick with lamps, coffee tables, end tables, and a million more things in my home. My
house has slowly turned from a place full of hand-me-downs to a home full of my
style!
The Buy Low, Sell High Method
The trick is being able to buy low and sell your stuff
for as much or more than it cost you to get your new item. When you buy,
barter! Go visit my article on How To Barter Better for tips .
When selling, always start by pricing your item at about 25% more than you
actually want. These coffee and end tables cost me $40 to make, so I started by
pricing the previous set at $60. I was bid down by the buyer and sold the set
for $50, putting my profit at $10 for making myself a new set of tables!
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A tutorial for these tables can be found by clicking the picture :) |
Does
this work for someone who bought the pieces instead of being given
hand-me-downs? Of course! Imagine that you bought a kitchen table 10 years ago
at $500. You're tired of it and ready to update your style. So, you find a
steal for $100 at a garage sale. You sell your original table for $200. Now
you've only spent $400, and you have a new table! Keep it up on other items,
and the money you spent on your items will continue to drop!
This is inspiring. I tend to donate or just give away home items when I tire of them. Hadn't even thought about selling and wow, to think of making more than what the new items cost is definitely making me consider this approach! I had to laugh at your old sofa, we have a similar one in our basement rec room and I am soooo tired of the set. Let's hope I can sell it and find something new like you!
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