Trash to Treasure

Jacqueline Leech

Everyone loves garage sales. As it is termed, a man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Dalat’s end of the year garage sale turned out like the many garage sales before it—hot and sweaty, yet productive.

Early Saturday morning, crowds of people joined together for the garage sale to sell their miscellaneous items, hoping to get something out of the things they no longer had use for.

The mix of agendas reflected the mood of the garage sale. Give, take away, give, and take away. People bought items unique to their wants and needs , while people sold items unique to their situation, whether it was a needed household purge or part of the process of moving to other locations. During the event, both parties happily accepted offers and bargains.

By the end of the sale, prices dropped ridiculously. At that point, many simply wanted to get rid of their items. Joyfully, customers quickly accepted cheaper prices as the event was coming to a close.

Those who often participate in garage sales know it takes skill and experience. It is easy to come home and realize your newfound treasure wasn’t exactly what you thought it was. It takes self-control to buy what you need and avoid the things you don’t. You’ll have to embrace the uncertainty with what you’ll find, while at the same time, make the wise decision to choose certain items and say no to others. The smart customers are picky.

When I walked with Katlyn Ladner (8) during the garage sale, she held a nice blue dress and two of her favorite books. I asked if she wanted to look for anything else. She remarked, “I got my books and my dress. What more could a girl ask for?”

This is an example of a skilled shopper who excitingly found exactly what she wanted. My past experience with garage sales reminds me what a good opportunity it is because I found some pretty cool stuff. Garage sales are definitely worth the effort to check out. Even though you might have to dig through a lot of trash, you just might find the treasure you were looking for.