The historical beliefs of Greeks contain numerous gods and goddesses. I am presenting these ideas not as truth, but as a background to the cultural beliefs of the Greco-Roman civilization and to clarify why goddess is such an appropriate word to use in connection with a garage sale. For some reason I feel it is a necessity to explain this analogy.
Greeks had a strong sense of powerlessness before the forces of nature. Grecians believed they needed to rely on the divine to bring them prosperity and also to deliver them from hardships in their lives. Greek culture idealized and created a series of gods and goddesses who cared for their daily needs. The Greeks made sacrifices and supplications to their gods and goddesses in hopes that their desires might be satisfied. They believed that these deities controlled the heavens and the earth and all the powers of nature. These mythological entities always possessed great powers and were able to help others, should they be inclined to do so. Therefore, a common phrase was coined, "May it please the gods." It was of utmost importance to find favor with the Gods. Once someone attained favor among the gods and goddesses, he could seek and find all the good things in life.
Ergo, I give you the goddess of garage sales. My sister-in-law, whom I shall refer to as Salena, is a Garage Sale Goddess. To Salena, finding all the good things in life means -- hit the garage sale circuits or a convenient thrift store. If you can follow in Salena's footsteps, you too can find the good things in life, or rather, the good things that garage saling and thrift store shopping have to offer. Salena is a wonder to behold. She frequents the Salvation Army as often as Imelda Marcos adds to her collection of shoes or as often as Ivana Trump is fitted for designer dresses. Salena is much more shrewd than these worldly women who purchase footwear as art or designer originals that can stagger almost any bank account. Salena has a keen eye for quality and a hand that can flip through clothing racks faster than the speed of light. When Salena shops garage sales, she has the eye of a tiger. She never fails to return from the hunt without a useful bargain at a small, if not minute, fraction of the retail price.
In addition to these qualities, Salena is a math wiz with a degree and accolades that brought her kudos at the top of her college graduating class. Her first child read at the age of two and now competes in educational competitions with the ease of a child prodigy. Her second child is a whiz at counting small change and a human dynamo when it comes to garage sale rummaging. Given more time at mamma's knee, the younger will become just as well-educated as the elder. The added savings accrued from rummaging will be a boon to the entire family's financial picture. With college plans firmly fixed, this family will have no problem socking away the savings for that purpose and other future needs as well.
Salena does have the means to shop in the most elite of department stores. Her husband is a multi-talented professional with two degrees and honors from two universities. She does not have to shop at bargain centers, thrift shops, or garage sales. Salena is a virtual phenomenon. She shops at garage sales because it's fun and because it pays better dividends than a 401K! In fact, with the savings on clothing and other extras purchased at garage sales, Salena and her family can easily afford blue chip stocks, mutual funds, or other investments to grow a portfolio that can reap greater benefits than a mere savings account.
Often Salena's best buys are at church sponsored rummage sales. Go figure. Not only is she able to be conservative in her buying practices but she simultaneously supports charities that benefit those in need. Many organizations holding rummage sales offer services that contribute to family stability. This is a win-win-win situation.
Millions of Americans think nothing of whipping out the plastic, and proudly announcing, "Charge it!" This activity is not for Salena, the Goddess of Garage Sales. She does use a credit card but pays the balance off every month to receive the credit card perks that come with membership. With her savvy of accounting, she easily comprehends purchases skyrocketing in over-all spending with the use of credit cards. No-one needs to write it in stone for Salena. But for the majority of modern America, and as a constant reminder to myself, I'll spell it out. The credit card purchase, even if on sale, will cost much more than the retail price.
Furniture is a high ticket item often bought on credit. But Salena has even purchased excellent quality used furniture at garage sales. If a piece of furniture doesn't match her decor, she can have it upholstered or do it herself. Salena will research upholstering in magazines, books and videos at the public library where she volunteers once a week. Because Salena saves on clothing, furniture, and miscellaneous items, she avoids credit card use and thereby enables her family to afford household necessities and luxuries, too.
Shopping with Salena is like going on a treasure hunt. When Salena goes shopping at thrift stores, she carries a list of sizes and sometimes requests from her family. Some of her purchases include Zena jeans, a Winnie-the-Pooh short set, a No Fear T-shirt, and a large serving platter, a tulip planter, and a pair of new earrings. A free thigh master was thrown in just for the fun of it, like a prize in a box of Cracker Jacks!
On my hunt with Salena, I found a Chaus blouse for $2.50, a pair of Lenox fine porcelain candlesticks for $20.00, and a Hummel figurine for $25.00. Other second hand finds include a Lizsport blouse at $2.50, an Elliott Lauren linen dress short at $2.50, fine lead glass stemware for $4.00 each, and a golf toy for my 5 year old for 25 cents. An all-wood pretzel dish with a long handle was only 50 cents. It was hand painted and a one of a kind type of item. That's one more thing I like about shopping with Salena. I can find things in thrift stores that are unique. In one thrift store I even noticed a sweet grass basket for only $35, and one of similar size and quality in the Charleston Marketplace would have been at least $200. Not only are the items in thrift stores unique, the prices are hard to beat. But the treasure hunt continues. There's more.
Salena also frequents used book sales at libraries. She'll pick up an unusual book for a friend or relative, something for herself or her husband, and always something for her children. Salena is an avid reader covering a hardback or two in a day (that is, if she's not shopping garage sales). These benefits go far beyond the dollar value to life enriching investments for the mind. Further knowledge is an admirable goal, but Salena's thrifty savings on book purchases also help to support public and private libraries.
Garage Sale Goddesses like Salena are not only philanthropists but active environmentalists as well. They perceive recycling at its best. They save natural resources while saving that liquid asset that many of us go through like water.
Salena plays a game with this liquid asset. She tries to see how much value she can provide for her family with small change. We could learn a lot by strapping on some sandals and following in Salena's footsteps. This creative goddess also recommends buying bags of clothing. Salena explains that sometimes thrift stores become overstocked, so they have a sale. They sell one plastic garbage bag full of clothes for as little as $2.50. Each buyer is given a plastic bag and can choose any clothing in the store. As many items as fit into the bag, the shopper can take home for a price tag of $2.50. Salena laughs and tells how she and her friend try to best each other by getting the highest number of garments to fit into a bag. Watching Salena is something like a game you could see on Nickelodeon called "'the physical challenge." Salena regards folding and pressing the clothing out with her hands as her most masterful technique for compiling the most clothing into a bag. Salena is hard to beat. Her efforts would rival that of a Maytag trash compactor if there were such a beast!
After Salena purchases the bag of clothing, she divides the bagged items between friends and family. Opening the bag reminds me of what Forrest Gump's mother said, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." Bagged clothing for $2.50 is a cheap thrill. It's a gamble, but at that price you can afford to loose. The odds are much better than gambling at Atlantic City, playing baccarat, twenty-one, roulette, or the slots. With this game you can still get away with your wallet intact, even if you may not come up with all winning numbers.
Garage sales can also be positive reinforcements for goals achieved. When Salena's youngest child earns a special reward, she doesn't head for the toy store. She searches the classified ads for rummage sales or plans a trip to the Salvation Army for a little something that will delight her child. One find was a large Fisher-Price toy, with figures included, for only $2.25 and in good condition. A similar toy at retail would be valued at $32. To Salena's young child, its "play value" is equally as enjoyable. Salena can be generous to her children without breaking the family piggy bank. When she shops the Salvation Army she is also helping others in need. This is another win-win-win situation.
Salena is a Goddess to be emulated by us all. She enjoys getting top values with little cash. Occasionally, she'll give her children each a dollar and that will be their limit at a thrift store or garage sale. Even at $1.00, Salena must approve the purchase and judge it worthy of the expenditure. The children try to see just how far a dollar will go. Usually they find something worth their efforts.
Just in case you've suddenly caught the garage sale bug . . . . here are the "Top 10 Garage Sale Tips," compliments of Salena, the Garage Sale Goddess:
Before you set out for the next garage sale, Salena offers one final word of caution. The one downside to shopping at garage sales, Salena admits is the accumulation of too many clothes and miscellaneous items. If you find that your home is bursting at the seams, here is one more suggestion -- have a garage sale and rake in the cash!
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