After a long day of cleaning off the high chair for the 32nd time, my fair share of changing dirty diapers, and lots of toddler tantrums, I’m always, always, ALWAYS ready for a little self-care time.
One way that I like to take advantage of that self-care time, is attending estate sales. I always loved shopping at department stores, but two years ago, I discovered local estate sales in my area, and my life was forever changed. Finding an estate sale that has unique, antique treasures, at incredible prices, is like hitting a gold mine. However, whether I walk out of an estate sale with a shiny new antique treasure, or walk out empty-handed, I always leave feeling refreshed. Mindlessly walking through a home, taking my mind off of the million other things going on, and having some time to disconnect from everything going on in my life is totally refreshing for me (and bonus if I found something that I wanted, at an awesome price!).
You may be wondering where to find the local estate sales in your area. For starters, you can look in your local newspaper, on Craigslist.com, or on Facebook Marketplace, but the site I love to find the estate sales I attend, is called estatesales.net. You can also download the estatesales.net app, right to your phone. Then, all you do is type in your local city or zip code and BOOM! All of the local estate sales around you will pop up, usually with an adequate amount of pictures, for your browsing pleasure.
A few estate sale tips:
- If you attend an estate sale right at opening time, there will usually be a line. Depending on the sale, if there is a line, you sometimes have to put your name on a list. (The list is usually attached to the front door, or on a clipboard near the front porch). If there is a LOT of stuff packed into a house, the estate sale companies are usually limited to how many people they can let into a house at a time, that is why the lists come in handy.
- If it is the first day of the sale, Estate Sale companies usually will not take offers for any items. However, if its the second, third, or fourth etc. day of the sale, they usually are open to offers, and all of the items in the house are usually marked down 25% off, 50% off, etc.
- It never hurts to make an offer on something you love! Some estate sale companies have specific contracts with the owners of the house, and cannot accept offers, but it never hurts to try.
- Bring Cash. Some companies accept cards, but it’s easier to bring cash, just to be safe.
Whether your self-care time looks like going to an estate sale or getting your nails done, or taking a bike ride. I hope you find some time this week, to unplug, take some time for yourself, and feel fully recharged!
