A post written by CGI member, Morgan.

CGI is RMN's reader's forum.

I hear ya, Morgan. I DO frequent garage sales and find all kinds of things for sale @ pennies on the dollar. Tools, furnishings, adorable clothes with the tags still on them, hardware, toys for the grands(new in the box)etc. A few ladies are coupon clippers and sell soap, detergents, cleaners, food, pet food, shampoo's, make-up, all kinds of things.. Some of the things that people have most commented on (as in liking when they come into my home) came from garage sales...

Viva la upcycle, recycle, new or nearly new :-)
Lynda

PS I agree about Amazon.. The price is 'jacked up' big time..

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Being the worst consumer as possible. Drive only when I have to (Less than 7,000 miles a year for me) quit going to restaurants and may never go back. I can outcook 'em, anyway when I put the time in. I no longer spend money on empty calories and non-cost effective food. Also know where to shop, and it ain't the major chains like Safeway, Lucky, or crap like that. We buy specific items at specific stores that have the best deals on this or that. Grocery Outlet, Trader Joe's, our nearest produce stand, and a certain small Afghan market that has insanely high prices on some things, and ridiculously low prices on others. The Afghan market also carries spices I can't find anywhere else at a decent price, and we recently met the owner. A real sweetheart.

We don't like having had to switch to half and half from cream, though. Close to $6.00 a quart for cream is nuts! Homie don't play that. I mean, I'm a part time dishwasher/janitor. At my work, all dishwashers are also janitorial, and my nose-poo is now retired on social security, so. . . We're gettin' bye, though. Low overhead.

Also shop around for the most cost-effective clothing. We hunt around on-line for the best prices (NEVER Amazon.), and also buy used clothes and appliances. When someone moves out, we scavenge. We've gotten left behind chairs, fans, a nice bamboo room divider, coffee table, books, and other things that I can't remember. Garage sales, not so much. We're not the type to go out of our way.

If more did that, where would inflation be? Then again, after the people really start leaving the planet at an accelerated rate from the toxin they get injected with; deflation should hit hard, especially in the rental market. Hasn't happened here yet, but hey.

Morgan