Day 17: I am Thankful for Garage Sales and Second Hand Stores

This is the first year our Christmas will not be a garage sale Christmas and it is killing me. Toys are so stinkin' expensive. There's nothing my kids want that is less than $30. We were pretty busy this summer and I never got around to many garage sales. I did find a doll house for Lucy for $4 and a box full of Fisher Price Loving Family furniture to go with it for $5 so she is pretty much set. The boys really just want legos and a lot of them and I've never seen them at garage sales. I do love garage sales however. I've bought most of Lucy's clothes there. The best is when I can get clothes for $.25. It's sad though that once kids reach 2T or older there aren't that many clothes since they wear them longer and they get worn out. Lucy seriously had over 15 pair of size 5 shoes because I got them all for $1 or less at garage sales. The sad thing is she went from a size 4 to a size 6 overnight. I was so mad because she had 3 pairs of cute boots for the winter but then I realized I wasn't out much. She's got fat feet. Not only do I love garage sales but second hand stores. My friend introduced me to a store here called Once Upon a Child and the first day I went everything was 40% off. I had wanted a church coat for Lucy to go with all her beautiful dresses. Her big puffy snow coat just wasn't going to do it for me. I had in mind a little peacoat but instead I found a mid length leopard print fur coat with red lining for $5. It was so cute and Lucy loves it. She wouldn't take it off at church. I had also been to 6 shoe stores looking for some cream dress shoes to go with some of Lucy's holiday dresses but being that there's only fall/winter clothes in the store cream shoes are nowhere to be found but once again I found them at this store for a fraction of what I would have paid and they look brand new. I'm not a big fan of DI however and don't go there much unless I'm looking for light sabers. I think it is very overpriced and the majority of the clothes aren't that nice and you really have to dig. It kills me that they charge $4 for a tshirt when I can go to Walmart or Target and buy a brand new one for $3.50. Stuff like that irks me. I'm excited for garage sale season now even though it's months away. What will I be looking for this year.