Bruce Littlefield's Life 101 » Garage Sales

Life 101 – Simple happiness

Bruce Littlefield — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:24:39 +0000

As my PaPa used to say, “I’m busier than a one-armed paper hanger with hives.” It’s “back to school” season and if you’re like me, you don’t have a lot of time. So, simple is beautiful. Here are a few Life 101 ideas to inspire a happy day: A love noted dropped in a book bag or briefcase can turn the day around. Pay the toll for the car behind you and tell the toll collector to say, “have a nice day.” Or do like I did this weekend and grab a simple container, cut some flowers, and make your house a little brighter. Doing something nice takes less than a minute and will pay off all day long.

Life 101 – Every Home Should Have…

Bruce Littlefield — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:02:45 +0000

Hope you’re going to have some fun in your yard this weekend. During the summer, one of my favorite things is to roll my garden cart out to the flower beds and whip up some arrangements. I think every home should have a garden cart. I got mine at a garage sale and besides being pretty and cheap (sounds like a girl I knew in high school), it is also very practical. I keep interesting bottles and vases on it and my tools (all found at garage sales) and use its surface as my own mobile florist. Get yourself one and get in the garden!

Garage Sales – New economy

Bruce Littlefield — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:48:11 +0000

My garden cart is a garage sale find. I adore it and think it has so much more character than something new out of the box. I think with the economic times we find ourselves in ($5 gallon gas!) and all the talk about being “green,” this summer will see more garage sales than ever before. I’m betting that people will also drop some of the hand-me-down stigma when it is finally realized that you’re giving a second life to something somebody no longer needs or wants, and by buying at a garage sale, you’re buying with cash you really have. Most garage sale shopkeepers don’t accept credit cards.
Check out this interview I did with Jay Levin at The Record in Northern Jersey. Headline: Garage sales are becoming a necessity for many struggling homeowners. My Life101 tip: Get your stuff out of self-storage and make some money on it!

Bruce Talks Garage Saling

Bruce Littlefield — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:22:43 +0000

Today, the inimitable Cindy Adams featured me as her NY Post column’s “Only in New York” line: “RECORD citywide garage sales coming. At Da Tommaso ‘Garage Sale America’ author Bruce Littlefield: ‘People who before never dreamt of one will have several to raise cash.’” I do believe that… and it’s not only in the city, kids! Check out this month’s Ruralite Magazine. They feature a story called “The Joys of the Garage Sale,” in which I take you for a ride around the countryside and give some advice about how to make your next garage sale excursion filled with adventure and treasure. Read it here.

Decorating – Imperfectly perfect

Bruce Littlefield — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:11:52 +0000

I’ve had amazing fun decorating Edgewater Farm with vintage garage sale finds. It’s imperfectly perfect. I showcase lots of gorgeous, inexpensive, and easy decorating in my book Garage Sale America. My goal with every purchase is to buy things that make me happy and make my home feel comfortable. There’s no “get your feet off that coffee table” in my house as it was in my father’s. My coffee table is a 1904 Lipton Coffee shipping box that I got for five dollars from the basement of an estate sale and you’re welcome to put your feet on it. I have it filled with toys and party games so when kids come over (or my cocktail friends) I can quickly lay my hands on some fun. What are your best “cheap chic” tips?

Garage Sales – Spring cleaning

Bruce Littlefield — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:42:20 +0000

Hunting season soon to open.

Okay folks, there’s once again snow on the forecast for New York City. I’m not sure what’s going on with the weather in your neighborhood, but here’s my prediction: by two weeks from now in addition to flowers, there will be “Garage Sale!” signs popping up all over the country. So, here’s my first week of spring tip: start your spring cleaning by getting a big box and label it “SALE” and start cleaning out those closets. (I’m on my 3rd box.) You, like the birds, will be happy in a clean nest and you can use the money you make off your big sale to splurge on something fun… like flowers!

Bruce on YardSaleDude.com

Bruce Littlefield — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:55:59 +0000

Thanks to the Yard Sale Dude for posting on his blog one of my fun visits with Amy Robach on the Today Show. Yes, it’s the one that I joked about her shoes. First off, I love Amy. Secondly, as I stare out the window at the tundra that is the Northeast, I’m longing to get out there and see what treasures America is going to sell me this year! Hey, America, February is the perfect month to go through all your stuff and start making your “sale pile.” And just think, if you’re the one that has an “early bird sale,” you’ll definitely catch a worm and a few extra bucks too. Until then, I’m pining away like a robin waiting for spring.

Garage Sales – Start your cleaning

Bruce Littlefield — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:10:10 +0000

Bruce Littlefield gives Lisa Birbach some declutter tips.

There’s been a lot of talk since the New Year about guns and hunting. I don’t hunt with guns. I hunt with my bare hands, and before you know it, it’ll be that time of year again. If you really want to take advantage of hunting season (and bag some bucks!), take advantage of the hibernation months by going room to room in your house and filling boxes with things you no longer need or want. Here I am with Lisa Birnbach sharing my Howdini declutter your home tips. Take my advice and by spring, you’ll have a pop-up store ready to go in your driveway. And I’ll come by and turn your trash into my treasure.

What I’m Doing – Bruce on Cindy Dole’s Home Wizards

Bruce Littlefield — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 20:32:15 +0000

I love being on Cindy Dole’s Home Wizards on LA News Talk 980. Cindy is a home, garden and lifestyle expert that believes “home improvement IS life improvement!” She always has great ideas and a sense of humor and our segments are always FUN. For this episode, Cindy and I talked Christmas, everything from lights to presents. Take a listen. It’ll definitely help take a little of the panic out of Christmas.

Garage Sales – Octomom’s Yard Sale

Bruce Littlefield — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:25:38 +0000

Octomom and baby talk to press about the yard sale.

Octomom is selling her bra. Need I say more? Obviously. Nadya Suleman held an auction-style garage sale from her Orange Country home on Saturday to raise money to avoid home foreclosure. Items for sale included a bikini she apparently wore on a tabloid cover and kids’ Halloween costumes. What she needs to do is buy my garage sale book for great bartering tips to get the best price for her probably well-used nursing bra. Says the Washington Post: “While the children themselves weren’t for sale, photographs with the octuplets were available for $100.” That’s even one I’ve never heard of!