Yard Sales Boom In Bad Economy

DECATUR, Ill. (AP) -- The signs are everywhere, beckoning you to come, tempting you to buy something.

Yard sales and more yard sales.

A sign directed many to Karla Brownlow's yard sale recently.

She hadn't even finished setting up that first day when a customer arrived at 6:15 a.m., she said.

Brownlow had tables of clothes, books, toys, shoes and other items scattered about the yard, which was a combination of stuff belonging to her mother-in-law, son, daughter and grandchildren.

"People are coming and buying a lot of the antique things that I have, a lot of glassware from the Depression era," Brownlow said.

The yard sale proved profitable for her, as people continued coming through her backyard and hauling items away.

What some are calling a recession, with high gas and food prices eating away at wallets, has people turning to yard sales for extra cash or to find good bargains.

A lot of economic factors are putting more pressure on families, especially energy costs, said Paul McNamara, associate professor of consumer economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

McNamara said that when gas prices rose a few years ago, people didn't respond as much or change their driving habits.

"Obviously, we have seen people use their cars less, cut back on taking vacations, traveling and dining out," he said. "So it wouldn't surprise me that, instead of buying that new bed, people are getting a used bed, toys and clothes at a yard sale or flea market."

He added, "Yard sales are a traditional way to make some extra money to help your budget."

Sellers and buyers alike have taken notice.

A friendly looking scarecrow on a front lawn was holding a sign that said, "Stop - A Huge Sale!"

It referred to the yard sale in back of Ann Gulick's home. She did quite well, raking in $600 by getting rid of her old treasures.

"I had a garage sale last year, but I'm seeing more people this year. I think people are looking for bargains, because the way the economy is, you just can't afford to go to the store and buy things," Gulick said.

Beverly Brown doesn't shy away from a good yard sale.

"This is the only American industry and tradition that has stayed in America," she said, pondering over whether to purchase a wood plant stand for $2 at Brownlow's yard sale. She did purchase several shirts for 50 cents.

Brown's granddaughter, Madison, 16, who was visiting from Virginia Beach, Va., also got into the yard sale action.

"They have some nice name-brand clothes like American Eagle and Abercrombie & Fitch," she said, grabbing up some shorts from a table. "Whether you find something or not, it's just fun going."

Jaime Goodwin, a teacher in Clinton, was busy folding more clothes on a table for a yard sale in front of her mother's house.

"A lot of stuff that we have is in excellent condition, such as clothes for back to school, some shorts and jeans," Goodwin said.

She said people had come through looking mostly for sporting equipment, such as baseball helmets and tennis balls, which would be cheaper than at a store.

Goodwin was a bit surprised no one had purchased the brand-new snow cone machine for $5. The original sticker price on the box had it for $11.99.

On the east side of Lake Decatur, one man had his truck backed up to the garage door of a house. He was loading a bed, dresser and nightstand he purchased for $250.

"I have never seen so many people like this coming through," said homeowner Steve Taylor, who sold his house and had to get rid of a lot of furniture and other items.