They say, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” But in this case, his junk is the treasure of five Orangeburg women.

While most people sleep in on Saturday mornings, Phyllis Barr and her girlfriends are up and at ‘em at 6:30 a.m., ready to embark on a hunt of local yard sales for the perfect item at the perfect price.

“We have been doing this about eight years,” Barr said. “We can’t do it every Saturday, but we try to.”

The women -- Barr, Glenda Austin, Janice Bonnette, Trudy Lott and Parrish Bonnette -- meet at the same Orangeburg grocery store almost every Saturday morning in an effort to be the early bird that gets the worm.

“We pick up things for little or nothing,” Barr said, noting many a toy has been purchased for her three grandchildren.

“If you want toys, come see me,” she said.

She also said it does not hurt to spend time “just being with friends.”

Austin’s advice to newcomers is: “If you want to get good stuff, you have to go early.”

A part of the treasure hunt strategy includes the scouring of The Times and Democrat yard sale ads and circling the ads of interest or making a list of locations to explore.

Austin said while the best items are discovered “before boxes are picked through” early in the morning, the best time to negotiate is later in the day when people don’t want to box up leftover items.

Typically, the women will visit between eight to 20 yard sales before quitting for the day. After the shopping excursion, the woman will go out for a Saturday morning breakfast, drink lots of coffee, laugh and discuss their newfound treasures.

Austin said the prices can be unreal, and young mothers in particular can find bargains for their infants and toddlers.

She said when her daughter was pregnant, she was able to find strollers, baby clothes and name-brand toys at greatly reduced prices.

“Sometimes you can get a whole box of them,” she said. “Babies don’t stay in things long. If you have one baby and get rid of everything, it is almost brand-new stuff.”

Austin said she has purchased an entire box of infant clothes -- complete with price tags still on them -- for about $7.

“You go to the store and you can’t get a pair of booties for $7,” she said.

The savings also can be significant on larger items for adults.

“Instead of going out and getting a comforter set for $100, you can get a nice one for $20 to $30,” Austin said. “People get tired of things and they are hardly ever used.”

Austin said she and Lott recently went to Myrtle Beach and found an antique chair at a yard sale for $2. With a little refurbishing, the chair will look like new.

Cecilia Johnson, who held a sale this past weekend, said yard sales give her some extra spending cash since her husband went on disability. She says a yard sale can clear about $120.

“Gas is high and people are looking to save money,” Johnson said. “The economy is just so bad.”

Laura Garrick and her husband, Dwayne, have held yard sales twice annually at their Hickory Hill Road home for the past six or seven years.

Laura says the yard sales provide the family with a good way to clean house. This weekend, they are being joined by in-laws who recently sold their home. The yard sale will offer a variety of toys, movies, tools, golf clubs, clothes and kitchen items.

“We enjoy it,” Garrick said. “We get rid of stuff and we don’t charge much for items.”

She said shoppers can find items ranging from 5 cents to about $10. She says on average, a yard sale will bring in about $150.

In light of the economy, Laura said yard sale crowds fluctuate depending on the time of year.

“The closer to Christmas you do it, the better the crowds when people look for deals for Christmas treasures,” she said. “The first of the month is also better than the end of the month.”

Cordova resident April Cole, a five-year yard sale veteran, says she tries to hit all the yard sales in Orangeburg -- sometimes between 15 and 20 each day. Cole says she can find clothes for as low as 50 cents to $1 and she’s found household items for as low as $1.

“Oh, gosh, I would say I have saved over $1,000 on all the good deals,” Cole said. “You can find anything. I just go and I see it and get it.”

Cole said she wakes up at 6:30 a.m. and often arrives at the sales while the sellers are still opening up shop.

“I see the same people that shop at yard sales,” Cole said. “Due to the economy, that is why I am going every weekend.”

The City of Orangeburg requires a yard sale permit first to be obtained from City Hall. The fee is $5 per day. The maximum period for each sale is two consecutive days, not to include Sunday.

There is a limit of two yard sales per location in a calendar year, and the permit should be posted at the site of the sale.

City officials say the purpose of the ordinance is to ensure yard sales are conducted properly by ensuring individuals take down signs after the sale, as well as ensuring individuals are conducting a legitimate yard sales and not setting up a permanent business.

In addition, the ordinance prohibits the placement of signs, posters and advertisements in the public right of way (including on utility poles which are considered part of the public right of way).

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551.

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