by Vanessa Cumber

Created on: March 03, 2007   Last Updated: April 23, 2007

When looking for inexpensive quality toys, there are many avenues available. Why pay full price when there is always a bargain around the corner? However, you need patience and dedication to the cause to be successful in this endeavor.

Here are some useful ideas to consider:

1. THRIFT SHOPS - these can be a treasure trove if you are willing to spend your time looking. Goodwill is probably my favorite but there are many thrift shops with good bargains. Many of them may be run by local churches, not-for-profit associations, etc. You can find nearly-new items for next-to-nothing. Toys abound at most locations. There is much more than beat-up cast-offs to be found. Searching on-line or in the phone book for local thrift shops will help get you started.

2. GARAGE SALES - these are constantly occurring and you never know what you'll find. One thing you can count on is paying less than new prices. Many times, bargaining with the seller is successful (the "Make Me An Offer" approach). If you find the right sale (such as a moving sale), people will often try to get rid of a lot of stuff for whatever they can make. The best source for information on when and where garage sales are held is your local newspaper. There are almost always signs posted out and about in neighborhoods as well.

3. FLEA MARKETS - these offer a wide variety of objects and I've never been to one where there were no toys to be found. The best ones tend to be those with minimal wholesale dealers because they sometimes charge more.

4. SHOPPING ON-LINE - with the Internet, all things are possible! At least this is the case with purchasing items. One of my favorite haunts is eBay. I can't say enough about how much stuff is to be found there. You get to bid on items, so you control how much you want to spend. There is a huge seller population, so with the use of the search feature, you can find practically anything you're looking for. Also, many other stores have frequent on-line sales events and bargains. You can use a search engine to look for these or browse some of the sites you like to keep "up to speed" on. There are also many valuable sites for moms, especially on-line info sharing communities which can help keep you "in the know".

5. COUPONS/SALES/CLASSIFIED ADS - these can be found in your local paper and are a great way to get current info on weekly sales at local stores, find money saving coupons, and scan the classifieds for bargains.

6. CLUBS/GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS - If there is not already one, your area would likely thrive on a group where moms can swap toys and other info/items. You could put fliers up, run an ad, put the word out, or find other ways of getting started. Any support network can help.

7. FRIENDS AND FAMILY - what a valuable source these can be! Hand-me-downs can be your best friend. Get the word out so you can get a helping hand!

Hope some of these will help you with your search!

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