Coupon Queen: Garage sales can be the perfect place for finding deals

One of my favorite things to do during the summer months is to grab deals at local garage sales. As a child, I'd tag along with my mom to as many garage sales as she would let me, knowing I'd be able to talk her into a "new" doll or toy. As a teen, my mom and I would get up early, circle the most promising sales in the newspaper and would map out our route to maximize the amount we could do in one day. As a young mom, I'd pack my boys in the car and head off in search of low-priced toys, kid clothes for less than a dollar and gently used baby equipment. I just can't pass up a good deal. While having a garage sale can be a great way to both clear out your house and make some money, during our current state of social distancing, garage sales may not work out as well as they use to. So what can you do if you still have things to sell? Here are a few good options: Facebook online garage sale groups These groups are one of the most popular ways to sell your household items, toys, furniture, bikes, clothes and just about anything else. To find a group in your area, type "garage sale groups near me" in the search bar on Facebook. Request to join a group (or multiple groups) in your area. Before you sell, be sure to review the rules of the group as they can vary. Keep in mind with any in-person selling option to take proper safety precautions when exchanging money and product. I always suggest meeting people in a high traffic area. Personal Facebook page Sometimes before offering an item in a Facebook group, I will offer it up on my own Facebook page. Taking well lit, high-quality photos will help an item sell quicker. Best of all, you know it's a safe sale since it is someone you know. Decluttr This app is a great place to sell any type of tech equipment like phones or tablets or media like CDs, games and Blu-ray discs. Search for your items or enter the barcodes to get a free instant valuation. You can then add them to a box and they ship for free. You'll receive a payment the day after they receive your items. Craigslist Another option for selling locally that has been around for quite a while is Craigslist. This online site is great for selling larger items such as furniture, lawn items, appliances, vehicles and more. Be sure to set up a high traffic place to meet and bring a friend or two with you when exchanging money. Letgo There are a lot of apps available for selling locally, but Letgo is especially easy to use. Simply download the app, snap a photo, set a price and list a few details about the item. Buyers contact you via the app where you can answer questions and set a time and place to meet. This week's deal Here's a deal to grab this week at Staples: Crayola crayons 24 pack, Elmer's glue 4 oz, Staples 2 pocket poly folders = $0.50 each Rachel Krych is passionate about helping others spend less and save more. In addition to her weekly column, she has a blog, Couponing With Rachel, which earns her compensation from Google for ads it places there, and from entertainment marketers whose promotional codes she touts. She doesn't write about entertainment in her column. Email her at couponingwithrachel@hotmail.com.