Being poor, starving college students, we naturally live for garage sales. How else could we afford owning such cool equipment and stylish furnishings? If you have not yet checked out the local garage sales in your area, please do so for us. (Check you local newspaper for listings or try http://www.craigslist.org/gms/. Garage saleing is a shopping adventure that will surprise and please you to no end. There is no limit to what you can find, and for how low you can get it for. You just have to keep an open mind and be patient. Remember: you won’t find that special treasure; it will find you.

Here is a list of great treasures David and I have found at various garage sales in San Diego and Tahoe:

• GT Mountain Bike (front suspension, XT components) - $125
• Full complement of scuba gear, in a delicious hot pink color - $85
• 9' custom surfboard, with a picture of a matador & bull to remind Chuck of his Spanish adventure - $75
• Authentic Spanish bullfighting posters from the 50's - $20 for set, plus a free pair of pants

• 9' surfboard named 'Murphy', with custom spray paint job, still floats... barely - $17
• Authentic African Tribal Warrior Mask (perfectly adorned on our bathroom door) - $3
• 5 piece set of dolphin & killer whale posters - $10
• Japanese fireman jacket (what the Japanese firefiighters wear when they are quenching fires) - $1

Don’t be ashamed to ask for a price and offer a return price significantly lower, especially if the buyer sounds hesitate on their first price or asks you to name a price first. (Ideally, all items should have prices already, making it easier and better for both parties). Also, the more one buys, the more power one has to negotiate. This is especially true for large items that you know the seller doesn't want to lug off to the thrift store or back into their garage (God forbid!). If people are firm on their price, offer a higher price but still lower than theirs. If they still don’t budge and come back with a lower offer, let the item go. Negotiation is not only exceptable at a garage sale; it is considered polite and even expected. Be assertive but not rude or pushy (we sometimes are, with varying success). If the seller is to tight or daft to understand this, than they don’t deserve your money. Pride is something one should never waste on a material item – you can always find it at the next G-Sale. Besides, most of the fun is telling people that you got your tennis racket or Ansel Adams print for only $3!