List: How to survive the 'Just Between Friends' consignment sale in Colorado Springs (2024)

I remember my first "Just Between Friends" consignment sale. I was so excited to go to a sale where parents can sell their good-quality used items to other parents who need them. I had heard tales of beautiful designer kid clothes and top-notch baby items on sale for a fraction of what I could buy them for in a store.

I still remember skipping inside the huge warehouse with my two young daughters, smiling and excited for deals. Four hours later, I was snarling, broke, balancing two screaming kids in my arms and, to top it off, I had forgotten to buy essential items.

Here’s what I learned: This sale is not a fun shopping trip with friends, where you casually stroll through the aisles and take your time discerning what you want to buy. This sale is a war with hundreds of other bargain-hunting parents who are trying to buy the exact same thing. And they aren’t a pretty bunch. They run and cut you off. They grab. If they aren’t sure, they grab anyways so you can’t have it. They liberally use elbows and heels. Your sweet, petite neighbor will be seen lumbering through the store carrying a dresser on her back and have a onesie clenched between her teeth. Don’t say hi. She’ll snarl.

A weaker woman never would have returned and been happy to pay department store prices. I am not that woman. I am, at my core, the cheapest of cheapskates and I refused to let the consignment sale beat me. After a few tries, I have perfected my strategy and now am in and out quickly with what I need, saving enough there to be able to afford another month of gymnastics.

Here are my five survival tips:

No. 1: This is the time for deals, not to be polite

Politeness is for the playgroup and church, not consignment sales. You don’t need to snatch clothes out of another person’s hand or cut in line, but you do need to get in there and grab what you need. While you wait politely to get close to the racks, the perfect pair of dirt-cheap designer jeans are being grabbed by a woman whose kid won’t wear them half as cute as yours would.

If there isn’t room, there are ways you can get yourself in without waiting. My favorite methods:

Duck and rise: Oops, you just dropped some change. You crawl as close to the rack as you can and then pop! You are up in front. Make sure you watch out for heels.

Slide and expand: Most people think they need to wait until there is room for their whole body in front of the rack. Nope. You only need a couple of inches. Stick out your arm between the other shoppers pretending you are only grabbing one thing. Once you have an in, expand one elbow slowly enough that they don’t really notice and start stepping in and slowly and expanding both elbows until you are all in. Shop like a linebacker to make sure that no one else tries to pull the same trick.

No. 2: Come early, and late

The first day of the sale will cost you $2. It’s worth it. Among the racks are awesome deals of great items in perfect condition. These things, however, are hidden among piles of out-of-date clothes, mounds of slightly-dented toys and rows of bulky strollers. The earlier you shop, the more likely you are to score the best stuff.

That said, I’m also a bargain hunter. Saturday is half-off day, and I’m never one to turn down a great sale. True, the best stuff will be gone by then, but there will be a few things you can buy now for super-cheap that your kids can use later.

No. 3: Bring cash

First off, this keeps you on a budget. If you only bring a certain amount of money, you are forced to prioritize. This means you will put down the way-too-cute fourth pair of sandals that your daughter probably will ditch anyways to run barefoot.

Secondly, bringing cash means you will be able to get out faster. All of the lines move slowly as the checkers sort though and scan the dozens of items that most of the shoppers stock up on. If you bring cash, you will be able to get into the shorter, faster, cash-only lines.

No. 4: Have a plan and stick to it

I’m as guilty of this as the next person. Put some cute hair accessories in my way and I’m likely to postpone the search for the hole-free sneakers or rip-free pants that my girls really need.

Don’t let this be you.

Make a list of everything you need. Order it by importance and shop by that order. The cutest things are getting snatched left and right and you need to make sure that you walk away with what you need. When you’re done with the necessities, then you can shop for the "fun stuff". If those things are gone, no problem. You will have the money you saved on sneakers, jeans and jackets to buy the little stuff new.

No. 5: If possible, leave the kids at home. If not, bring reinforcements

We all love our kids. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be at this sale in the first place. But if you want the best deals and value your sanity, I suggest trying to find a sitter. The truth is that the kids slow you down. You will be chasing your 2-year-old out of the toy aisle when you need to be finding him a warm and good-looking winter jacket. You will be headed to the bathroom for the third time while some other woman grabs the perfect Easter dress.

If you can’t find a sitter, try to bring reinforcements. You and another parent can take turns watching the kids while the other shops. If all else fails, bring a stroller filled with snacks and pray your child will either be content to stay inside or just fall asleep. Just make sure the stroller is small -- you need to be as aerodynamic as possible.

In conclusion

Good luck. If you go in there with the right attitude and strategy, you just might be able to will yourself to shop there again next year. If you see me there and stop to say ‘hi,’ please don’t be offended if I give you a nod while I reach around you to grab the dress I need. It’s not personal. It’s a consignment sale.