Preparing for Spring Savings

So some of you know, I am the self titled "Garage Sale Queen!".  For those of you who don't know the city wide sales, which I prefer usually start in March.  I have a couple of tips for you sailing with kids. 
1. Start early.
2.  Know where the bathrooms are.
3.  Pack children snacks, and drinks.  We pack lunch as well but for beginners you may not make it that long with yours.
4.  Give your kids a shopping budget, let them know once they spend  it those are there items no more.  Giving them a dollar, usually in quarters, it a great way to do it, they are just as excited about the next sale.
5.  Know what you are looking for...whether it be clothes, home decor, crafting supplies.   Most times city wide sales have a listing of items, try and hit those sales 1st but do not rule a listings out that appears not to have what you are looking for.
6.  For those sales, city wide or otherwise that may draw a large crowd that you do not want to tackle with 2 or more kids in tow, go the last day or late, you get the best deals this way...for example.  I just purchased a Columbia diaper bag for 50 cents the last day late afternoon of a sale!  This bag retails for $110!  It has one scuff on the front but that is it, it still has the changing pad with it, and I am happy to say that maybe with this baby it will be the only bag I carry, it appears super durable!
7. Tote an extra set of clothes, for the kids, as you would if you were planning on a long travel day, for just incases.
8.  Have fun! browse items with your kids that you would never purchase, dream with them or tease, but have a good time, and if you are lucky talk a girlfriend into tag teaming, you watch hers while she shops and switch back and forth who gets car duty.
9.  In these early sales, make sure you dress yourself and the kids warmly, I even bust out gloves.

For those of you local ladies, I will post a reminder of the local sales and dates. I know the first city wide of the spring is Odell but I still yet have dates.