Just Between Friends

Last night I went to the “Just Between Friends Teacher/First-Time Moms Presale.” I got there just as the doors were opening, handed one of the nice workers my confirmation email that I had printed off (my ticket to get in) and got started shopping. If you’ve never been to a Just Between Friends (JBF) event before, you’re missing out. (check them out online at jbfsale.com.) Some people would describe it as a huge garage sale, but I wouldn’t say that. This has better quality and better selection. JBF is way better than garage sale shopping. Sure, it is all used stuff (but very gently used, they have high standards for what they sell) and you do have to have patience to look through racks and racks of clothing, tables and tables of toys, books, and games and rows and rows of swings, bouncers, playmats, etc. and you’ll probably wait in line to pay longer than you would in a store.

BUT IT’S SO WORTH IT!

**side note: there are things that are sold at JBF events that I would not buy used, I just simply walk past them. I tend to focus my shopping on toys and baby clothes, which is what they have the most of anyway. **

Why do I love JBF? Here are 10 reasons:

1. I get to go shopping. What girl doesn’t love to shop?!?
2. I get to go shopping without Audrey. (face it, shopping just isn’t the same with a baby. and besides, no strollers are allowed, there wouldn‘t be room for them, and I was not going to shop with her in the baby bjorn, she‘s too heavy now.)
3. The prices are great! (the things I get are usually at least 75% off or in other words, just a few dollars per item…that’s pretty hard to beat, and especially great for a one-income family.)
4. There’s a HUGE selection. You have to see it to believe it.
5. Name brand (if that matters to you) items at sale prices. Baby Einstein, Graco, Chicco, Boppy, Baby Bjorn, Fisher-Price, Leap Frog, Baby Gap, Gymboree, Old Navy, Pediped, and even some Kate Spade baby stuff…
6. Things are in really great shape/condition. Almost all I’ve come home with, Tyson will ask, “this is used?!?”
7. The events only happen 2 times a year. Which means I only have to go through racks and racks and rows and rows of things 2 times a year (I’m normally not very good at that kind of shopping.) So, to me, it’s worth it.
8. Someday when I’m done with all things baby, I can sell my gently used stuff there to make money!
9. You meet new people standing in line waiting to pay. You hear really interesting stories, even if you didn’t ask to hear them. :)
10. It’s fun!!!

Below are just some of the items I’ve purchased at the JBF events I’ve attended:

So…if you haven’t been to an event, you should check one out. You just never know what you’ll find. :)