When I was little, my parents — like many young Wisconsin families in the early ’80s — struggled financially. They had four children under the age of 6, my dad was running his own painting business as the construction industry collapsed, and my mom was trapped at home in the boondocks without a reliable car. It was a tough time. 

Fortunately for my parents, my dad had attended University Lake School, so my mom knew about their huge annual rummage sale: the Barn Sale. As the area’s largest rummage, the Barn Sale was a great spot to find high-quality items for low prices. My mom kept a running tally throughout the year of items we needed, and she shopped for most of them at the Barn.

One year, money was especially tight. My mom wasn’t sure how she was going to buy the warm winter coats we all needed. She headed to the Barn, and didn’t find anything for us kids. But she did find a pair of pants for herself. She agonized over whether or not to buy them, feeling she should buy something for her kids instead. She ended up buying the pants, but not without a deep sense of guilt.

When she got home and tried them on, she found a crisp $100 bill in the pocket, which was more than enough to buy all of us brand-new winter coats.

The Barn Sale has been an annual event in my family for generations. Now my husband and I are proud parents of our daughter in JK, and we are volunteering during the event for the first time. It’s the least we can do to give back to the school community.

Today’s Barn Sale

These days, the Barn is bigger and better than ever. Like my mom, I keep a running list and shop with focus at the Barn. If you haven’t been before, beware — it’s so big, you can get overwhelmed.

I was able to do my shopping early, and I got:

• 3 pairs of ice skates
• 4 pairs of ballet slippers
• Dozens of dresses, shirts and sweaters for all three girls
• 3 pairs of slippers
• 6 pairs of winter boots
• 3 pairs of rain boots
• 2 umbrellas
• 3 rain coats
• 5 pairs of shoes
• Swimsuit
• Several toys (mostly for birthdays and Christmas)
• Dress-up clothes
• Baking sheets and pans
• Mixing bowls
• Cups, bowls and plates for the girls
• A ricer and potato masher
• Serving spoons
• Cookie cutters
• 2 pairs of boots for my husband
• Several long-sleeved shirts for my husband
• Dog dish

Most of these items are brand-name, high-quality pieces that would cost 10 times what I paid for them. For example, I got two pairs of nearly new L.L. Bean boots for $8.  Each pair normally costs about $40. These wool unicorn slippers from Garnet Hill were $4 — and in perfect shape. They normally cost $42.

Stop by the Barn Sale today through Sunday. Remember to buy a piece of the famous ULS apple crisp — it’s a delicious slice of autumn. If you’re at the Barn on Saturday morning, find me to say hi!