After high school, it was off to Florida State University to find a husband…I mean an education. It was here that I learned quickly how to budget my money—use it all right away and have fun…survive on popcorn the rest of the month.

Husbandless, but with that prized college degree, I set out for the land of oil and rich men—Houston, Texas. It was in the next few years that I became interested in antiques...I even married one. As a travel agent I used my flight benefits to fly all over the country to visit friends and family. On one such trip to Memphis, my friend took me antiquing on the back roads of Tennessee and I was hooked.

A few years and one divorce later, I began working for an airline. Now I could fly free all over the country, ostensibly to visit friends and family but really to search for Elvis memorabilia and even Elvis himself. Yes I believe the King is still alive and if any of you out there have spotted him, let me know.

When I got married again, and had a baby, I hit the yard sale circuit in earnest. New baby items are very expensive, as many of you may know, and there are many bargains to be had when others are selling their cast-offs. This is also a great way to do some bonding with your baby or toddler...and it gets you out of the house where you can work off all those excess calories you consumed while glued to endless re-runs of Barney, Blues Clues and Rugrats.

And if your other half gives you a hard time about all of the money you spend at yard sales, simply remind him or her how much the items would have actually cost if they were new. As a matter of fact, I have found such fabulous deals at yard sales and second hand stores, I can no longer shop at a mall…even if there is a sale!!

These days you’ll find me and my husband scouring flea markets for country antiques and rustic treasures...or rather, I find them. He just carts them home!