Rules to garage saling... Pay attention

1. Never take money to a garage sale.  Leave it in your car on the street.
2. Only take a roll of quarters, a few one dollar bills and maybe a few fives if you are looking for something more expensive.  Hide you check book down deep in your purse.
3. Assess the item and the desired price.  Assess the host of garage sale. 
4. Test the hosts garage selling ability..."Would you take (always offer at least half less than what they were originally asking."  If they know what is going on they will shoot back another answer like (a number just a little below the original.) and than you are open to bargain till you run out of guts or til they give in.  But if the host doesn't lower a bit, smile, walk away and browse a bit more.  IF you really want what you were trying to get you can find a junky item that you know they won't want to put back in their garage and offer still less than what the original price is and say, "at least you won't have to haul it back inside..."
5. Make small talk with the host.  Be friendly and make instant bestfriends with them.  If needed make a sob story up... Mine is... college students with two small babies trying to run a business.  It usually helps if the kids are in the car with me.
6. Never tell them how much you will give for an item.  Always ask if they would take this much.  If they say they want a little more you can go to your car to see how much you have.  Pull out how much you want to spend in cash or offer them a check for the amount they want.  They will most always prefer the cash even if it is less than what they wanted.  But, always give them the option to choose.
7. Hate to say it but the early birds get the good items, but the later ones get the best deals because nobody wants to put their stuff away.  Best opportunity for free stuff.  (Be careful, only take what you will potentially use or give to someone...)
8. Act a little ignorant when buying important things.  Make them feel like they are helping you out and teaching you something about the item  you want.  (I did this with a skilsaw... and it worked wonders.  Of course I know how to use one and how to hold it.)
9. Never waste time looking too long at sales.  Do a drive by if needed to scope it.  Sure bet is the next one will have better stuff.
10. Research general areas as to where they are holding garage sales, but do not spend time looking for specific addresses.  Go with the flow and follow the little pink and orange signs!

Good luck!