Established for ten years, The Calendar is published five times per year Each issue lists thousands of events in date and county order.

The Calendar is the only Event Magazine that is continually updated with boot sales and markets

Buying at car

boots

• Finding a car boot sale. Car boot sales are held in a wide variety of venues, usually fields, school playgrounds or car parks. They may be advertised on the internet, in the classified columns of certain magazines, local papers, or simply by notices pinned up in your area. Some are regular events, held every Sunday, others are 'one-offs', or held only occasionally.
• Arrive early. This way you will be able to get the pick of the items on offer and will be more likely to spot any bargains before they can be snapped up by someone else.
• Take a torch in winter. You'll need it to see what's on offer in poor light.
• Take plenty of cash, preferably in coins and small notes. You can't expect people at a boot sale to welcome cheques, nor to have unlimited amounts of change available. Keep your cash in a purse belt or something similar, not only for the sake of security, but also because this will leave your hands free to examine the goodies.
• Be ready to sift. You have to be determined enough to sift through the heaps of uninteresting objects to find the tantalising but elusive treasures. You never know you may be lucky enough to find a treasure, like the lady who purchased rare early examples of Royal Doulton's Bunnykins series at a carboot sale and sold them on soon after for nearly £4,000.
• Haggle. If you do see something which takes your fancy, ask its price, but feel free to haggle over it. Bear in mind that there are no fixed prices at a boot sale. The objects on offer are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them.
• Get items wrapped carefully. You don't want your carefully selected purchases being damaged on the way home.
• Expect all weather conditions. Dress accordingly

Selling at car boots

• Finding a car boot sale. Car boot sales are held in a wide variety of venues, usually fields, school playgrounds or car parks. They may be advertised on the internet, in the classified columns of certain magazines, local papers, or simply by notices pinned up in your area.
• What to sell. You can sell almost anything at a boot sale - old furniture, second-hand clothes, books, electrical equipment and much more besides. Just because you don't want something doesn't mean someone else won't.
• Admission charges. For a small fee you can pull up your car and sell your unwanted property for whatever you can.
• Price up your goods beforehand. If you want to price things, do so clearly with sticky labels or tickets. Don't be surprised if dealers start to rummage in your boot y. Avoid accepting cheques wh
• while you're unpacking - it can be disconcerting but it's also a good way to "break the ice".
• Take plenty of change. Keep it in a purse belt for safet
• enever possible.
• Plan carefully. Preparation is the key to successful selling at a boot sale. Work out what you're taking, and whether it will all fit in your car.
• Pack carefully. Remember to pack anything fragile with plenty of wrapping. Newspaper and cardboard boxes are best for china and glass. Old blankets are useful for wrapping pictures and prints.
• Take a table and chair. Remember to allow extra space in your car for a table to display your property (a wall-papering table or picnic table would be ideal) and a collapsable chair to sit on. When you pack the car, try to pack the table on top, so that you don't have to unload everything on to the ground before being able to get the table out.
• Take help. Enlist the help of a friend, if you want a break or to look around other people's stalls.
• Arrive early. Allow plenty of time for the journey, and try to arrive early so you can get a good position where the maximum number of buyers will spot your goods early on, before they have spent all their money somewhere else.
• Haggling. This is part of a car boot sale so expect to lower your prices.
• Clothing and refreshments. Wear suitable clothes. Rainwear and boots are often a good idea if the sale is in a muddy field. Take some sandwiches and a thermos of tea or coffee so you are well prepared for your day