Garage sale

[southerngale]

Ok, so I have a lot of STUFF.... a LOT of stuff. I hope to move to a new house (or build... but that's another subject) in the near future. There's no way I'm taking all of this STUFF I've been accumulating for years. I am a neat freak and a pack rat and the two don't go together. All of this STUFF is kinda making me miserable. lol

I'm trying to decide whether to have a garage sale or just give it all away. I know that giving it all away would be a very nice gesture, but I could use the funds from a garage sale as well. Some of it is probably just considered "crap" but there's a lot of good stuff as well, that I just don't need or want anymore. Have you ever had a garage sale? Is it worth the trouble and time? My time is worth something too, and lately... I really need some hours in my days, so I'd love to hear your opinions, advice, stories, etc. And if you've had one, would you do it again?

[Opal storm]

I had a garage sale before,it really depends on what your sellings.If it's just old clothes and cheap small stuff then it probably won't be too successful.If your selling things like old furniture,tvs,stereos,cds,book collections etc then you could make a good profit.

Have you considered using Ebay?You'd be surprised what all you can sell on there.

[chadtm80]

Put it on Ebay

[O Town]

Well it all depends on what stuff you are selling, and how much you really think you can make. I had one about 3 years ago and made only 75 bucks, it was mostly kids stuff. Everything was priced cheaply because after all its a garage sale, and I hate going to garage sales and they have everything way over priced. Needless to say since then I have just been giving my stuff to the rescue mission, and also posting it on craigslist that way you know its going to someone who can really use the items. It was alot of work to price all the items and setting everything up, in my experience is it was not worth my time to do it again alone. Is there anyone around you that you could have a joint garage sale with? Because I had one with my parents and grandma, and that one was a great time, more people to help set up and the more stuff you have the more people you draw in. I love to stop at yard sales, I stopped at about 8 this weekend. One tip if you are going to do it is make sure your signs are large enough, and clear enough to read. And put out at least 10, the better your signs are the more people you will have come. Alot of people over look that, and I can't tell you how many signs I have seen that end up leading me no where, or they put an address on it, well alot of time people don't know the area, just draw me an arrow. lol. The most important part of the garage sale is to have fun, so if you are short on time it could be more stressful than its worth, and definitly try to find a neighbor or family member to do it with you. Good luck and let us know what happens.

[southerngale]

Thanks. Yeah, I've actually sold quite a bit on Ebay over the years. I used to have at least 10-25 things on there at any given time, but that was also when I had time to garage sale myself and look for bargains. I really don't have the kind of time it takes to Ebay anymore, although I will probably sell some of it on there. I know that clothes do poorly in garage sales, so I will just donate those. A lot of is little stuff that wouldn't do well on Ebay and/or just wouldn't make the kind of profit to make it worth the time. I guess to have a successful garage sale, I need the kind of stuff that I would sell on Ebay though. Ugh, I don't know what to do. I just want to snap my fingers and clutter, be gone!

[Cookiely]

I've had several garage sales and always felt it wasn't worth the energy expended compensated for the amount of money earned. I do think it makes a big difference on where you live and how much advertising you do as well as the contents you are selling.

[Janice]

I am planning to move too. If I find something I haven't used or wore in a few years, out to the street it goes. I would donate it and get a slip for tax purposes. Unless you have something big, a garage sale is a lot of work. If the stuff is old, you probably got your money out of it anyway. Maybe you have family or friends who would like to go thru the stuff first, then chuck the rest. Just my opinion.

[southerngale]

I don't even know what all I'd be selling. I've got so much stuff buried in closets, buried in the back of the garage, in the shed, etc. I might find things that I've actually been looking for! A few of you have expressed what I kind of thought might be the case... not worth the time and energy.

[Brent]

My parents had one about 10 years ago... and that's the only one we've ever had. That should tell you something. We barely made any money and it was just a huge deal to have to put the stuff out, price it, then when it wasn't sold put it back up or load it up and give it away. That was mostly all clothes and small junk. Unless your selling some better things than that(like was said already), I wouldn't do it.

[CajunMama]

If you can, have your family and friends do the garage sale with you. Then whatever doesn't sell, load up your vehicle and cart it off to goodwill or salvation army. This way you'll get some cash and a tax deduction.

[angelwing]

We moved into a one bedroom apartment with stuff from 2 houses. We tried ebay, yard sale, flea markets, made nada. I found on the way home from work a pawnshop that bought second-hand stuff, and made out like a bandit

If you have one of them near you check it out.

[Kim_in_MN]

My mother has a garage sale every couple of years or so and I usually drag a bunch of stuff over there, but never really make much money; but then the majority of my things to sell are outgrown kids clothes, and they just don'w sell except at next to giveaway prices (and I sell them at $2 a bag just to get them out of my house).

My dad, on the other hand, will make $500 or so at each of mom's sales because he rebuilds engines, lawnmowers, tillers, etc. and has them out that day. We keep telling him we should get a cut because he sure as heck doesn't hang around and help at the sale!

Kim

[alicia-w]

we've had several over the last couple of years as part of our downsizing effort; the last one was last fall. We made aver $1500 on that one. Typically we make over $1000 and no fees to Ebay!