Garage Sale or Not?
I shudder to even say the words. Don’t get me wrong, I love garage sale hopping with the best of them and I usually come home with a treasure or two (or ten). But the thought of having a garage sale is so intimidating it sends me over the edge. I love the idea of garage sales, they are the definition of shopping frugally! Do you agree? Every time I begin to entertain the notion that this may be the year for me, I get stuck after the beginning steps of cleaning out & gathering items.
The only childhood memory I have of my mother being involved in the selling aspect of a garage sale is when I was around 7 years old. She told my sister and I to look around our rooms for toys we didn’t need anymore. Our incentive was that if our items sold at the sale, we would receive the profits. I don’t remember exactly how many items I put out for sale, or how many actually sold with the exception of one baby doll. I was confident I had outgrown her but when she sold, I was fairly certain I would rather have her back than the $2.
I would like to say I no longer have such strong attachments to material possessions as I try to keep our home as clutter free as possible (with children around sometimes that’s easier said than done!). Each time I fill a bag that could be sold in a garage sale type setting, I get discouraged and happily donate it to a local charity.
For garage sale planning tips, check out my May 2011 Molly Green Digest Called: Molly Saves! In the Garage & Shed. I suppose it’s probably time I get to it and practice what I preach!
Did you know that Molly Members have access to all back issues of the magazine? Give it a try and you’ll be blessed by all the frugal advice at your fingertips.
What tips do you have to help conquer the fear of planning a garage sale? Are you a garage sale shopper? What types of treasures do you look for while shopping?
I am actually having my first garage sale next weekend. I can safely say that I feel a world of weight coming off my shoulders. The thought of having extra space (I hope) in my home is actually getting me pumped!!
I have quite a few projects that are in need of completion and I couldn’t find the time or space because of the clutter.
After next weekend, I will be able to say if it was all worth the effort :/
Molly says: What a relief! The removal of clutter (no matter what the method) always makes me feel better! Here’s to a successful sale!
One year as I prepared for my annual yard sale I realized we had a lot of toys to sell. We had enough toys to fill a nine foot flat bed trailer, mounded. I knew no one would buy ALL those toys, even if I said ten cents each. So I found a bunch of plastic shopping bags and decided to sell the toys for $1 per bag. We sold all but a very small pile of those toys. Sure I didn’t get rich but we got rid of all those toys we didn’t need anymore.
Molly says: What an amazingly creative idea! Thank you for sharing what worked for you regarding selling toys, maybe someone will pick up your tip!
We just finished having a garage sale. Yes, it is a lot of work but a good feeling to get rid of stuff. We priced things cheap so they would move. What is left is loaded and took to Good Will so we don’t have to take anything back into the house.
To get the garage ready we use wall paper that was bought at a garage sale to cover the bench in the garage or to cover a cupboard. This gives everything a clean look. We have also used fabric to cover items in garage that are not for sale.
Start early and collect things. Mark price before taking to garage. Then you just have to set it out.
Molly says: I’m so glad you had a successful sale. Using remnants of wallpaper is such a wonderful (and frugal) idea to give your space a clean look during the sale.