Day 19: Simple Living Challenge – Having A Garage Sale

Day 19: Simple Living Challenge – Having A Garage Sale

Day 19 Topic: Having A Garage Sale

Having a garage sale not only simplifies your home, but you can make a little extra money to help simplify your budget at the same time.  Check out my tips below to have a successful garage sale!

Tips to have a successful garage sale:

• Choose a space to house your purged belongings until you have a garage sale.  Keep a box in the garage that is solely for items that are not needed anymore so they are all together when it’s time to have a garage sale.
  
• Advertise, advertise, advertise!  List your garage sale in your free local newspaper (if you have one), online through your local news channel classifieds (usually free), Craigslist, signs around town, Facebook (on your wall), word of mouth, or buy ad space in your local newspaper (usually around $1 a word with a minimum of 10-15 words).
• Location, Location, Location!  Location plays a huge roll in how much money can be made at any garage sale.   If you know that your street is not the location for a garage sale because you have tried and made very little, ask a friend to use their driveway.  You could even throw a little extra their way for letting you use their location (could be $20 or even breakfast and lunch).
• Collect like items together.  Set up imaginary lines for specific items such as:

• Electronics
• Clothing (if you can hang it, showcase it)
• Household Appliances
• Knick Knacks
• Kids Toys (let them choose what to sell and they get the profits)
• Linens

• Price to sell and walk it out the door.  We, personally don’t mark each item.  Instead, we sell our items ready to walk out the door because it is not coming back into my house or garage for safe keeping.  If someone is buying more of a particular item, we give them a discount (like 10 shirts for $3 instead of $5).  Below are some of the prices that work well us, but keep in mind all of our prices are negotiable.

• Blue Jeans – $1 (kids) $2 (adults)
• Shorts – $.75 (kids) $1 (adults)
• Shirts – $1 (button-up or polo) $.25-$.50 (t-shirts)
• Electronics – $3-$15
• Household Appliances – $3-$10
• Knick Knacks – $.50-$2
• Kid’s Toys – $.25-$4
• Linens – $1-$3

After having a garage sale, we either:

• Donate to our local ministry
• Donate to local resale/thrift store
• Take to a consignment shop
• List as free on Craigslist (listed under free or sale lots of clothing or items you want more for)
• Give away on Freecycle
• Set out on the curb (my all time favorite & not for everyone)

Do you have any successful garage sale tips to share?

About the Simple Living Challenge:

During the month of February, I am joining Melissa with Living A Frugal Life to do the Simple Living Challenge.  The Simple Living Challenge is a month long adventure that will help both me and you learn how to live simply!  I will be sharing what I think simple living is and how I am living simply through tips, pics, and even videos.