I've got stuff that I don't use or need. It's decent stuff that I think would sell at a yard sale. But yard sales are so much work. This neighborhood is a horrible hood for sales too. Last year there was a neighborhood sale and I was the only one for the first 2 hours. I made $80--great for getting ready the day before.
This stuff is cluttering up my home. I didn't pay retail for any of it. I probably have 10 times this amount if I start gathering up. But I've had lots of yard sales in my life and they are sooo draining. About half the time I feel like it wasn't worth it. Is the time better spent cutting coupons and paying closer attention to our bank account? Sometimes I neglect the obvious and waste dollars just to "profit" pennies. I know Flylady says to just give it to goodwill and just know it was $$ you will never recoup. I feel like I wasted money if I don't try to sell it, even if I got it for super cheap. Dave Ramesy says sell anything you can get your hands on. What would you do?
PS--I don't have furniture to sell or big stuff, just stupid piddly stuff. Enough to make me feel bad for giving it away and make me feel not worth it for selling it and working like a dog and messing up my house and advertising and profiting $128. Then, eating out the night before because I am busy and having a messed up house. I feel bad either way. Hate me. It's a lose, lose.
Yard Sale?
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58 comments:
I used to give it all away, until I started listening to Dave Ramsey. As long as we're in debt, I will sell the stuff we don't need. You can hang on to it and put it in a local consignment sale. What about Craig's List, can you list small ticket items there?
I have used craigslist a lot! http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html
Otherwise, ebay is nice, depending if you want to mess with shipping.
I dont know about you but if you wanna sell the food scale, I am game.lol.
Dang, Jeannie beat me to it!!!
Yeah, that scale is neat. We found it at my husband's grandfather's house and were charmed by it. We have had it for a few years and it just seems to clutter up my house. I have to make sure that he can part with it.
If someone really wants to buy it and pay shipping then WOOOHOOO!! One down, 129 other things to go. It's old, and grimey but the grime is cool, patina kind of grime. I'll keep you posted!
If you have enough to make a yard sale worth it, go ahead. Otherwise I'd group like items together and lot price them on ebay. The food scale would go quickly.
I say do what I am doing. Have a one day garage sale with limited hours (I'm only doing mine from 9-2). Decide ahead of time that ANYTHING that doesn't sell gets donated to goodwill. Then call and schedule for it to all be picked up on the following Monday (or even later that afternoon if available). You can get the best of both worlds- make a little cash for the things people want AND get the tax writeoff for whatever else you donate.
Good question. If it weren't for the huge roll top desk we want to sell we would probably just donate the rest but we need to hold on to some of it unless we sell the roll top before we are forced to have a garage sale.
Thanks for the reminder about craigslist. I'm gunna go list it now.
I love the scale!!!
Put the scale on ebay and donate the rest to Goodwill. The money goes toward great causes so you're getting crap out of the house and serving your peeps.
I agree sell the good things online, or hey heres an idea. Since we all like the scale, you could use that as a giveaway and do a contest.
Okay, I'd like the black pillar holders, the red picture frames and the blue/black buckets if the shipping isn't outrageously expensive! I would also like one of the Ragamuffin Garlands!
I really want those candlesticks! :) I *heart* Craigslist... oh that missed encounters sections can keep me entertained for hours at work!
I saw another commenter suggest craigslist; I was going to say the same thing! I have had great luck with the few things that I have listed, and best of all its free to list!
I would suggest selling multiple items in a "lot" (decorative objects, toys, etc). You might be able to get rid of more stuff that way.
I feel for you, though! Our house is tiny, and I detest clutter, so I constantly feel like I am being overtaken by junk!
Its all perspective....and ours (sad to say) is that any dollar earned is one more than we had....but I never do more than a little preparation, price things in 3 prices only (except for large items) and consider it a fun morning had...If we hit over the needed goal for something we consider an extra (like horse camp) then we plan for dinner out as a treat for Dh and I alone to celebrate its over.
There is a trick to yard sales....listen up!
Price nothing.
Seriously. Throw it all out on the driveway and take whatever they offer for it.
There is a trick to yard sales....listen up!
Price nothing.
Seriously. Throw it all out on the driveway and take whatever they offer for it.
looks like you can sell some of the stuff just your stalkers (ha,ha)....
Then whatever you have left I would just give to goodwill and you can get the tax right off to use///
Love other people's garage sales, hate having my own. They are such a huge hassle. The last time we had one someone smashed into our car. But, my hubby wants to have one again. Ugh.
Personally, I think if you don't have any large items to pull people in, it's not worth it. Craigslist would be a good idea. Or just show stuff on your blog and your gazillions of groupies will buy it. Sorta like bidding on some gown a celebrity once wore. 'Cause you know we're all thinking that your junk is better than what we buy brand new.
I immediately thought of Craigslist as well. But there are some tricks to it, I think.
1. I agree with Kristin, list things in lots w/a price per lot: "Discount Decorator's Dream Lot - 10 items/$30", "Children's Books & Toys Lot - 15 items/$20", etc. List them in the appropriate categories, and set a specific time that they may come to pick them up (for example, "items must be picked up by Saturday at 12 noon".) You can also have them make appts.
2. You might also advertise a "Quickie Garage Sale" in the garage sale category for the same Saturday (12 pm - 1 pm), and indicate that you will have rock bottom prices on various decorative & kids items, but it ends at 1 pm.
3. After that, take a pictures of everything that is left (for tax purposes) and take it all to Goodwill. They'll give you a donation receipt that you'll have to fill in. At tax time next year, you can refer to your pictures to see what you donated and then inventory the items with It's Deductible or some other like program. We've made donations of our leftover garage sale stuff the last several years, and we've been surprised at how high a donation value It's Deductible (Turbo Tax) and Deduction Pro (TaxCut) have given to our items. If you have other deductions, this can really help out. If not, at least you got the rest of the junk out of your house!
I kinda like the box with the grass. Put a price on it and let me know... Thanks, Susie H
First off...I'm curious...are those big furry Lion King house shoes?? They also remind of the feet off some cartoon character that looks like a vulture with skinny, well, bird legs and huge feet! Oh well. Secondly, if this is ALLLLL the clutter you found...I don't know if I can keep reading your blog anymore. OF COURSE I KID!
You can give it away and still profit from it. I give my items to Goodwill or Salvation Army but I keep a record of the donations. There is softwarre available that will automatically tell you the reasonable value to give your donated items. Over the course of a year, I have found with outgrown clothing and other items it can add up to hundreds of dollars in tax deductions. You can take it off as a charitable donation and make just about as much with the deductiona s you would with all the work & hassel of a yard sale. You would be surprised how much you can take write off for each item!
By the way, I clicked on the picture and I can see you have some great stuff there. You would probably have a very successful yard sale with goodies like that! Or what about a give-away? I think that tassel is darn cute!
Darn it, looks like the scale is taken for. I have had so much good luck on ebay. I was just cruising along and came across your blog today.
Ann
I hate having yard sales. I give everything to Goodwill. And I rarely stop at a yard sale that doesn't have a whole lot or something substantial that catches my eye and entices me out of my air conditioned car into their very, very hot garage. :o)
AND! Is that a TASSLE in that pile?
Okay, after seeing the other comments I had to take a closer look at the picture. Are you really rejecting that pink and green tassle? That would look awfully cute in my little girl's pink and green bedroom.
Now, can someone tell me how to post your pictures so they enlarge when you click on them?
one idea... list things on here. Either set the price for what you want or just go with the highest price offered and of course then add shipping.
I love the buckets, grass, rolled up thingy...I could really go in the hole BIG TIME at your garage sale!!!! If you list, give a heads up so I can be first in line.. :)
I just had a sale last weekend and made $296 from mostly $1 stuff! I had a lot of stuff that I had been storing since our move that did not go in this house. I also had a big basket of the free stuff from CVS and Walgreens that I priced at $1-$2 each and it totaled to about $65 that I made from it. I never think it is worth it but each year make at least $100. This year it was supposed to rain so I didn't even take it out of the boxes- I just lined my driveway with them so I could grab them and stuff them in the garage if it rained. I wouldn't work hard on presentation, put like priced things in a box and price the box with a sign. I have never advertised other than putting out signs, always have had good traffic. This is the first time we have been in a neighborhood with a neighborhood sale though. Put something in the crock pot for your night before problem meal, or get a lasagna or something easy. YOU CAN DO IT!!! Get some moolah girl. I saw your sister's post so you could just call her and tell her to look at your stuff and she could haul it all away.
Gee Nester, I'm disappointed in you. I can't believe you can't throw all that stuff on the table, add a tassel and a ragamuffin garland or barn star and make it look like an arrangement that was meant to be there...come on, you're more creative than that and you're letting all your fans down.
Just kidding! ;) I think you got some nice ideas from the other commenters, Craig's List sounds like it might just work for you. Good luck what ever you decide to do with it.
You could repaint and fill up that pressed tin bucket and fiddle a bit with those frames and make some more great stuff for us to buy on Etsy! And that tassel! It looks adorable! Why isn't it on Etsy? Are you holding out on us?;)
Michele B
I'd buy that scale. :-)
I know what you mean about garage sales. They are a ton of work. When you figure out the time you spend gathering it up, marking it, setting up the garage, working the sale, boxing up what you don't sell and then dividing it by what you make, the hourly wage is really bad (especially if you have to take off work to work at the garage sale!)
I sell some of the bigger things on Craigs List and donate the rest. It really has helped on our taxes.
I didn't read thru all the comments so if you've already received these ideas, just ignore, but I have had the same conversation in my head over and over and over - especially since we've moved so much in the last few years. And here is the conclusion I've come to:
Large items (furniture, lamps, and "lots" or groupings of items such as baby clothes or a particular size clothing): Craigslist
Stuff that can easily be packaged and mailed (shower curtains, yards of fabric, etc): Ebay
Stuff you think is "yard sale" material: how about piling all your stuff into a few boxes and hauling it to a friend's house for a "multi-family" yard sale (assuming you have a friend in an area that does do tag sales)? Use those sticker-dots that come in four colors and designate dollar amounts for colors (yellow-1$, red-3$, etc). Then plop the appropriate sticker on each item.
Post your stuff on your local Craigs list. The stuff that does not sell, put it on your local Freecycle.
It is a simple way to take care of unneeded stuff.
Paula in Alaska
I love the scale!!!
What about offering up items on your blog for sale? Look how many of us have commented just on one item! I did this one time with some crafty stuff I was wanting to get rid of - everything was gone in one day and I requested postage to cover cost of shipping.
Otherwise, I'm always a fan of multi-family sales. You can share the work, cost of the ad, etc... and it makes it look like lots of stuff.
I am having the same dilemma today. I have been piling up all this junk that I don't want but is too good not to try and make a buck. It has been a couple years since my last yard sale, and I have clearly forgotten the pain.
i agree with Mrs. B,,"cause you know we're all thinking that your junk is better than what we buy brand new."
I'm with you on how much of a pain yard sales are, but... I see some stuff I want to buy...and you live close enough for me to shop at your yard sale! So my super-selfish answer is that you NEED to have a yard sale, and you NEED to post when it will be so I can come shopping!
This is so funny because I just spent the whole afternoon setting up a garage sale with my sister in law. :) I love garage sales!! Sell it!!
I don't blame you ... I always thing I will like doing a garage sale and then when the day gets here, it's such a pain! What about putting some of the nicer items on your ESTY site? And the not as nice items donate to Goodwill. Then you can get a write off which is nice when you do your taxes. I try to sell nicer things on eBay because it gives me extra money to spend on more "junk". The other stuff I give away.
Are you still planning to list some more garland starter kits?
~~Mary Jane~~
Love the scale. If you post it, they will come, Nester!
I have always loved Maxie B's, but I forgot that you did it. And I am proud of you for finally sharing how you made the garland...you never would tell me after Emily's shower! Now I know the secret...and so does everyone else.
On what to do with the stuff, make a party out of it! Invite friends and family over, set it all out, and give them what they want. I just did that with all this stuff I dug out of our spare room. I made several friends so happy. What no one wants, sell.
I hear ya sister!! Funny, I just got done posting about 10 household items on craiglist. I've bought from there but never sold. :) So, we'll see how I do.
I've had a few garage sales and made over $200.00 but others were flops too. So many things play into it, you just never know.
I'd try Craigs list... or what about furniture and kids consentment stores.. you have such nice decor alot of times they take that too.
Good luck!
I agree with previous comments. The worst part of yard sales is PRICING. Ugghh. So, instead, the week of, make a huge pile in the garage of all the things you want to get rid of. You've done this tons of times before, so you know how much you want for things. Get yourself a rockin' fanny pack (put some tassles on it!!)for your money and the day of, just drag it all out. Let people come up to you with their stuff and you can tell them how much and they can decide if they want it or not. Cut it off at noon and then come let us know how much you made and if it was worth it. You can do it! And enter me in the contest for that scale. It really wants to be in my kitchen with a little red wire basket of eggs on it.
i love those buckets!!
and the brown tin thing....
and the picture frame...
may be you could make a contest for all your fans...winner takes choice and pays shipping??
I always regret having a yard sale 10 minutes after it starts but then I am glad when I count the money. My tip is to invite some friends who have smaller items to get rid of and do a group yard sale. It doesn't have to be big but if people see its multiple people selling sometimes they show greater interest.If that doesn't work come to my community, there always seems to be a yard sale going on and the yard sale addicts show up early with trucks to hall away their stuff.
Another scale lover posting...
I think with your great items, a garage sale would be worth it. Have some friends join you, it's always more fun when you can sit and chat (and collect money). LOL
Please tell me you aren't going to garage sale that tassel.
I would definitely go the consignment route (or Ebay or Craigslist). I find I usually get more money for less work going the consignment route than the garage sale route. Garage sales take a lot of work and they are hit or miss for how profitable they can be!!
Sometimes I get together with my girlfriends and do a swap of clothes or house stuff that I don't want anymore but can't bring myself to just give away. We just trade stuff around. Even if I don't come away with anything new, it makes me feel better to know that one of my friends will enjoy something of mine!
Nester are you sure you didn't post the picture of your "clutter" just to get all us lurkers out in the open??? :)
I love the buckets too!!! Please let us know prices.
Love your blog! My sis told me about it and now I visit almost every day to get decorating ideas.
I laughed at your "holes in the wall" post because living in our apartment my hubs had a cow if I hung things on the wall.
Ha, just checked back to see how many people wanted your grass. Guess It's just me. Yeah.. Hope you want to sell and the postage isnt crazy. I have been looking for grass but cant seem to find any that I like. Of course the grass is always greener on your side of the yard, hehe... Hope to be lucky buyer of your grass, smile... Susie H.
This sounds a lot like my experiences with garage sales. Too much work, fast food and tired mom at the end. Now I take a picture of my pile and donate it. Turbo Tax has a program (free) that helps you figure out the amount each item is worth. I probably make the same amount of money as a deduction as I do at a garage sale. Print the photo off, staple it to the thrift store receipt, and itemize it through the program. Soooo much easier. Happier momma. Happier family.
This blog has a neat decorating pic using a scale. Check it out.
http://reneecamacho.blogspot.com/search/label/Home%20Decor
I want the candlesticks, although I am sure someone else wanted them first. They're exactly what I have been looking for and have had no luck finding. My e-mail is steffanisue@yahoo.com
Thanx! I love your blog!
As many others have posted, I would too love the scale. My grandfather was what we called a truck farmer, that was how he made a living and I watched him may times use a scale like that oneto weigh his vegetables. Brought back many memories. Love to know how much it would be. holder@cybersouth.com. In the end I feel like I am better off than when I started, extra cash and decluttering. I alway commit that nothing comes back in the house. It is taken to Goodwill or our Salvation Army immediately after the sale.
jackie in georgia
I was getting ready to sell tons of kids' clothing, but the time it would take to label and launder would cost me much more than I could make on it. So I told dh to take them away--quickly! I'm nixing our community yard sale and helping the kids to set up a lemonade stand instead.
I love the book:
Living With Less: The Upside of Downsizing by Mark Tabb. Excellent book!
Did I hear someone say "regifting"?
No?
The tax deduction idea only works if you can itemize deductions - if we didn't have a mortgage we probably could not itemize.
I vote Craigslist, though it has grown so much here in San Antonio that I don't get as many responses on my listings as I used to. I have a couple of items that are fixing to expire, and I'll just drop them at Goodwill.
Yeah, Dave Ramsey always says "have a garage sale", but really, don't you think people only make the big bucks with nice furniture, electronics (I'm thinking big screen TV), and maybe DVDs? Those are never the things we have to sell - my junk is all "smalls".
Of course the real long-term solution (for me at least) is taming my taste for random little bargains. They aren't such great bargains when they don't get used.
Love your blog! When Meredith doesn't post, I always come to you!
Susan in San Antonio
I MUST HAVE THOSE PIGS!
LOL!
My three year old loves those little piggy banks. But she keeps breaking them. I couldn't find them anywhere until a friend sent me a link to your blog!
P--I'll wrestle you for the pigs...or you take 2 and I'll take 2...I have not had a garage sale in years...last time was way too much hassle...and men wanted to buy my husband's woodworking tools! And the little ladies that spent an hour changing tags....
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