Should I bother with a garage sale???

[da-winnie-pooh]

Our neighborhood garage sale is this Saturday and the last time we wasted a whole morning for less than $25.00. The weather was bad and there was a big race all around our subdivision so it was hard to get in. Well, now I have even less "stuff." A few kids' clothes, bunches of picture frames, some Beanie Babies (they're not valuable, or they? I could save them for a few more years) and maybe a few baby toys. We could always sell snacks or something.

I think my friends who make $$$ at garage sales are the same ones who drive through nice neighborhoods the night before trash day and grab stuff off the curb.

Any advice on how to make some decent cash, other than curb diving?

Thanks!

Anita

[Anastasia]

The last time we did a garage sale, we had a similar experience. We had a fair amount of what I thought was decent stuff to sell, and we only made about $40. I feel like I make out better by donating to a charity, getting a receipt and writing off the value of the donated items on our taxes. It also lets me get the stuff out of the house faster - I don't have to hang on to the stuff until the garage sale. I also feel good about donating the stuff to a worthy cause. My favorite is the local women's shelter.

There seem to be a lot of people who make good money at garage sales, but I guess I don't have the patience for it!

[minkydog]

I have done two garage sales in my life. The first one was when we were moving to Miami and we had to get rid of about half of what we owned. We made a good bit on that one. The second one was much smaller, a cold morning, and nobody was buying. I about froze my nuggies off. Never again. I have the thrift store people coming in the morning, in fact, to pick up an old bike, a wheelchair & walker, three bags of clothes, two sets of linens and assorted toys. all i have to do is drag it out to the carport and take the deduction.

[NJDisneymom]

I love having garage sales!!!! The only part I hate is hanging the signs.

I make no less than $200 every time I have one so to me its definately worth it!!! I sell household things, lots of kids clothes, toys, etc. I am a bit of a shopaholic and my house isn't big enough for all the stuff I have. I tend to save things for garage sales and then have one once I've accumulated an attic full.

[NeedaVacation03]

I hate to get ready for a garage sale. I usually do between $300-$400, but I hate keeping stuff around long enough to have a good sale. I don't have any furniture this time, so I am wondering if it is worth it just for clothing and household goods. It is hard to get motivated. :confused3

[stahshee]

I garage sale all summer long. I take all the money we make and turn it in to disney dollars! yes i have to set up the sale but i try to get family members to help last year i made 500 for the year. This year i have more appliance items and 25 cent clothes. Some toys i hope to make 200 wich will cover the cost of 6 of us for 2 ch dinners!

[we3disneygo]

Last spring we had a sale 1 day only and didn't do to bad a couple hundred-I always figure it was junk i was gonna get rid of anyway! this year we have some bigger items. It has been chilly where we live so it will proably be next month before we have the sale. my dd always makes blueberry muffins to sell and she usually sells all of them! :cool1: Good Luck

[Mercuti0]

I'd love to hear details from those of you who make lots of $! My wife is planning one soon.

[Mom2Ashli]

I am having one tomorrow. Anything that I make I am putting toward my fundraising goal for the 3-Day Breast Cancer walk that I am doing. Every little bit helps. And whatever doesn't sell with go to the Spouse Abuse Shelter in my area.

[tinaluis]

My sister and I are having a garage sale tomorrow and Sunday at her house. The year before last, we had an early April sale by her house and I made close to $2,000. Many of the people who came commented that we were their first garage sale of the year and they were so happy to get out of the house (and they spent like they were happy too). It was my first ever garage sale and I had a TON of stuff to sell -- knick knacks, glassware, dishes, clothes, toys, Disney VHS movies, etc. Later in the year I had a sale in my neighborhood and made about $875. After that I donated most of what was left to the Salvation Army (except the Disney VHS that didn't sell). This time around, I have a lot less stuff, so we'll see how things go.

[AngieWin]

The best time to have a garage sale is when your neighborhood has one. I have been to quite a few neighborhood garage sales lately where some houses have only put out a table or two of things. You don't have to do separate signs, or notices. Once people are in the area looking at sales, they will see what other houses are doing them.

If you display a few of the kids clothes on hangers so they are visible and a huge or neon sign that says baby toys you will have people stop by. What you don't get rid of, leave on the curb or call Salvation Army (or whoever picks up in your area).

[LynnTH]

We have a garage sale every year also. But, I always have one with my mom and sister-in-laws and some neighbors and cousins. My mom has a pretty big garage on a main street and we always make out quite good. My feeling is the more people that participate the better. When people drive by and see a really full garage compared to a table or two they are more apt to stop in. I go through the house and gather stuff a couple times a year and then just store away until garage sale time (kids are constantly out growing their clothes and toys - and we do real well on kids stuff) Between everyone we have a wide variety of items and usually some big items. I love having garage sales and usually end up making for myself about $500-$600 each sale.

[crisi]

How much is your stuff worth as a tax writeoff? If I can box it up and give all of it to Goodwill and make as much or more money (but delayed), that's easier for me. Even if I'd do better at a garage sale, my time is worth something.

[ceecee]

We never have enough write offs for the taxes, but I have had some great garage sales..... A lot must depend on your area, because around here there are so many people that garage sale. Our neigborhood splits into 5 areas for the annual sales, but I have it the same weekend as well, because a lot of people don't know it's for only a certain area. Lots of neon signs!!! Balloons on the mailbox, and advertise. I use a lot of ziploc bags to keep things together. Make sure everything is clean!!!

[elmo2wdw]

We have a garage sale every year in the late spring. Mostly household items, kids clothes and toys. We always do great! I have made between $500 - $1200 at a sale. We use the money as extra spending money at Disney!


We are having one tomorrow and I have a ton of baby items to sell...4 strollers, swings, high chair.... so I should do really well.

We always advertise ours in the local penny saver and we put signs up 2 days before hand.

Good luck!

[Colinsmom]

Can you team up with a few neighbors? I did that one year, and we took turns sitting with the stuff. We made about $250 total but didn't feel like it was a waste because we split shifts.

[Aidensmom]

I have found that the more you have to "lure" someone to your sale, the more you will make. If it looks like you have tons of good stuff, more people will stop and I think that somehow psychologically people think your stuff is better. I know I think that way - if I see a sale with just a table of items, I don't even bother to stop, but if it takes up the whole yard and there is lots of big stuff, not only will I stop but am more likely to buy.

You need to have a lot of stuff (you can always get together with other people that have stuff to sell), you need BIG stuff, and it needs to be displayed in an appealing manner. If I can't do all this, I wait until I can because that is the only time I make good money. By the way, advertising in newspapers, flyers, etc has never done me any better than just hanging some BRIGHT signs at all the major and semi-major intersections near my home.

[tinaluis]

Well, on day 1 of the sale I made $296! Disney VHS movies seem to be my hot seller at $4 each or 3 for $10. I'll post my final tally tomorrow.

[Vijoge]

My husband has one almost every year. He makes anywhere from $1200 to $2000 or more. :banana: