Garage sales

[catherine]

So it's a lovely spring day here in Central New Jersey, and I'm sitting on a sofa that's out on the front porch because we're trying to sell it and a whole bunch of other things.

I've had garage sales in the past--maybe 5 total. I was hoping I'd be able to get rid of stuff today. It's inside and outside--whole rooms being sold off, but so far I have $11 for my effort.

Hopefully things will pick up, and if not it's the dumpster, Craiglist, and Freecycle.

Have you ever had a garage sale? How did it work out?

[Teacher Terry]

I have had a ton of garage sales and some went better than others. I don’t do them anymore. I use CL, OfferUp or letgo.

[iris lilies]

The one garage sale we had,say, 25 years ago, I remember how much we made because it was an easy amount to remember – $100. It was not my idea and I didn’t staff it. I had better things to do with my time.


Many years later we set up a booth at our neighborhood’s House Tour sale of antiques and collectibles. We made $800, and that was after paying for the booth. But by then I was selling off collectibles and antiques and vintage stuff because I was starting to get rid of stuff.

[JaneV2.0]

I had a garage sale once. At the end of it I said I'd never worked so hard for so little money, but that's not true--I picked beans one summer...As mad as I am for thrift shopping, I don't even like going garage or yard saling.

[ApatheticNoMore]

As mad as I am for thrift shopping, I don't even like going garage or yard saling.

yea I feel they are looking over my shoulder wanting me to buy something. The thrift shop isn't watching me, although they need customers, not that badly, they could care less if I just browse that day or many.

[razz]

Years ago we had one garage sale as part of a neighbourhood sale and it was hilarious.

A friend came by to help and he found a truly awful gift we had received in one of those surprise white elephant gifting. He greeted everyone and explained the virtues of this large lime-green candle and how it would be thrown in with any item chosen. People bought stuff that we wanted to get rid of laughing the whole time but no one wanted that candle. After a couple of hours, we had more people coming to see the candle and have our friend greet them. The whole neighbourhood was talking about it and got a laugh out of it.

The most amusing part to me was our kids. They were teens at the time and horrified as teens can be at some of the crazy antics that parents can do - imagine selling their old stuff! They hid in the house at first but the roars of laughter and crowds that showed up finally caused them to come and see what the noise was all about. They were laughing along with everyone else in no time.

Yard sales to me are fun times for meet and greet. I used to go garage-saling occasionally but found that stuff was just total junk or priced at almost new. That and the price of gas discouraged me. As I walk the dog now, I stop to say hi and wish them well.

[ToomuchStuff]

It has been years, but the last time I did, it was part of a multifamily garage sales. Since what I have tended to get rid of are tools (as I have upgraded, due to bargins), I have done quite well. I might again this year, as I have multiple tool chests, since I plan on building something that suits me better.

[frugal-one]

I have had garage sales and went just this weekend to the village wide garage sales held near here. Usually the sales are really fun and lots of people participate. No so this year. We have had too many cold, rainy days in a row to prompt people to work in their cold garages to prepare for a sale. We no longer do the sales either. Now we just keep a large box in the garage and when it is full .... off to St Vinny's it goes.

[Gardnr]

Never done one. Don't go to them. We did however sell an old sofa/love at my sister's G sale back in 95. We did sit the sale with them for a few hours since they let us bring the furniture. She said "never again". And she hasn't.

[sweetana3]

We got paid 25 cents to take a big ceramic nut dish with a squirrel on it. Everyone was laughing.

[pinkytoe]

Used to do them all the time and had one big one right before we moved. There were a couple where we made $500-600 but had a lot of interesting things to sell. I think nowadays there is so much excess stuff floating around that they aren't quite as popular anymore. If I need to get rid of something now, I either take it to Goodwill or post on craigslist free. The neighbor behind me just sticks crap in the alley with the hope that someone will pick it up.

[catherine]

Well, we made out pretty well. No furniture sold, but we did get rid of a lot of technology/electronics, which was amazing considering none of it could be considered "modern." Plus a lot of random miscellaneous stuff. Made about $400, so it was worth it.

[Simplemind]

We just finished our (if memory serves) 27th today. We had unseasonably warm weather and we are wiped out. That said, it was a blast as they all are. We have customers that come every year. My neighbors join in and I usually have about 3-5 people that will pool their items with mine. The more the merrier and we have a BBQ after. I had to smile because one gal joined for the first time and when she came to pick up her items (not much left) she was shocked at how much she made. Another neighbor was standing there, nodded at me and said "When it comes to garage sales she is gangster". I take it as a huge compliment.

[happystuff]

We have a town wide yard sale twice a year and I usually participate in those. Some years are good, some not so good. The main reason I participate in them, however, is because I invite family and friends to come and sell whatever they have/want and it just turns into a great day of visiting. If we sell stuff, all the better, but it's the visit that counts.

[Teacher Terry]

Catherine, you did great! I would put the furniture on OfferUp and CL. We sold furniture quickly that way.

[mschrisgo2]

I lived in a town that had an annual street fair, and we were around the corner from the main venue. So we did a yard sale on the Saturday, for several years. My daughter sold a lot of her toys as she outgrew them, and I sold clothes, hers and mine, misc household and crafts. It was a lot of work, but we always made around $400.

When I did my major downsize 12 years ago, I used mostly craigslist, because I had a lot of furniture. It went very well.
Before and after my last move 3 years ago, I used Facebook market place, Freecycle, and Nextdoor, also worked very well. Here I just put stuff out on the “free” corner, or take it to the local animal rescue thrift store. I’m pretty right-sized these days, so mostly it’s “use it up or wear it out.”

[catherine]

Catherine, you did great! I would put the furniture on OfferUp and CL. We sold furniture quickly that way.

That's on my to-do list for today! I took the pictures last night.