How can you motivate your family to unload all the useless items that have been accumulating in your home? Consider having a garage sale and making it a family event.
If you kids are old enough, they can sell their own wares.
It's a great way to practice their math and social skills.
To involve younger children, encourage them to set up a lemonade or cookie stand.
You'll be amazed at how easily they'll agree to part with the cast-offs if you let them use the money to purchase something new for themselves.
Better yet, consider putting the proceeds towards a family experience, like a min-getaway.
No matter what you decide to do with all that extra cash, garage sales are an ideal way to clear the family's clutter.
Here are some great tips to ensure your garage sale is a big success: 1.
Spread the word.
Advertise in the local paper a day or two in advance.
On the morning of the sale, post signs on major streets in your area.
Use a thick permanent marker to print the location and add an arrow showing the way.
Make sure the information is easy to read from a distance.
When you open for business, place a large, brightly colored sign in front of your garage; attach balloons to draw attention.
2.
Price it all.
Avoid confusion by attaching price stickers on your items ahead of time.
Keep the prices low; remember, you want to unload this stuff.
After about 3 hours into the sale, begin marking down prices by 25-50% or put up a 'best offer' sign.
3.
Set up like a pro.
For smaller items, set up tables in the garage the night before so you're ready when the early birds arrive.
For larger items, line both sides of the driveway so people can walk in between.
4.
Group similar items together.
Organize your items in the same way a store does, like with like.
Place toys in one area, glassware in another.
Display books in an open box on its side with the spines facing out.
Hang clothes on a garment rack; place women's clothing on one side and men's on the other.
5.
Keep change handy.
Exchange large bills for smaller ones and coins at the bank the day before the sale.
You'll need at least one roll of quarters, dimes, and nickels.
Remember to write down your starting amount so you can subtract it from the total to determine your profit.
6.
Boost community spirit.
Get together with your neighbors and have a group garage sale.
Three or four homes or a street sale will attract more people.
7.
Donate leftovers.
Don't even dream of taking even one leftover item back into your home when the sale is over.
Remember that your goal was to clear clutter.
Leave everything in boxes in the garage and call a charity to pick them up or, better yet, drop them off yourself that same day.
Having a garage sale is a great way to let go of all the items you no longer need and make some money at the same time.
However, it can also be a lot of work.
Having a garage sale is time-consuming and requires some advanced planning.
If you've been saving boxes and boxes of items in hopes of having a garage sale soon, but you haven't done it yet, give yourself a deadline.
If you miss the deadline, accept that garage sales are just not your thing, and donate the items so they'll stop taking up valuable space once and for all.
Although you won't make the money you would have made if you had a garage sale, you will be rewarded in other ways.
If you kids are old enough, they can sell their own wares.
It's a great way to practice their math and social skills.
To involve younger children, encourage them to set up a lemonade or cookie stand.
You'll be amazed at how easily they'll agree to part with the cast-offs if you let them use the money to purchase something new for themselves.
Better yet, consider putting the proceeds towards a family experience, like a min-getaway.
No matter what you decide to do with all that extra cash, garage sales are an ideal way to clear the family's clutter.
Here are some great tips to ensure your garage sale is a big success: 1.
Spread the word.
Advertise in the local paper a day or two in advance.
On the morning of the sale, post signs on major streets in your area.
Use a thick permanent marker to print the location and add an arrow showing the way.
Make sure the information is easy to read from a distance.
When you open for business, place a large, brightly colored sign in front of your garage; attach balloons to draw attention.
2.
Price it all.
Avoid confusion by attaching price stickers on your items ahead of time.
Keep the prices low; remember, you want to unload this stuff.
After about 3 hours into the sale, begin marking down prices by 25-50% or put up a 'best offer' sign.
3.
Set up like a pro.
For smaller items, set up tables in the garage the night before so you're ready when the early birds arrive.
For larger items, line both sides of the driveway so people can walk in between.
4.
Group similar items together.
Organize your items in the same way a store does, like with like.
Place toys in one area, glassware in another.
Display books in an open box on its side with the spines facing out.
Hang clothes on a garment rack; place women's clothing on one side and men's on the other.
5.
Keep change handy.
Exchange large bills for smaller ones and coins at the bank the day before the sale.
You'll need at least one roll of quarters, dimes, and nickels.
Remember to write down your starting amount so you can subtract it from the total to determine your profit.
6.
Boost community spirit.
Get together with your neighbors and have a group garage sale.
Three or four homes or a street sale will attract more people.
7.
Donate leftovers.
Don't even dream of taking even one leftover item back into your home when the sale is over.
Remember that your goal was to clear clutter.
Leave everything in boxes in the garage and call a charity to pick them up or, better yet, drop them off yourself that same day.
Having a garage sale is a great way to let go of all the items you no longer need and make some money at the same time.
However, it can also be a lot of work.
Having a garage sale is time-consuming and requires some advanced planning.
If you've been saving boxes and boxes of items in hopes of having a garage sale soon, but you haven't done it yet, give yourself a deadline.
If you miss the deadline, accept that garage sales are just not your thing, and donate the items so they'll stop taking up valuable space once and for all.
Although you won't make the money you would have made if you had a garage sale, you will be rewarded in other ways.
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