The temps are FINALLY on the rise, flu season is making an exit, and the days are getting longer.
As happens every year, you’re on the brink of full scale spring cleaning. While some are thinking about the trash bags they’ll need, you’re seeing dollar signs. In fact, you’re one of half a million Americans preparing for a yard sale this spring (source). Follow these top five tips to ensure your sale will be a success!
Don’t hold onto EVERYTHING just in case it could generate some cash. Opened beauty products, old exercise equipment, and fabric do not sell well. In fact, you’re better off donating them and getting a tax deductible receipt. Gently used clothing (including a few pairs of shoes and handbags), tools, and appliances traditionally sell well! Since no one likes feeling overwhelmed, curate a sense of calm, happiness, and a dash of demand by limiting your yard sale to your best items. Showcase them with enough space in between so that they’re easily viewed and watch the buyers flock! Tables that are piled high with dozens of similar items just feel like drudgery. Only a select few, dedicated souls would take the time necessary to find that needle in a haystack. Make your sale for the masses, not for the select few.
Price to Sell (as You Go)
As you begin collecting items for your big sale, keep a Sharpie and pad of round pricing stickers with you. By pricing your items as you pull them, you’ll save yourself a ton of prep time the week before your sale. If you’re unsure of how much to price an item, pretend the item doesn’t belong to you and ask yourself how much you’d pay for it on someone else’s front lawn? It comes with NO return policy or warranty. You don’t know how much it’s been used, or what kind of life it has left. Even if you have a general idea of what the retail price was, the item is at most worth just 30% of that original value. That should help you aim for rock bottom prices.
The key to making a profit with your yard sale is quantity of sales over price per sale. While you might have a few items in the $5 or $10 range, realize that most yard sale hunters are trained to find bargains. Overpricing, or not pricing your items at all, can lead to immediate disinterest.
Create a storage area in your attic, spare bedroom, basement, garage, or shed to stash your items as you find them in your home. Organizing them by category (and pricing them as you go) will save you loads of time when you set up. (And since everyone is short on time, this step is a MUST.) Keep furniture items with wall décor; kitchen items with entertaining pieces; and technology with other technology.
There is nothing more exciting to me than a well organized sale! When ALL the kitchen gadgets are in one place and clothing in another, I’m able to find the items I’m looking for in record time. Subconsciously, I’m also willing to pay a higher price for items that are easy for me to find. Use the categories you created for your storage area to neatly define your front lawn with bright signs. Easy-to-walk-through aisles with enough space will entice your shoppers to keep shopping. Finally, make sure your “checkout” area is easily accessible, covered from the sun (or rain), and ready for a line. Selling extra items like coffee and cupcakes is a great way to draw a crowd, and again, keep your shoppers looking for just a little longer.
Ensure Easy Tear Down
Decide NOW where the remaining items will go once your sale is over. Plan to load them directly into your car for drop-off to your nearest Goodwill, or create a zone for later pick-up by another agency.
What are your tried and true tips for a successful yard sale? Share your experiences in the comments below!
This post originally appeared on The Good Life.
Can you believe the holiday season is upon us?! My inbox is bursting with coupon codes and freebies from companies hoping for a sale. And while I’d love to buy ALL the things, it’s just not practical. So instead of piling boxes of toys under the tree or on the table, here are a few ideas that will WOW your loved ones without a lot of clutter.
#1 Buddy Day
If your recipient enjoys a favorite hobby, create a gift certificate to do it together. Heading to the hills for a hike on their favorite trail, tagging along to (window) shop the outlets, or hanging out at the firing range are all great ways to spend time together.
Do you possess a unique skill like playing an instrument, decorating cakes, woodworking, or crocheting? Create a gift certificate providing time to teach that skill to your recipient. I know you won’t be able to teach ALL of it, but consider it an introduction. You can also reach out to local artisans, fitness studios, or online course companies to purchase a gift certificate for a class. Groupon is a great place to look for discounted classes.
#3 Coupon Books
There are hundreds of FREE, online templates for little books you can staple together or tie up with a pretty ribbon. They’re great gifts for all ages, but particularly the young and the old. Include acts of service like reading books together, using the REALLY messy finger paint, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, or prepping meals ahead of time.
#4 Covert Old Data
No matter who you are, you’ve got old data on obsolete technology that you want to save. Your loved ones are no exception. You can transfer the data yourself if you’ve got the hardware/software or you can purchase a gift certificate for your loved one to have it done elsewhere. IMemories, SouthTree, and Costco offer these services.
#5 Date Night in a Box
Grab some of your favorite drinks, print a copy of the menu, and toss in some items that you’ll need for your night out.
#6 DIY Talk Topics
Foster conversation around the dinner table with printed conversation starters. Find a fun box at your local craft store or Goodwill to store the cards in and wrap with a pretty bow.
If you’ve got a knack for creating beautiful bouquets, use that talent to spread some joy! Purchase vases at Goodwill and flowers from your grocer to create one of a kind arrangements!
Create wooden trivets, whip together a scarf and mitten set, or sew up a blanket using your recipient’s favorite colors or patterns. Grab a piece of reclaimed wood (possibly from your deck project earlier this year) and give it new life with vinyl lettering.
Does your loved one love the environment? Pick up some new recycling containers for their garage or help them to build a composting bin out back. Give seed packets or baby plants to children.
#10 Homemade Treats
Do you love to bake? Whip up something tasty like mini-loaves or assorted cookie tins to give out during the holidays. Include the recipe with your treats so that the memory of your gift remains long after the goodies are gone.
#11 Ingredient Sets
If you know someone who likes to bake (or a child that likes to make), then this experience idea is for you. Gather all the ingredients your recipient will need to make a recipe you’ve found and package them in a gift basket you picked up at your local Goodwill. (I’m a huge fan of giving ingredients for making slime or playdough for little ones, particularly because I get to throw in a container of glitter!)
Everyone is getting the flyers for pricey meal prep companies that send you boxes with the exact ingredients you need. You can gift someone the same service and take it one step further by assembling the ingredients. Make balls of chocolate chip cookie dough, freeze them on a cookie sheet, then drop them into Ziploc bags by the dozen. Write baking directions on the bag and give these with an entrée you’ve assembled in a bag or metal tin. Busy people LOVE a good homemade meal. When you can’t deliver a hot meal to their doorstep, give them a prepped freezer meal that only requires thawing and baking.
#13 Movie, Show, or Event Tickets
Use these printable tickets when you don’t know which movie you’ll see together; or simply pick up the tickets in advance. Wrap them in a box and include some snacks like Mike & Ikes or chocolate covered pretzels.
#14 Music + Apps
While giving a mixed tape might be a thing of the past, you can still give the gift of music online through gift cards and subscriptions. All kinds of apps exist for educational games, recipe organization, home inventories, and data storage. Purchase the app, set it up for your recipient, and then teach them how to use it.
#15 Pampering Appointment
Treat the men in your life to an old-fashioned hot shave at the new barber shop in town. Women love manicures and pedicures. Check your local Groupon for deals! If giving a gift certificate doesn’t feel like “enough,” add in a few items that go along with your theme like a fancy can of shaving cream or some nail polish and a manicure set. You can find gift items like these at TJ Maxx, Home Goods, Home At Last, Target, and many others.
#16 Puzzles for Days
Open the door for intense shoulder-to-shoulder time when you give the gift of puzzles. Pick a design that reflects a memory you share with your recipient(s) or select something they personally would enjoy. Dollar Tree carries a variety of puzzles made just for kids, as well 1000-piecers for the braver souls.
#17 Service Appointments
This idea isn’t so fancy, but it’s great for the practical people in your life who aren’t big gift-givers. Pay for an oil change, spray for weeds/pests, or repair a leaky faucet for your recipient. Women would love for someone to come and help them pick out paint colors, clean the baseboards, decorate for the holidays, organize their pantry, or babysit their kiddos!
#18 Sponsorships
Make a one-time donation or “adopt an animal” at a zoo for a fun, clutter-free gift. The non-profit will most likely send you a picture or literature that you can include with your gift. The only caution here is to make sure the sponsorship or donation is for a cause your recipient appreciates.
You can conduct them yourself or find a local tour guide to introduce your gift recipient to the treasures at the local museum, behind the scenes at your zoo, through the gardens of an old plantation, or even historical landmarks in a nearby city.
#20 Treasure Hunts
Print off a map or a list of items your recipient will need to search for. Maybe it’s a list of famous barbecue joints, playgrounds, or statues. Include clues or facts in your treasure hunt and consider joining your recipient on the hunt to make memories together. You’ll have to do a bit of planning on the front end to pull this off, but it’s well worth the effort.
Need to Learn How to Let Go?
Joshua Becker, creator of BecomingMinimalist.com has a new book set to release on May 3rd of this year. If you’re wondering whether this 219 page guide should make it on your top 10 books of 2016, you’ll want to read the next few paragraphs.
I was first introduced to Joshua Becker’s work via Instagram. It seemed like his quotes were everywhere and eventually they trickled down to Facebook in the quintessential white on black image. The quotes weren’t earth shattering, rather they were almost obvious in their point. However, based on the number of reposts, shares, and likes it became clear that the concise and poignant remarks were exactly what tens of thousands of followers were craving: living simply, no longer bound by things.
In his book The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own, Joshua does not disappoint. This time, his words are more than satisfying one-liners you might find on social media or the motivating paragraphs on his blog. Joshua forces his readers to think deeper and ask the harder questions as he guides them to their individualized practices of minimalism.
Minimalism is not a one-size-fits-all way of life, but it does share common characteristics with which every person on earth can relate. Joshua identifies the core motivations of consumerism and our attachment to things as security, acceptance, and contentment. Not sure how those three pieces play into your spending and collecting? Read through personal accounts of those just like you and me. The anecdotes are brief, but highly effective. You don't have to give away all of your stuff to become a minimalist. In fact, Joshua notes the dramatic differences resulting from stages of life and varying passions. Minimalism is a frame of mind, not a number of things.
The first half of the book is spent developing an understanding of why living with less creates a life of more – more freedom, more room to love, more time to enjoy, more lives to influence. What a different experience! What a different world!
The second half focuses on how to execute the work involved – the letting-go-work that so many struggle with. Joshua’s encouragement is basic: start today, start with easy. He presents DOZENS of strategies for letting go of the items that you no longer need, use, or love. (My personal favorite is the 29 Day Experiment!) After you've de-owned, Joshua shares numerous methods for maintaining your edited lifestyle. These include dealing with gift giving, receiving, and passing on.
Joshua's practical suggestions will enable even the most tight-fisted to release, because he brings that grasp on stuff back to its core motivations. When we address and meet our needs for security, acceptance, and contentment, the stuff no longer holds much value. Things will never satisfy. Relationships will. Live on purpose, with arms wide open, running headlong toward the things that matter most!
I would personally like to thank Mr. Becker for sending me (and a select group of professional organizers) an advance reading copy! It's been an honor to read and review his work, and I'm thrilled to be able to share it with you, my fabulous followers.
﻿If BecomingMinimalist.com has inspired you, but you're finding it hard to get started, let us give you a hand. Our blend of organizing necessitates decluttering in a positive, supportive, and non-judgmental fashion.
Need to Eliminate Debt Quickly?
What if the solution to your debt problem is right under your nose? Literally.
Over the past decade, we’ve seen the rise of Craigslist joining the ranks of consignment stores without having to worry about the fees. Facebook yardsale groups and ThredUp online consigning have followed suit, offering an opportunity to reclaim a bit of your initial investment without spending hours setting up and managing an unsuccessful garage sale.
People are beginning to realize that part of the debt solution is saying goodbye to the things that pack a financial punch without sacrificing sentiment or use.
I want you to watch this news clip. It’s just over six minutes long, but it’s the tip of the iceberg when it comes to climbing out of the debt hole simply by decluttering your home.
Take a look around your room. What do you see right now that you paid over $100 when you purchased it but aren’t getting that value out of it now? Can you identify just 5 items within your home/office that are unnecessary to routine living? I know you can, because we live in the age of accumulation. You’ve got stuff that you bought believing the promises that it would add value to your life, when all it did was add financial burden. Prepare to let it go, and put some cash back in your pocket!
My friend Andrea over at RichMamaLife is endeavoring to swap life in the corporate world to stay at home with her first baby. It’s a pretty big shift that calls for crafty income generating ideas. She shares her experience with Facebook groups here!
The point is, your stuff has value. Make it work for you!
Have you ever sold on Craigslist, Facebook, ThredUp, or a local consignment shop? We want to hear about your experience!
Start Rolling Your Declutter Snowball
I am often asked by my clients where to begin. Whether we’re discussing the entire house or just a pain point in the entryway, my answer is always the same. Start simple.
The greatest obstacle to tackling clutter is getting started. Sometimes the start is what stops us dead in our tracks.
For some clients, they’ve tried to start on one room (i.e., the home office/clutter catching room), but believe they need the staging area of another room (i.e., the garage) to hold all the clutter coming out of the first room. The excitement of reclaiming the space in the first room (i.e., office) is extinguished by the impossible task of the other space (i.e., garage), so the first room never happens. In fact, instead of getting started, the client is now doubly discouraged by the realization that two rooms need help, not just one.
The good news is, our clients don’t need that special staging area organized and beautiful before dealing with the pain point at hand. We don’t allow the start to stop them.
Instead, we hone in on that first space, identify the tasks needed to get clutter-free, and take the first real step to starting.
Do the easiest task first.
I’ve learned through the years that Dave Ramsey’s Debt Snowball principle holds true for ANY obstacle, not just clearing debt. He suggests that we begin with the smallest debt first, the easiest to pay off. The same holds true for decluttering and organizing. As we continue to work through the easy, our momentum increases. Our abilities are sharpened and we learn new ways to tackle the problems. The small snowball of completed tasks gets bigger and bigger as we progress down the hill, gaining speed and confidence!
The Snowball Effect is empowering for our clients. It provides confirmation that they aren’t lazy or slobs, but that life has happened more quickly than they have been able to keep up with. Seasons of life (i.e., moving, new babies, new jobs) and traumatic experiences (i.e., loss of loved ones, health and employment changes) can dramatically impact homes and offices. The once organized, tidy, and efficient person can temporarily become disorganized because of the situation at hand. Lack of time, energy, and focus all contribute to loss of tidiness.
But all of this can be reclaimed.
Whether you’re in a pretty calm season of life or just surviving, we can help you conquer the clutter. We have a 100% No Judgement Guarantee because we KNOW there is more to the mess than the piles.
Your clutter does not define you.
​When have you experienced the snowball effect?
Get on the Path to Freedom Today!