Comments on: Personal Finance Lessons Learned from Yard Sales http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:45:33 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Monday Linkfest, Memorial Day Edition « Are You Going To Be This Way The Rest of The Time I Know You? http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html/comment-page-1#comment-319252 Monday Linkfest, Memorial Day Edition « Are You Going To Be This Way The Rest of The Time I Know You? Mon, 26 May 2008 23:57:58 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html#comment-319252 [...] Personal Finance Lessons Learned from Yard Sales at SavingAdvice talks about why things end up at yard sales and how we often overprice to try to make up for our bad buying decisions. Um, yeah. I’ve done that. [...] [...] Personal Finance Lessons Learned from Yard Sales at SavingAdvice talks about why things end up at yard sales and how we often overprice to try to make up for our bad buying decisions. Um, yeah. I’ve done that. [...]

]]> By: Gail http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html/comment-page-1#comment-315608 Gail Fri, 23 May 2008 05:46:42 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html#comment-315608 Our community yard sale was last week. My biggest score was 13 almost new T-shirts for hubby for $6! They should last him for about 10 years. Now his old ratty T-shirts have gone into his workshop and are now called rags saving him the cost of buying rags (he is self-employed and does work that requires lots of rags). I also was given 2 big boxes of craft magazines--the FREE box! After looking at them, I hope to sell them on ebay. Our community yard sale was last week. My biggest score was 13 almost new T-shirts for hubby for $6! They should last him for about 10 years. Now his old ratty T-shirts have gone into his workshop and are now called rags saving him the cost of buying rags (he is self-employed and does work that requires lots of rags).

I also was given 2 big boxes of craft magazines–the FREE box! After looking at them, I hope to sell them on ebay.

]]> By: Chelle http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html/comment-page-1#comment-315062 Chelle Thu, 22 May 2008 14:56:00 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html#comment-315062 These are great! I love garage sales and yard sales and flea markets...I need to have one of my own soon! These are great! I love garage sales and yard sales and flea markets…I need to have one of my own soon!

]]> By: Mrs. Accountability http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html/comment-page-1#comment-312598 Mrs. Accountability Tue, 20 May 2008 02:32:55 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html#comment-312598 I love shopping at yard sales, but I sure hate having them! When things aren't tagged, I put a price on the item for what I'm willing to pay and won't buy it if it's higher than I'm willing to pay. Usually I've guessed too high. I actually try to stay away from yard sales because I'm tempted to buy things that I think *might* sell on eBay and I am just no good at making those guesses, so I end up with a bunch of stuff that I never wanted in the first place. I found your blog from the 153rd Carnival of Personal Finance. Nice to meet you. I love shopping at yard sales, but I sure hate having them! When things aren’t tagged, I put a price on the item for what I’m willing to pay and won’t buy it if it’s higher than I’m willing to pay. Usually I’ve guessed too high. I actually try to stay away from yard sales because I’m tempted to buy things that I think *might* sell on eBay and I am just no good at making those guesses, so I end up with a bunch of stuff that I never wanted in the first place. I found your blog from the 153rd Carnival of Personal Finance. Nice to meet you.

]]> By: Heather http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html/comment-page-1#comment-309616 Heather Fri, 16 May 2008 15:45:09 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html#comment-309616 Great yard sale advice! I like to buy antiques at yard sales & resell them on Ebay. However, the ebay admin fees can be pricey. I am also stuck with antiques that aren't "good enough" for ebay. Last year, I was pleasantly surprised when I made a profit reselling these antiques at my yard sale. I think some of the buyers were thinking "Ebay" when they bought them. It was a lot less work then posting the items and dealing with shipping. I even stopped selling baked goods because, they weren't as cost effective as the antiques. If you are a very thrifty yardsaler, then you can also earn $s by purchasing the new in the box items or the ones with tags and hold on to them until the late fall season, then post them ebay during the Christmas shopping season. Great yard sale advice! I like to buy antiques at yard sales & resell them on Ebay. However, the ebay admin fees can be pricey. I am also stuck with antiques that aren’t “good enough” for ebay. Last year, I was pleasantly surprised when I made a profit reselling these antiques at my yard sale. I think some of the buyers were thinking “Ebay” when they bought them. It was a lot less work then posting the items and dealing with shipping. I even stopped selling baked goods because, they weren’t as cost effective as the antiques.
If you are a very thrifty yardsaler, then you can also earn $s by purchasing the new in the box items or the ones with tags and hold on to them until the late fall season, then post them ebay during the Christmas shopping season.

]]> By: Heidi http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html/comment-page-1#comment-309584 Heidi Fri, 16 May 2008 14:37:15 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html#comment-309584 Nice article! Food is the biggest seller during our annual neighborhood community yardsale event. The first year after moving there we were amazed at how the Greek neighbor across the alleyway from us, could bring in $1,500 selling Greek food, while we had trouble breaking even (with the $15.00 registration fee) by selling our typical yardsale junk. With competition cropping up, the event has become more of a food bazaar than yardsale! (I'm sure all the food entrepreneurs are in violation of some kind of food inspection rules.) Nice article!

Food is the biggest seller during our annual neighborhood community yardsale event. The first year after moving there we were amazed at how the Greek neighbor across the alleyway from us, could bring in $1,500 selling Greek food, while we had trouble breaking even (with the $15.00 registration fee) by selling our typical yardsale junk. With competition cropping up, the event has become more of a food bazaar than yardsale! (I’m sure all the food entrepreneurs are in violation of some kind of food inspection rules.)

]]> By: Monroe on a Budget » Garage sales galore this weekend http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html/comment-page-1#comment-307240 Monroe on a Budget » Garage sales galore this weekend Tue, 13 May 2008 20:29:29 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html#comment-307240 [...] you are setting up your sales tables, or before you go shopping, you may want to read this post: Personal Finance Lessons Learned From Yard Sales at the SavingAdvice [...] [...] you are setting up your sales tables, or before you go shopping, you may want to read this post: Personal Finance Lessons Learned From Yard Sales at the SavingAdvice [...]

]]> By: nick http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html/comment-page-1#comment-306444 nick Tue, 13 May 2008 00:09:10 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html#comment-306444 I understand the value part, but I believe that garage sales or really any kind of sale merely perpetuates the consumption mentality that makes people believe they are only happy when they are consuming/purchasing. I understand the value part, but I believe that garage sales or really any kind of sale merely perpetuates the consumption mentality that makes people believe they are only happy when they are consuming/purchasing.

]]> By: A Marino http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html/comment-page-1#comment-305995 A Marino Mon, 12 May 2008 14:26:15 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html#comment-305995 This article has alot of good information on garage sales. After having one last year, I have a whole new way of thinking when I shop now. I was amazed at how little my items were worth. I also had a freebies box. Another good point is to have items for the men out in the front. Some men go along with their wives but are impatient as their wives are checking out the sales. If you have items in the front, the men are more likely to stop and check it out. Also having cold drinks on ice is appreciated by the buyers. I had a large family drive up just to see if we had refreshments to sell. You get all kinds of buyers at your yard sales. This article has alot of good information on garage sales. After having one last year, I have a whole new way of thinking when I shop now. I was amazed at how little my items were worth.

I also had a freebies box. Another good point is to have items for the men out in the front. Some men go along with their wives but are impatient as their wives are checking out the sales. If you have items in the front, the men are more likely to stop and check it out.

Also having cold drinks on ice is appreciated by the buyers. I had a large family drive up just to see if we had refreshments to sell. You get all kinds of buyers at your yard sales.

]]> By: Dave http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html/comment-page-1#comment-305949 Dave Mon, 12 May 2008 13:19:40 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/05/12/102123_personal-finance-lessons-learned-from-yard-sales.html#comment-305949 Personally, I love yard sale-ing. Don't forget those Friday Shoppers -- That's actually the best day when I do two day sales. From a shoppers perspective, I've been cutting down on the amount I'm willing to travel, given the price of gas. Make sure you advertise what you're offering, so people know to come. A simple sign on the corner isn't necessarily enough. Of course, as ad in the local paper can eat up a sizable chunk of your profits, so consider partnering up with a neighbor, and offer a multi-family or neighborhood sale. Personally, I love yard sale-ing. Don’t forget those Friday Shoppers — That’s actually the best day when I do two day sales.

From a shoppers perspective, I’ve been cutting down on the amount I’m willing to travel, given the price of gas. Make sure you advertise what you’re offering, so people know to come. A simple sign on the corner isn’t necessarily enough. Of course, as ad in the local paper can eat up a sizable chunk of your profits, so consider partnering up with a neighbor, and offer a multi-family or neighborhood sale.

]]>