| A garage sale can be a great opportunity to earn | | | | bookcases, junk drawers and anywhere else that |
| some quick cash and get rid of clutter at the same | | | | possible garage sale items could be hiding. As far as |
| time. Start by scouring your home for items that you | | | | clothing goes, remember that we generally wear 20% |
| no longer want or use. Tackle one area or room at a | | | | of our clothes 80% of the time. So be sure to carefully |
| time and as you collect items, put them into garbage | | | | evaluate how often you wear particular items. If you |
| bags and store them in a separate area until the day | | | | have not worn an item in the past year, you probably |
| of the sale. Keeping items in organized categories will | | | | will never wear it. |
| save you the trouble of resorting your items before | | | | Now that you have collected your garage sale items, it |
| the sale. The following are tips for collecting garage | | | | is time to organize and price everything. If you kept |
| sale items from specific areas of your home. | | | | sale items in organized categories during the collection |
| Kitchen | | | | period, then your have saved yourself some time. If |
| Chances are, you have cookware or utensils that you | | | | not, simply organize your stuff into categories such as |
| have not used in ages. Be sure to look through all of | | | | kitchen supplies, clothing (by size and type), shoes, |
| your silverware, dishes, cookware, etc. You can even | | | | home décor, and any other logical category. |
| sell unopened canned or boxed food items that you | | | | Try pricing small, similar, less valuable items the same |
| do not plan on using as long as they have not yet | | | | price. For example, whenever I have a garage sale |
| expired. | | | | and have multiple clothing items I price all shirts at 25 |
| Kids Stuff | | | | cents and all pants at 50 cents. That way, I can make |
| Don't be afraid to get rid of toys that your children | | | | one sign with prices instead of marking each individual |
| have grown tired of using. Kids will probably give you a | | | | item. What a time saver! Mark bigger, more valuable |
| hard time about getting rid of toys, but they will soon | | | | items separately. |
| forget that they are gone. Don't forget to collect | | | | Resist the urge to overprice your items. A typical |
| clothes and shoes that your children have outgrown. | | | | garage sale shopper is looking for a bargain and |
| These tend to be popular items at garage sales. | | | | generally does not like to spend too much money on |
| Craft/Hobby Supplies | | | | any one item. High prices usually tend to scare |
| Take a minute to evaluate how much you use each | | | | shoppers away. Remember, your goal is to get rid of |
| item in your craft or hobby supply room. Will you ever | | | | as much as possible and make some cash in the |
| use all of those fabric scraps or sewing notions? If you | | | | process. The more you sell, the less you have to pack |
| can bear to part with them, now is the perfect time to | | | | up and store or give to charity. |
| do so. Keep in mind that gift bags, unused wrapping | | | | On the day of the sale, make sure that everything is |
| paper and ribbons are hot sale items, especially if they | | | | neatly arranged and clearly priced. Be willing to |
| are in good condition and bundled together for one | | | | negotiate prices, especially at the end of the day. You |
| price. | | | | may be surprised at what you can earn when you are |
| Closets, Bathrooms and the Remainder of Your Home | | | | willing to negotiate. |
| In your quest for garage sale items, leave no stone | | | | Follow these guidelines and you should be on your |
| unturned. Rummage through unused body lotions, linens, | | | | way to a successful garage sale. Good luck! |
| hair care products, towels, and the like. Sort through | | | | |