Do you think having a garage sale is worthwhile?

deemom · **Do you think having a garage sale is worthwhile?**

For the amount of money you make do you think having a garage sale is worth the time you put in before hand, dealing with all the people trying to lower the price, people riffling through clothes making it a messy pile, and watching for people who try to steal? Or do you just not want to deal with all that and try and sell on consignment or through Craigslist?

SAHMto3boys · 03-09-2008, 12:36 AM

I think it's worth it... I love garage sales!

They are a lot of work - especially when I have them at my house - I generally will go in with friends and have it at my house. Then I spend every night for an entire week up to the sale working on organizing all the stuff, etc. In the end I've made anywhere from $300-$800 at each sale I've made. It can be a TON of work, but since I have friends there on the sale day, we generally have a good time hanging out, etc.

I also enjoy the large kids consignment sale that happens here 2 times a year. (Just Between Friends Sale) I can sell quite a few things there and make decent money, but they only take kids/baby stuff so you can't sell household items, etc.

Kim · 03-09-2008, 05:49 AM

I've had several garage sales and usually I end up saying, "I'll never do this again!" and then I end up having another one.

They are a lot of work, and when you calculate the amount of money you're making per hour it's probably not worth it (unless you have some big ticket items to sell). However, I think I do them because they're fun and a great way to meet new people, get the neighbors out, etc. I'd say go for it if you enjoy the process. If not, donate your things instead.

Jared&Maggie'smom · 03-09-2008, 06:13 AM

Garage sales were a part of my upbringing. Both doing them and going to them. There were times that we would have multiple ones a year. Last year, I did 2 - won't do that again...the 2 one was late in the summer and was SOOOO incredibly hot that no one got out.

Our subdivision does one on Mother's Day weekend. (I hate that it is always this weekend b/c who usually does it? the Mothers!!) Which is great b/c we get a huge community turnout. I hate just donating stuff b/c I use that garage sale money to buy clothes/toys etc at other garage sales. I am not against donating but I want to try to sell it first. Last summer between both garage sales, I made about $500! That is definitely worth it to me.

skimommy · 03-09-2008, 07:44 AM

Not for me. If I lived in a less rural area, I might have a better turnout. I don't get much traffic on our road and had very few customers. I put larger items on Craigslist and donate smaller items. I also take some clothing to the consignment shop.

Oregano · 03-09-2008, 08:21 AM

It's not for me...I'm pretty sure I could make a few hundred dollars at it but all the planning, organizing etc I just do not have the patience for it!

mew5c · 03-09-2008, 08:36 AM

I don't think they are worth it unless you have bigger stuff to sell. We had a yard sale before me moved and made a lot because we had furniture, etc to sell - it was also nice because if we had donated the furniture I would have had the hassle of setting up a time to get someone to come take it.

We have done two neighborhood yard sales here and they have not been worth my time financially - after the last one we decided to donate our things instead and take the tax write-off. Part of my issue with them is that I don't like the stuff hanging around my house for that long - when I decide I don't need it anymore I want it out of my hair!

savin'mommy · 03-09-2008, 08:58 AM

We've had one every year for about 5 years, and it has been worth it ot us!
There's a huge and I mean huge traveling type garage sale in our area that goes from town to town ands TONS of people take the route and garage sale all weekend. People come in from far away to do it too! It's amazing, the trafiic. We've made up to $1600 a few big items usually but also a ton of little piddly stuff.

The kids always help, they love to price stuff...and get up early and help haul. Dh doesn't love it so much he usually complains....until he sees how much I make! Although after complaining last year he sat out there with me all day!

We usually have a couple neighbors that bring stuff over too, so it looks like a lot of stuff. Then we grill out together afterwards.

Thriftygal · 03-09-2008, 09:09 AM

I think they are worth it. We have had one every year for the past 3 years. We won't be having one this year b/c we live in an apartment now and we don't have anything left to sale. :-) To me they aren't that much work. I would work on pricing the stuff the night before the sale and we always sold out before noon. So we would start the sale at 6 or 7 and be done and cleaned up before 12. We always made around 300-500. I would have been up that early with my DD anyways, so why not earn a little extra cash? I guess it all depends on where you live. We lived in a good sized subdivision that had alot of traffic and was known for its yards sales.

springlakemi · 03-09-2008, 09:12 AM

Yes for us - I only do it 1-2 days (fri/sat) and make about 400-500. We live in a high traffic area. Even without big items I make $$. I get more for clothes at my sale than at consignment stores. Plus - the last 4 hours everything is free/1/2 off to make sure it doesn't come back in side the house.