Garage Sale Saturday

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This weekend, I had an opportunity to reflect and put a few things into perspective.  I live a privileged life compared to many folks.  I don't always see it that way, grumbling about the price of gas, or the outrageous price my hairdresser charges me for color and cut, how I have to give up wild salmon until the supply goes back up.  I have my struggles financially, to be sure, but there is nothing like having a garage sale to bring me down to earth and see how fortunate I am compared to so many others.

Twice a year, in fall and in spring, my neighborhood holds a huge garage sale.  On the designated day, all the residents open up their garage doors around 8:30 and begin putting out things they want to get rid of.  The event runs from 9:00-1:00 and by 9:30, the streets are clogged with pickup trucks full of "garage sailors" in high spirits and in high hopes of finding bargains.

Since I am now selling CAbi clothes, I wear mostly that clothing line.  If I am not wearing CAbi, my store is closed, don't you know?  Anyway, I set up a clothing rack in the driveway and put out a ton of newish, stylish, fairly expensive non-CAbi clothing I don't currently have a use for.  I had a Ralph Lauren skirt I had never worn, with the tags still on it saying I paid $89 for it.  "Would you take two dollars for it?" a woman queried.  Honestly, I find garage sales SO depressing.  My green Cole Haan sandals went for $4.  To  a woman who actually understood what she was buying.

I just have to wrap my head around the idea that the point is to GET RID OF THINGS, not to make money.  If I cared that much about getting my money back for that skirt, I should have put it on eBay.  I bet someone would have given me $30 for it.  Never mind.

Most of the visitors to my garage sale are very poor people, for whom English is not their native language.  They have never heard of JJill or Talbot's or Coldwater Creek.  Those labels mean nothing to them.  If the shirt looks like something that will protect their arms from the sun while they are out in the fields picking strawberries, I am happy to give it to them, rather than take the dollar they are able to offer me for it.

So, no.  I didn't make much money.  I did get rid of a lot of closet clutter and some old bowls that never did fit properly into my kitchen cupboards.  My husband got rid of some clunky old electronic equipment and that baby gate I bought to keep Ozzie in the kitchen that was too small for the door opening.  So it was good, all in all.

But tell me, would you ever buy anyone's old eye shadows and blushes?  Even if they were super cheap?  (Ten items for $1).  It seems so unhygienic to me, but what do you know, those were the things that went like hot cakes.

Next fall when we do the sale again, I plan to just put everything out in the driveway, close the door and go to the beach until it is over.  Folks can just have my cast offs and we will all be better for it.

Comments

[Susan Ramey Cleveland]

I have a friend in Iowa who, when she has a yard sale, she provides large brown grocery store bags. Everything you can fit in the bag for $5. Buy one thing: $5. Buy 50 things $5. Just so it can all fit in the one bag. She's got the right idea about yard sales. You have to look at them as a way to get rid of stuff, not get fair prices for your stuff.

[Susan Ramey Cleveland]

I have a friend in Iowa who, when she has a yard sale, she provides large brown grocery store bags. Everything you can fit in the bag for $5. Buy one thing: $5. Buy 50 things $5. Just so it can all fit in the one bag. She's got the right idea about yard sales. You have to look at them as a way to get rid of stuff, not get fair prices for your stuff.

[Carolyn]

Amen! I live in an area where many of the residents have a lot of money. I find it interesting that they are often the ones who are out shopping for more "stuff". I've recently decided that I feel weighed down by the stuff that I have and have been using up, giving away and selling a lot. I've also been trying not to purchase anything that I don't really need. I feel like a slave to "stuff", having to clean it, clean around it, maintain it...I know that it's time to downsize. There will be a yard sale in my future...as well as some listings on ebay! I like your attitude, maybe I should just put out the "free" sign! Thanks for a thoughtful post.

[Carol]

AMEN! Nothing like a yard sale to put in all in perspective.

[Stacy A]

Man I hear ya. Set that sucker up and go to the beach! The only thing I can think of in favor of charging a bit, is that in my twisted mind, paying even a tiny bit of money means it had some value to the person at one time, where as the free section usually has stuff they really hated. Crazy. And the eyeshadow thing, all I can think about is pink eye! lol
I am so glad I am not the only one in love with Posh. Love Stacy

[Miss Jean]

I dont' even like to go to garage sales anymore. I just don't have the patience to go through junk to find one nice thing. I have friends that will make $100's on garage sales. My one and only made $36 so I retired from ever having another. If I want to get rid of something that's large, I drag it to the curb and put a free sign on it. Then I leave and when I get back it's gone! The rest of the stuff I donate. Course there is that problem of the little stuff that is too valuable to donate, antiques, etc.. I don't have the patience to mess with ebay so I hang on to it. I may look into one of the ebay services that are popping up now.

[sara]

Great Post mom! Your attitude is refreshing.

[Beth]

I know, garage sales are depressing. I think that's why I just give my discards to the Goodwill and call it a day. I remember once my mom had a huge yardsale at her house because she was moving. Well, not only did we catch some guy trying to steal a dirt cheap item, but we also had people who would try to haggle. I remember there was something she was selling, don't remember what, but it was like 50 cents. The guy was trying to talk her down to a quarter! No yard sales for moi!

[Ailsa]

In the UK we have 'Jumble sales' rather than yard sales. I am involved in Scouts and once a year we hire a village hall and have a Jumble sale. We go around the village collecting other people's unwanted stuff and sell it for a few pence each. We raise quite a lot of money and people have got rid of their unwanted stuff.

I am rather jealous of the day you had, it looks warm and sunny. In the UK it was cold and snowing.

[quiltdivajulie]

We used to do the annual garage sale up in a HUGE way... but over the years, we've gotten into the habit of donating what we don't want to the organizations in town (MIFA, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Vietnam Vets, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, etc.). From a time/energy standpoint, garage sales just don't yield much money and they take a LOT of work to do right. And you're right, most of us are far more blessed than we realize!

[Mary Wood]

I like going to garage sales you never know what you might find.I remember the Jumble sales in the Uk.
Hugs Mary.

[Sharon]

I dont even enjoy having a garage sale anymore. I hate when someone offers you .50cents for something new like your skirt with the tags still on it. I donate it to someone instead. It's not worth the frustration.

[Perry]

I agree, garage sales are depressing and I refuse to do one. We have pickups from charity organizations in OKC and we always save our stuff and give it to the Vietnam Vets. They come by once a month and we always have something. That way our "stuff" is kept to supposedly a minimum, lol.

[Janet]

I'm not a fan of garage sales either, but some how it always sounds like a good idea at the time. The local Goodwill store is so much easier - just pull up, they help you unload and hand you a receipt. Just have to remember where I put them 'cause we've still got to do our taxes!
PS: I'm a new reader(found you from Red Geranium!). Nice to find another positive, entertaining blog. I'll be back!

[Peg]

Totall off topic but I kept clicking on all the links you provided and I also love the Eleanor Burns method for flying geese but I always yearn for instructions for making different sizes that the rulers or specific instructions don't address. Like if you want a finished unit a particular size, what size do each of the components have to be? Is there a ratio or formula?

Love your site!

[Susan]

Did the garage sale twice but really hated having to dicker with someone over a couple of dollars. We have a lot of resellers that come to ours. They are the worst.

Instead I just donate to a good charity (a lot of them will come around the neighbor hoods to pick up) and then I can take it off income tax as a charitable contribution at a value more reasonable than I'd get in a garage sale.

[Floss]

I feel much the same way, so instead of having a sale a couple of times a year I take a car load and donate my stuff. I find this less depressing.

[Suzy]

It was so funny to see that "Garage Sale" sign on your blog, as we are getting ready to have a huge one here. Ugh. Whatever doesn't get sold gets donated. It's definitely not coming back in the house -- especially since we're moving. LOL!

P.S. Check out my blog -- you've been tagged! :o)