What?s the best way to bring in money without getting a second job? Sell things, of course!
If you are moving, downsizing or needing to get rid of all your baby stuff, the one thing people do to get rid of their stuff is have a garage sale or yard sale.
Garage sales can make or break you, especially if you are hoping to get rid of everything you no longer want. Though they seem like a good idea at the time, garage sales actually may not be worth it.
Below are a few reasons why a garage sale may not be worth your time, and what to do instead!
Garage Sales are Time Sucks
Garage sales take so much work!
Not only do you have to go through every single room in your house to separate trash from sale items, you have to label and tag it all. You can spend weeks going through your house and then a few more weeks marking everything for sale.
By the time the sale actually happens you are frustrated and tired.
The money you make does not equal the time you spent putting it on. Save yourself time by not doing one at all. Try donating things from your home as you go, or collecting them in a small box. Then when the box is full, take them to donate. It’s not as time consuming to go through one cabinet a month.
You Don?t Make Your Money Back
When you think about what all you spent on purchasing your no longer wanted items, it makes you do a double-take.
Depending on the item, you might have spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to only turn around make a couple hundred total at a garage sale.
Is this a good return on your investment? No, but it does make your house cleaner and filled with less clutter.
The Weather
Depending on when you have your sale, it can be miserable weather. A summer sale means hot weather. A fall or summer sale means rain or snow. And don?t even try to have one in the winter.
The weather can greatly affect how much money you make at your sale. Plus, who likes to sit outside during gross weather? Not this person.
What to Do Instead
If you really must get rid of your stuff, here are some less-time consuming and potentially more money-making ways to dispose of your gently worn, no longer wanted, stuff.
Donate Your Items
While you could try to sell your old washer and dryer, and wait around for someone to look at it and buy it, it would be faster for you to donate it. Places such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, half-way facilities and other charities will take your gently used items and put them to good use.
Donating things makes your feel good, plus you can write it off on your taxes. It also reduces waste in the landfill, as the items are reused and not immediately disposed of.
Sell Your Items Through Third Parties
If you have an antique chest that you know would be a steal if priced at a garage sale, put it online for sale.
Places such as ?for sale? groups on Facebook, Craigslist and apps like Let Go, can reach a greater audience and help get you the price you want.
It doesn?t take as much work and you can sell as you want or need to. You could also look at consignment shops or antique stores to dispose of those unwanted heirloom pieces.
Garage sales have their place. But, if you aren?t up to hosting your own, go in with a buddy or use some of these other alternatives.
Do you enjoy having garage sales? If you don?t how do you sell your used items?
Photo courtesy of: PublicDomainPictures
Wise Dollar
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