The Frugal Files: Garage Sale!! Tips for Buyers & Sellers

Hey frugalicious ones!!

Welcome back to The Frugal Files!! Recently, I’ve been helping a friend prepare for an out-of-state move. Her biggest task: decluttering. She went through each room to remove items she didn’t want. Then after getting down to the nitty gritty, she found she was just a huge paper pack rat. She literally had binder after binder of “important papers” and “keepsakes”; things she that had traveled with her through 3 states.

Because you all know me, you know I was not going to let her take it all to another state. We went through every binder she had from two offices, several cabinets, the basement and her storage. We recycled; we shredded and found a recycling bin close to her home, which was a lifesaver.

In addition to paper, she had EVERYTHING in her home, even in duplicate. We organized it and used every resource possible to get rid of it. She freecycled a great deal, but when you have a lot of stuff and moving expenses, it makes sense to make a few extra bucks. How? The good, old Garage Sale. Today, I have tips for the Seller and the Buyer, so let’s begin.

As the Seller, you want to make as much as you can. This requires patience and planning. Most people think having a sale is as easy as throwing up a sign and sitting pretty, but there is so much more work involved.

First, name the sale. It’s just a garage sale right? Wrong. When people hear or read Garage or Yard sale, they look for bottom basement prices. If you don’t mind letting things for under $2-$3 with most items being 0.50, then those names are fine. If you want more money, purpose to use Estate or Moving Sale instead. Those names appeal to more than just the veteran thrifty that will haggle you about an item that’s a dime. Help the customer know what to expect from your sale.

Second, arrange your sale items neatly. If there are items in your sale space that aren’t for sale, remove them or cover them, so the buyer knows they are off limits. Also, messy sales do not typically yield big profits. Clutter causes people to not want to buy, so as annoying as it might be to re-arrange items after someone rummages it through, do it as a courtesy toward the next paying customer. Hang items up if you can, separate them by size and place like items together on your tables.

Third, advertise. Don’t just open up shop and rest on your laurels. Tell your neighbors, co-workers and family and tell them to pass it on. Post the information in your online groups, craigslist and the newspaper. Advertise early so people can prepare to come. A tip for multiple day sales: advertise each day individually. When people see signs for multiple days and miss the first day, they will assume all the good stuff was taken and may skip your sale altogether.

Another tip, if you live on a side street, post signs on the main street, then help guide the driver all the way to your sale with accompanying signs. Also, don’t be afraid of gimmicks. Note that you have bags and boxes for them. When advertising your great items, consider “Stuff-A-Bag” as part of your sale. Do you have a bunch of little items, but don’t want to bother with coins at your sale? Then put those items in one section and give people a bag or box. Give them a set price and tell them they can stuff whatever they can fit in their bag, from that area, for that price. It’s a great way to get rid of stuff and make guaranteed money.

For the Buyers, the rules are simple:

1)      Take a set amount of money in your budget for garage sales. Once the money is gone, you are done shopping.

2)      Do not buy items you don’t need just because it’s cheap. Only get it if you’re going to use it or give it as a gift within 30 days. This is not an opportunity for your to clutter up your house.

3)      Do not take children or people with poor spending habits with you. Just like in the grocery store, children will want everything they see, so to keep the tantrums at a minimum and to avoid overspending, keep them at home. Same goes for your clutterbug of a friend. Don’t take them if they will influence you to be a spendthrift.

As the Seller, once you’ve sold all you can, consider offering a Free for All on freecycle. They will come and clean you out and if they don’t, pack up the remaining items and drop them off at a thrift store. Don’t forget to grab your tax deduction slip!!

Happy Garage Sales to you!! Until next time…

Frugalicious Diva

Follow me on Twitter at @FrugaliciousDva

The Frugal Files: The Psychology Behind your Stuff..Let Go!!

Hey there frugalicious ones!! It’s almost time for the holiday!!

I know you might expect some 4^th of July frugal food recipes, but not today. We’re going little deeper. It’s been on my mind and I really want to share.

I’ve been getting quite a reputation in my community for being a Declutter Queen…their words, but I accept them. I’m a master at decluttering now, but this wasn’t always my story. I’m an ex pack rat, from a long line of pack rats. My family keeps EVERYTHING!! Sometimes having so much “stuff” is overwhelming and it immobilizes you horribly. I owe my breakthrough to my cousin Angie. She probably doesn’t know it, but she saved me from a life of living under a house of clutter.

Years ago, right before moving into my first apartment, I began to downsize. I asked Angie to help me with the daunting task because it was too much for one person. My room at my parents house was the length of the house, so it was already like a mini apartment, a loft really. I had a shoe closet and a doubled sided, full length closet, an area for my bed, two dressers, a rolling and stationary bookcase, an attic area…plenty of space, for plenty of junk.

So we began to declutter spaces and deciding what to keep and what to toss. She was patient with me as she asked about each item she picked up. My “keep” pile was getting large and the huge garbage can was nearly empty. (This was years before I knew about recycling, so I wasn’t doing it). She noticed my growing pile and no progress and finally just blurted out, “you need to throw this ‘blankety-blank’ away!!” I was startled, began to argue, but she stood her ground. She helped me to see I didn’t need the stuff I was saving.

Now, I pass on that same blessing to others. I work with some of the most difficult people when decluttering. I’m firm, but I’m also sensitive. I KNOW it’s difficult for people to let go and when you begin decluttering, it’s like an irritation of an open, covered wound. Well, I say, rip the bandage off even it if opens up the wound again and LET IT HEAL!!

I’m not a therapist, but I do know people. I know feelings. I know issues. One thing I’ve learned about this process is, if you can’t let go of old stuff, you have them. Big or small, there are underlying issues. Maybe something you haven’t addressed in the past or something you’re avoiding in the future, but something. Have you ever seen the reality show Hoarders? Well, there’s a reason they have a psychologist on staff. It requires an intervention and my cousin gave me mine frankly, kicking my butt into gear to get rid of the junk in my room and in my life.

Now it’s routine to declutter. We’ve chatted a little about this before; if it’s broken, either fix it or get rid of it. If you don’t need it anymore, get rid of it. If it’s no longer loved, say good-bye. Once you get past the initial shock, the task will get easier. I can promise you: letting go will cleanse your soul, it will make you feel lighter and the thoughts of depression, due to being overwhelmed, will begin to subside. This is not necessarily a cure for our deeply rooted issues, but it certainly is a start to the journey of exposing and addressing them.

Recently, I had one of my decluttering clients gasp when I told her I shredded old pictures. Well, my Mom and I went through a huge toolbox full pictures. We saw people we didn’t recognize, terribly angled photos and three of my ex boyfriends. They all had to go. I’m no longer in those relationships, I’m not attached to them and I think my future husband would appreciate me not bringing old flames into our relationship and home. Her response was that I had a desperate love and willing to give up my old memories for a man…I disagree. I still have my memories, but I’m free of the attachment. She didn’t understand that and I know why. She told me she grew up dirt poor, so her entire house reflected that she was actually the desperate one; desperate to hold on to everything because she previously had nothing.

Belles, we have to understand our past is not who or where we are today. We can let go of the past without losing our memories. No one can ever take our experiences away, or the wisdom we learn from them. I’m all for being sentimental about SOME of our keepsakes, but cluttering up entire houses to feel a memory is a problem. Talk to someone and ask an unbiased person to help you go through your stuff; someone who won’t judge you, but who won’t be afraid to challenge you to get rid of your old stuff.

If you’re feeling stuck or stagnant in your life, declutter. Let go of past hurts. Removing the old makes way for the new memories and the new experiences. I’ll leave you with this affirmation:

“Possessions do not feed my spirit. I am liberated from the desire to hoard things. I let go so there is room for something better to come in."

The Frugal Files: Finding our Motivating Mantras

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing- that’s why we recommend it daily.”
~Zig Ziglar

Lately, I have been lacking the motivation to clear the space and declutter even though there are parts of my life and space that desperately need it.

True story…my home office desk is usually a mess. No matter how many times I attempt to clear the space, I just end up moving clutter for one side to the other; total paper pushing. Unfortunately, the mess is never contained to the actual desk, but the entire surrounding area. A friend, who I have been assisting with shredding old papers, came by last week. Since she knows paper clutter, she set out to help me with this issue. She found a place for everything and put me to work to address the piles and put away the files.

After it was completed, the entire room looked lighter and it was a refreshing to sit at the desk and not have to fight with other objects for arm space. In addition to the office, she addressed my sellable item clutter, as I had things sprawled all over. I decided to dedicate a closet to those items and once they were put away, I almost immediately received an email for the sale for those specific items. I truly believe decluttering, not only figuratively, but literally cleared the space for the new to come in. Thank you Universe for sending over my friend to set me straight and for getting me the sale.

Here are three ways I want to help you (and help me) to get you motivated and keep you motivated to get the junk out of your life, so that you can welcome what you desire!! You should know by now, it will involve your participation. Don’t worry though; it won’t hurt. It will just require your diligence in repeating a few words, a few times daily; some call them affirmations and I call them motivation!!

ASK FOR HELP

Whether your help is a prayer, a friend, or a licensed professional, call on them. It’s great when we can solve our own problems, but it is acceptable to lean on others for the support and motivation to take on a task. It’s like when you were learning to ride your bike and you needed training wheels. Then even when they came off, you still may have had to have an adult hold on to the back of your bike until you were steady and ready to finally go at it alone. Getting help builds confidence, so use your resources, as you grow stronger. Your personal life, professional life and financial life will thank you.

Affirmation: I attract those that help me reach my goals and I am happy and motivated when I achieve them.

JUST DO IT

This isn’t about Nike, but they had the right idea with this slogan. If you just get started then, motivation will meet you half way. Sometimes we get so caught up in the idea of getting motivated that we don’t trust ourselves to provide it. You don’t have to know how to get started; you don’t have to know how it will finish; you don’t need to repeatedly prepare for the idea of getting started. Just simply start and as you take one step, the next step gets easier and before you know it, your achievement will start to unfold before your very eyes. You can do it!!

Affirmation: I stay motivated and energized when working toward my goals.

HELP SOMEONE ELSE

You’ve heard of the Law of Reciprocity, so set it into motion by being of assistance to someone else. Motivate and help them with their dreams and goals. Not only will you feel good about it, you’re bound to walk away with a motivation to reach toward your own aspirations. In addition to that, you’ve opened the door for someone to step in and assist you. Remember, no good deed goes unrecognized and I promise it will be rewarded.

Affirmation: I am so motivated that others get motivated just by being around me.

This is truly how it works. Ask. Believe. Receive. When you want something better, you have to make room for it in your life. I have been getting unctions for about a week to “Clean it Up”. I believe God has been telling me to do this in all areas of my life and I know it’s specifically because I am in this transitional time in my life. Things are on the verge of happening for me and I have to be ready. Don’t you want to be ready for great things? Listen to that inner voice and move when it says move!! Let’s go for it frugalicious divas!!

Frugalicious Diva

The Frugal Files: Declutter Time: Clear it Up, Give it Out

We're at the end of March and finishing up our Spring Cleaning tasks toward our finances. This month we've projected our budget sheets and tracked both our spending and our income. Doing so allows you to see exactly where money is going and what adjustments can and should be made to our budget. We have also improved the way we treat our money. Implementing respect for our money allows it to grow, as we expect to have it; allows it to come easily and quickly as we treat it with the value that it is to our lives.

Lastly, we've attacked our fear of "the credit report", and found that it isn't to be feared at all. When used, it is a great tool to grab hold to our finances and whip them into shape. It shows us the mistakes we made in the past, as well as brags about what we did right in our fiscal affairs. Looking at our scores, coupled with a plan to increase the number, is exactly what the finance Dr. ordered.

This week we want to look at the area that may have lead us to the rise or downfall of our previous subjects of budget, money treatment and credit score: our accumulation of STUFF!! In what areas have you been spending your money? Do you use cash or credit? How has that affected your overall financial life, which in turn affects your family and everything else you do?

I'm thankful for the beautiful and warm weather we've been having lately. It was like we barely had a winter. As I pull up to my driveway and see the new blooms beginning to come in, I smile. Then my smile fades, as I realize I need to clean out my flower beds, as there's still leaves there from the Fall and twigs from when the snow became too heavy for the branches. It's time to clean it up and out, so my flowers can have room to bloom the way they want to.

Begin to take inventory of your belongings. Remember, we're Spring cleaning and not everything needs to go with you to the next season. Just like my leaves, some of your things need to go and now is the perfect time to determine those. So, it's time to DECLUTTER!! Make room for what wants to come into your life: wealth, abundance, love. Give room to bloom by getting rid of the junk of your past. Here's what you need:
- 2 large boxes (or more)
- a little time and creativity

Label your boxes: SELL and GIVE, then take a walk. Grab a pad and pen and walk through every room in your home. Scour the room with an eagle's eye and grab the items you no longer need. This especially includes anything broken, old/outdated or you simply no longer love it. Perhaps you never loved it. It's time for those things to make their exit from your home and from your life.

Your SELL box is self-explanatory. These are items that are new, like new or in good enough condition to sell to someone else. Dust and clean them off, snap a photo and list it on sites like craigslist.org. There is no fee to sell your items there and you set up an online garage sale for the whole world to see. You can also put up flyers where permitted for additional local exposure. Once your item is sold, you have money to pay off debt, save or invest and you have more space available for things you really love. Need help selling, refer back to Sales Part I and Part II.

Your GIVE box are things that can be donated to anyone of your choice. Freecycle is one of my favorite ways of keeping junk out of the landmines, but you can opt to give to Goodwill or Savers or another thrift store. Consider donating to organizations that serve the populations related to the things in the box. Not sure where you can donate? Check out this list of places: 23 Ways to Recycle Your Stuff. Don't forget, before leaving your treasures with their new homes, be sure to grab your tax deduction slip to write off your donation at tax time.

I'm decluttering right along with you. With my recent coupon adventures, my stockpile of donation items have indeed piled up and it's time for me to send them away. My sorority adopts organizations yearly at the national, regional, state and local levels. Next month the Great Lakes Region has adopted Covenant House, in Detroit, who provides shelter and support to homeless teens. Feel free to join us. So clear it up and give it out!! Enjoy your week!!

Frugalicious Diva