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: No More Wasting Away

Hey frugal folks!!

Sorry so late today, but I’m here!! I was contemplating what to write about all week when inspiration struck (as usual), from conversations with others and they are usually about my frugaliciousness. I’ve already told you that I’ll defend my frugal living until the end, but what many want to know is if it’s really frugal. I do and will always say “YES”. It works and even though we tweak some things for our on benefit, it still works.

I have to say, in my frugal journeys, I’ve learned what’s best for me and my family, which is the same way we can all look at it. If we’re not truly getting the benefit, then what’s the point? I can honestly say I’ve done my fair share of wasting effort, money and time. Still do, on occasion, but such is life and we can’t win them all. Clichés aside, wasting has indeed hurt me, but it’s also helped my mindset. Seeing my mistakes showed me if I can waste money, then I can afford to save it, donate it and invest it. It’s about maturity and when you’ve been burned enough times, you’ll learn.

There’s at least three ways I’ve seen myself and others squander our ends and I’ll share them, not to judge but to give us all something to ponder. It’s one thing to whittle away money, but spending more time to save more money is completely fine in my book. What else would you have been doing in that timeframe? Being online? Watching tv? Sleeping? Chatting on the phone? Using a little more of your entertainment time is the perfect way to spend on saving moolah, as you’re keeping it in your purse to spend on items that truly matter to you.

First, buying things you don’t need. This comes up regularly for the extreme couponer. Sometimes we get so caught up in getting something for cheap or free that we don’t realize the little bit of change we’re spending is adding up. If we honestly looked at those receipts, we probably could add more to gas tank, especially since we’re driving around to get deals on things we don’t even need.

Speaking of couponing, sometimes people get so caught up in the fact that they have a coupon, they spend more money, just to use it. That is not frugal. I personally struggle with letting some coupons go to waste. I don’t like the feeling, so in response, I regularly do coupon giveaways. It’s my way of helping others and getting that monkey (who wants me to spend more money) off my back.

Second, is buying generic. There are pros and cons to this. If you simply buy generic because it’s cheaper, then I hope you are doing your research. Make sure it’s the same quality or better than the name brand. If it’s the same go for it, but if you have a coupon for the name brand that will make it cheaper than the generic, then you need to make another choice.

It is simply about comparison shopping, so your goal is to get the quality item you need, will use and that will cost you the least amount for that quality product. Sometimes cheaper, is not cheaper in the long run if you have to buy twice as much as the name brand. Let’s do the math and save our pennies

Lastly, blind shopping. Sometimes it’s necessary to run into a store and pick up a last minute item. Consider that a splurge or the extra you pay as a convenience charge. You know how carry out marts mark up their price? It’s the cost of them being at your convenience, simply because you didn’t plan. Take the time to plan your grocery and other shopping trips. Write a list, clip and organize your coupons and stick to it. This will keep you on task, allowing you to leave out of the store spending just what you wanted to spend.

In addition to having a list and doing your comparison shopping, understand the marketing of a store, especially a grocer. The items at the register aren’t there because they ran out of space in the aisles, it’s because they want you to grab one last thing. If you’re hungry when you shop, that candy or drink that’s sitting there will be your one last thing. The store counts on you to impulse buy at the register, so ignore the goodies while you pull out your shopper’s card.

While we won’t always get the best deal, we can combat the idea that we’ll always waste money. Once we see and understand that we do these things, we can change them anytime. If we take the time to write down all that we’re spending, even if it’s just a little here and there, we will see the cost of everything. Then we can cut it where necessary. Thanks for stopping by today and go out there and save!!

Frugalicious Diva

Follow me on Twitter at @FrugaliciousDva