7/26/09

I Shopped my own Yard Sale!



I didn't spend much, but I shopped my own sale.

My friend Jenny and I got a date on the calendar - a Friday, for a 1/2 day sale.

Our goal was to not stress over it, but to keep it simple and fun!

1. Create a space where you can store your boxes of items for sale.  In our case, it was the garage.
2. Find a friend who wants to share the sale, pick a date, and move forward.
3. Don't worry about pricing your items, it takes WAY too much time.
4. Make sure you have enough tables, start setting up either the night before, or 2 hours earlier.
5. Have a table for $1 items, 50 cent items, or after setting up, use stickers to mark items.
6. Make sure you advertise for FREE on Craig's List.



The important thing is to just GET THE STUFF OUT THERE.  

People can always ask, "how much?"  I've had so many yard sales in past years. And I stressed for weeks, worrying about the details.

1. Buyers will come in waves, so in between, take the time to mark more items.

2. Having some kind of organization is far more important than pricing every single item!

My daughter was a huge help, and so was Jenny's dog, Buddy, who helped collect the money (not! but isn't he darling?)



How did I shop my own sale?

I always do this!  I find items that I can't live without, like a new lamp, outdoor candle holder, candle stand, and a few clothing items - from the person I'm having the yard sale with.

This pitcher will go well with my blue-rimmed Mexico glasses



Can't you just picture this filled with beautiful ripe cherries?



I spent $10 and made about $100. 

The ad was free, I got rid of lots of "little" stuff (cleaning through our kitchen for our remodel), and had a blast with my friend and daughter!

Can you resist a good find, even though it might be your friend's junk?

Or, if you come upon a sale where you know the family, do you shop?  Or does this make you uncomfortable, so you drive on by? (I'm talking a mutual friend)

I sometimes feel awkward.  So I'm really looking forward to hearing from you regarding this situation!



(Jenny and I grabbed our hubbies that night and took them out for some dinner and live music and fun! As if we hadn't already seen enough of each other ... :) 



Now head on over to Rhoda's to check out her thrifty finds for the week! This lady is amazing!

34 comments:

Kim said...

My neighbor and I are planning our garage sale for next week, on Thursday! We have found that it is a lot more fun to do it with a friend! Plus, it will make us accountable to actually get rid of our "stuff"!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hey, Sandy! I love that you shopped your friend's stuff too. I would totally do that & no, I don't mind shopping at my neighbor's sales either. My next door neighbor does sales pretty often, so I always go over to see what she has. You never know! In fact, I think I might have to have another sale in the fall myself to get rid of more extras.

Thanks for joining the party, girlfriend!

Donnetta said...

I did this recently at the sale we had. My MIL brought over some things to put in the sale.

I ended up with a set of Odyssey tapes for the kids, a bag to use as a diaper bag for quick trips, and an insulated coffee cup.

She shopped as well and took home a few of my things. I guess you could say we just swapped "stuff". :-)

I have shopped other friends sales in the past also.

Too fun!

Natalie Meester said...

one mans junk is another man's treasure!

How fun! I love garage sales and often I dig out stuff I forget all about!

slip4 said...

I don't mind shopping the sales of people I know. Except when they feel uncomfortable and try to give me the things I am interested in. That's awkward! Looks like you got some good stuff!

ellen b said...

Of course I'd stop at a friend's sale especially if I really like her style :0)
Good for you for making money and getting rid of some stuff.

Sue said...

When I have a sale with a friend, we end up just trading stuff! I would definitely shop a friend or a neighbor, hoping she might give me a little discount! *smile*
My neighbor shopped me last year and she went home with extras just so I could get rid of them....
:-) Sue

Sonya --Dime Store Thrift said...

There is nothing wrong with shopping your own yard sale:) A friends junk is your new treasure! I have no problem stopping by a friends sale, especially if I know stuff she is getting rid of that will be new-to-us.
I am glad you are hopping on the thrifty boat!
Sonya

Jeanne Oliver said...

That is so funny! Remind me to never have a sale with another person...because I would do the same thing. Glad you cleared out a lot of stuff and found a few new things too.

Darlene said...

How fun!!! Love what you got. We are having a street yard sale next Saturday and you can bet I'll be shopping at everyone else's sale. Might be something I can't live without!!!!

akawest said...

I would shop at anyone's sale. One of my favorite pieces of furniture belonged to a friend's grandfather. It has been in our living room for close to 20 years.

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

i'm organizing a neighborhood sale for Aug 8. i like having a sale more than going to one. i am a thrift shopper instead, because i don't like interacting with the people. pretty anti-social, huh?

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Visiting from Rhoda's party. I love the idea of shopping a friend's stuff...with her knowledge, of course. ;) Can't believe you only spent $10 and made $100...that's great! Thanks for the yard sale tips. :)

If you have a chance to stop by my spot, I have my 200th post Giveaway today with my Thrifty Treasures. :)

Kammy said...

Great day and you made money - extra cool !
Hugs ~ Kammy

Sabrina said...

It depends on the neighbor having the sale. But most times I feel uncomfortable.
Thanks for the tips on having a yard sale.

Gwen said...

My favorite part is Buddy on the chair:)

Lisa said...

Guilty. I have shopped at my own sale too. :)

Amy Lynne said...

I would shop a neighbor's sale in a heartbeat! My neighbor shopped our sale last year and got the "good neighbor discount", you never know what you may find. By the way your pitcher is beautiful!

Betsy Brock said...

My sister and I used to have lots of garage sales together. We would always joke that we really ended up just trading stuff! :)

Anonymous said...

no shame around here. i totally stop at sales of which i know the owners. i usually get a better deal!! i have never had a sale with some one so i can't help you there. but i still say no shame!! the other person should take it as a compliment.

julia said...

I love garage sales, I have even stopped at a familys garage to shop and they werent haveing a sale.lol

Nicole A. said...

Love your finds and I will shop and sale, lol! Doesn't bother me either!

Kirstin said...

I just went to a friends sale the other day and bought two baskets. I don feel awkward going to a friends sale and I don't feel obligated to buy. I missed some canning jars because I only had a few dollars and wasn't sure and while I was stewing some gal came and swooped them up. Uggghhh.

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

I think we've had one garage sale for every year that we've lived in this house which is 10 years. LOL. I'm not sure were the stuff is coming from but they are always big sales.
It's funny about the friends thing, my friend and I will ask each other if we want anything BEFORE we have the garage sale and then we just give it to each other if we want it. It evens out in the long run!
Love the blue pitcher. That so would have been mine! LOL
HUGS
Kim

Mandy said...

I love garage sales but find it awkward when I know the person. I also do not like to shop at a garage sale when things are NOT marked. I hate asking how much things are...

Signing Out said...

I've done yard sales with friend before and bought their items. Would I stop at a yard sale of a family I knew? Of course!

Jane

Bonnie said...

We had our yard sale on Saturday, too. My mother tossed in some stuff. I did pull one or two things of hers out but not much. One of my best friends shopped our sale, though. I don't let friends pay me for my stuff. If they see something they like, I hand it over. As long as it's out of my house...I'm more than happy to know it's going to a great home!!!

Bonnie said...

Good idea on how to have a yard sale. My daughter and I were just talking about this. I put off having a sale while the junk piles up higher and higher cause I hate all the work it takes.

P.S. I love the dog!

★Carol★ said...

I always have that bad habit of shopping my own sale, and usually spending more than I make! That blue pitcher is gorgeous--how could you not buy it?!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Yes - I do shop at friends and relatives sales. A friend is having a big sale soon and I am really looking forward to it, as she has good taste. :-)
Glenda

Kendra @ Domestic Princess in Training said...

Sounds like you had a great garage sale. I think I'll be havong one of my own when it starts to cool down.

Marie said...

Hello Sandy - I think it's even sweeter that you found your treasures from a friend's junk! I really like the glass container.

Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com

Cass @ That Old House said...

My sister and I have done this -- joint yard sales, and shopped one another's stuff.

It's fun! Cass

Jules @ Lovely Las Vegas said...

Smart ideas! I've been wanting to put together a yard/garage sale, but haven't made much progress except for filling up some boxes.... love the concept of doing a group sale... more fun and more motivation : ).