Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Yard Sale Tips!

Here are a few tips that I have used to make having a yard sale successful!


I have learned "painfully so" that it is a great idea to price everything or to have tables set at one price.....and remember people will try to get an even better deal! Baby things go fast! Kitchen items and tools/sporting goods go well too. I make sure if there is anything that has stains on it that it goes in a free box. This last sale I had, I had a couple drive up look around then take the whole free box....even the tote! Be prepared to loose some of the clothes to drive offs etc. I had someone take the paraffin wax system and I only had $2 on it! Oh well it is clutter in my house, and maybe they needed it! Just be prepared and you won't be disappointed when and if something like that happens.

Make sure you keep you keep your house locked, and the money bag inside, keep some change in your pocket but bigger bills inside. I had a friend and have heard too many times where the money has been stolen, don't set yourself up for that to happen to you. You are working hard to make that money, you should profit from it too! I don't let anyone inside to use the bathroom either, there is a gas station not far from our house, I don't need strangers in our house when I am outside doing the sale. Decide ahead of time if you are willing to allow people in your home. Oh and if you are selling appliances/something that plugs in, have an extension cord handy.

Another question someone asked was how much money I start out with. I typically start with $80 in change, especially if I have larger items to sell, (two $10 bill, four $5 bills, 25 $1 bills, 1 roll of quarters, and $5 in nickle and dimes. I sometimes don't bother with the nickles and dimes, but if I have things priced at 10 cents, then I know I need some...BUT, if you have a lot of furniture or higher priced stuff, I think I would definitely start with more money. For instance, if you have a lot of $10 items, most people will probably give you a $20 bill and you will need to make change. Some people will give you the exact amount, so it's mostly in the beginning when you need to be concerned about how much change you have on hand.

I don't think it is too profitable to list in the paper anymore. I list on craigslist and hang a few signs. In the paper it costs about $12 just to list a basic yard sale ad no specifics. Craigslist is free, you can also network on Facebook free too! I also hang up a few signs, just to draw in local traffic on a busy street! You'd be surprised at what a bright colored sign with Sharpie Marker can do to draw in people that love to find treasures!

I may be a little anal, but I take time to separate a table for housewares, tools/manly things, kids toys, and clothes. The clothes is really where I get anal, I separate the boys from the girls and try to keep things summer/winter and according to size together. When I am pricing things I will organize things how I will set it out in tubs. This way on my morning of the sale it takes no time to set up! The night before I put out all the tables, have the tubs ready by the door and my change all ready to go! When pricing items, keep in mind that "a third of what it costs new" is only a guideline. Try to look at your stuff objectively when pricing, and don't be an emotional pricer! If you have a bunch of items that are missing pieces, put it in your FREE box.

Someone asked me how I pick out when I am picking a date for a yard sale, I try to do it around the first weekend of the month, I also try to never do it on a holiday. By doing these few things I have had very successful yard sales. I always want to give the impression that I care about the yard sale and my items. I make sure all the items are cleaned before taking them out. If you have a big jumbled mess - that gives me the impression that you don't care about your things and probably didn't take good care of it when you used it!

Lastly: Enjoy your yard sale! Have a blast and it will be worth it all in the end!
Go make some money!!!!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Menu Planning Monday!

Wow, yes I did get your emails and yes I have truly intended on doing my menu planning...but alas I have been working almost everyday third shift and as that isn't a wonderful excuse~ Sorry for those of you that like to get ideas and recipes. But let me tell you: I am going to be starting a new schedule soon! I am really excited about this and what it will mean for our family and my sanity! So for this week, I will be catching up on a few posts, I will have two reviews for you, along with some random posts about our summer~


This weeks menu is VERY easy!

Lunches are simple salads or sandwiches for the kids or something simple on the grill like hot dogs, etc! Along with a lot of fruit!

DINNER:

Monday: Taco Salad Night
Tuesday: Grilled Sausage with potatoes/peppers/onions and Corn on the cob!
Wednesday: Kids night with the sitter, and Chip and I out for the evening~
Thursday: Baked Tilapia with Rice and Broccoli
Friday: Quick Marinated Chicken with broccoli and mushrooms
Saturday: My brother's wedding, no cooking this day for me!
Sunday: Roast with Potatoes and Carrots

Sunday, July 18, 2010

I'm BAA-CK!

I am really sorry about how long it has been since my last post~ No excuses, well, maybe some little ones called LIFE and WORK, but I have my obtainable goals set for blogging, and I don't plan to take on anymore than I can handle. I do have two reviews coming up, so keep your eyes peeled!

So what has been going on? Well besides normal everyday life adventures, we have been beach bums during the day before I head out to work. Brooklynn is in Tennis and Swimming Lessons, and about to start Soccer with Andrew! They are doing so well this summer and so excited for school to start. Can you believe we have only a month before we are going to bed earlier (well the kids anyway!) packing lunches, and doing homework! I am going to miss not living by a schedule and hanging out at the park or the beach with the kids. Brooklynn told me the other day, "mom, I love our life" made me feel so good about what we were able to do together.

All the stores are gearing up their back to school shelves. I love the smell of new crayons, and crisp paper. I am sad but excited that both of my babies will be in school this year. Andrew is so excited, he is more pumped to go to pre-school than I am to send him. It's a new chapter in our life, now both will be in school, and this will be our life planning around school schedules.

We had a yard sale a couple weeks ago now, and my let me tell you, I purged a lot of things! I was able to put the profits towards a new grill, a big boy bike for Andrew, a dinner date to Chuckie Cheese, a trip to Sam's with lots of goodies, and a few other miscellaneous things! If you are having a yard sale or want tips on how to do one, I have had a few and don't mind lending out tips/plans! This last sale went down like a science and we made out pretty well for what I took out! Two boxes left over went to goodwill!

What else has gone on? Oh yes, we had a couple look at our house, and yes we are working with a realtor. (No I don't think it is a house for them, as they have to sell one too) Now is when I really need to de-clutter and get rid of all the little keepsakes. Get rid of kids clothes and remember all the fun memories that I had with the kids, not the clothes~ I am making strides people! I am in no way a hoarder, but I have trouble getting rid of my babies coming home outfits, some of Brooklynn's dresses....two of them are still hard for me, one was worn to my Grandma's funeral, and the other one was worn to my Uncle's funeral. Neither event does my daughter remember, but I do, I remember thinking I should be here in Elder Beerman buying these dresses. I have been thinking about them a lot these last couple of weeks. It definitely comes in waves, missing and thinking about those we love that are now living in Heaven. So yes, back to the clutter, I have a goal for getting that out of the way too, maybe I need a coach to talk me through all of it...lol!!! So the realtor didn't need to tell me our house was consumed with kids things....not necessarily her words, but she laughed with me and said I know you know you need to go through things.....umm yes, we have a three and five year old. They have taken over the house exactly five years ago! :) But I love it!

Oh Chip and I have started trying to eat better and "diet". Chip has cut out sodas and watching his, portions, and has lost 26lbs in about three weeks (AWESOME!)I haven't lost 26lbs, wouldn't that be amazing, but I have lost seven. Seems so small compared to what he has lost! For me life is settling down now and I'm ready to re-start my weight loss adventure... and maintain it this time! For good. I'm done having children and I'm ready to start the next phase of my life: the healthy, fit, and energetic mom and wife! I'll keep you up to date on this new journey too!

Other than just hanging out and doing crafts and playing games this has been our summer! Brooklynn is a Bronze Babe, and Andrew is slightly tan (I really lather him up!) I have been burnt badly only once, yes this is an ongoing battle with me getting burnt, and we have had a blast! This week I am packing for my brother's wedding, and the plan is to start packing for our vacation (the last week of August)! I have my lists made out and I am getting SO excited!

Hope you all are having a wonderful summer! I will be posting more this week!