With out yard sales or garage sales you would have no supply of cheep used books to sell.

Yard sales have made me quite a bit of extra cash. It amazes me what some people will pay for stuff I have little use for.

I am happy with seeing things recycled. Stuff I don’t want is being used by others who do want it, and want it enough to pay me for it. Most of the stuff that goes to goodwill gets trashed.

You need to know your market and how yard sales work in your town. That includes an advertisment in the news paper. (A cost you did not list so I assume that you forgot that inportant move.) People travel quite a way for a good sale. If you are in a good nabourhood the dealers will be lined up outside two deep when you open your doors.

If you live in a bad or poor part of town then team up with some one with a good address and have it at their house.

Time of year is also inportant. People dont like to yardsale when it’s too hot, too cold, or pooring with rain. (Check long term 7 day forcast)

Start Saturday morning, at daun. Not Sunday or Friday. The money comes out on Saturday morning. Regulars do not go to sales that started Friday on the assumption that the good stuff was allready striped by the dealers.

Be ready to open and sell from dawn onwards. The people with the most cash in their pockets come first. They are keen.

Don’t tell people to come back later, they probably will not return. You are not the only sale in town.

Display items. Hang cloths up, not in a pile. Borrow tables.

Price as much as you can. Be relistic, it’s a yard sale, don’t over price.

Be ready to take resonable offers, no matter what price you put on the item.

Understand that holding out for a better offer can work, but not after the first 3 to 4 hours starting when yard sales first start in your town. So if Yard Sales normaly start at 8am then offers and cash flow will slow down by 11am. By noon the flood will be a trickle. (Start times varies by location)

Be ready to sell from first light. Where I live, South Florida, Yard sales start at 7 to 8 am, and some times earlyer.

I have seen yard sales where more than $20,000 changed hands before 10am. But you have to be ready to deal fast. The money is there if you have resonable items.

We say there are two types of yard sales. The ones where people want to make money, and the ones where people want to make space. You can do both but remember it’s not their job to pay you top dollar for your old junk. They will only part with their money if there is value there.

I grew up calling them garbage sales. I donate my stuff to goodwill and take the deduction.

Good read though–put a smile on my face and reminded me of the good ol days growing up!

The last time we had a garage sale, it’s true that we spent time before hand sorting through things- maybe two hours or so. And then we had two days of the garage sale, and sold $1200 worth of stuff.

Total hours: about 20/ $1200= $60/hour. Obviously, far less than my business makes me, but well above the $5.80 you listed- which is painful!

On the other hand, I would grieve to lose the yard sale as a social form. It’s just fun to drive through town, or bicycle, and come across yard sales. It’s like a treasure hunt.

And, when we did it, we had fun at it- hanging out in the yard, chatting with people who came by, including friends. When we’ve gone through neighborhoods where several yard sales are in the same block, it’s clear that many of them are having a great time, sipping ice tea, hanging out while the kids play.

As a financial opportunity, it’s just eh. But, as a social ritual, and a way to keep the secret economy of junk circulating, it’s quite fun. :)