I'm part of a mom's group that is quite large. About 25 of us got together and planned a garage sale, which was over today. It was open Thursday, just to our group and friends, and Friday & Saturday to the public.
There was SO.Much.Stuff that I can't even begin to describe it!!! Overall, it was a success. At close of business yesterday the garage sale had grossed $4000. That doesn't even take into account Saturday's business.
Now, I have mentioned before that I thought garage sales were a lot of work for very little reward. I have more proof of that now than ever!! In order to participate you had to tag every item with an index card that had your initials and the price. (in order to keep of track of who got what money.) That alone took me over a week of working in our HOT upstairs bonus room and trying to keep my 2 year old occupied at the same time.
I also had to haul a buttload of stuff across town to the house where this garage sale was being held. Then I had to work a 6 hour shift in 100 degree weather while not only watching my own 2 kids, but helping watch 8 other kids. (not all the moms who put stuff in the sale participated in helping work, which frankly, pisses me off.)
Lucky for me, I was with friends, and d was OMG SOOOO well behaved. Owen slept a little but mostly just wanted to be held, so it could have been worse. Now, as far as monetary gain - I've broken it down.
Total from items sold
+$122.75
Advertising
-$5
Things I bought
-$40
Total profit = $77.75
When you add in cost of labor, I'm fairly certain that it cost me to participate in this garage sale. I would have done better if I had donated everything and deducted the donation from our taxes.
I wasn't expecting to make a lot of money though, and I did get rid of a LOT of stuff. I just had it priced cheap, cheap, cheap so that I would be rid of it. I still have to contact a charity and donate the stuff left over though, so I'm thinking that all that work was for nothing really.
All in all though, not a sale I will be participating in again. Definitely not one of my better ideas.
4 comments:
Oooh, it's too bad that you didn't reap much reward from all your work. Garage sales are hardly worth it to me too.
I had one several years ago and did ok, but I didn't want to do another one soon. Last summer I started talking about doing one, because I was running out of room in my house with a baby there and all his things too. So I started boxing things up. I never got around to having the sale. Matt patiently waited.
This summer he said he would help me have the sale. He did probably 60-70% of the work for it. And we didn't go to a lot of trouble actually. We did pretty well too. We made about $160. And what was left when straight back into boxes and to a charity closest to us. It was so much easier having Matt's help.
But I do agree that most times it's easier to go to the charity first.
Thanks for the validation. As we're potentially getting ready to move, I'm beginning to clean out closets, etc. Hubby suggested a garage sale, to which I replied hello no. It is way too much for too little money, especially in August heat/humidity and with a baby? No way! Between this and the first day of Couch to 5K, you are a way better person than me!!
Agree with Shelly- thanks for the validation. I have redoubled my determination never again to hold a garage sale.
I like to do "free" yard sales: pile everything into the front yard with a big "FREE" sign.
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