Frugal Living Today

HOW:  Advertising for a Yard Sale
This is one of the most crucial aspects of the sale.  If people don’t know it is happening, they aren’t likely to show up after all.  Here are a few places you should look into advertising your sale at least a week ahead of time:

• Freecycle - There’s probably a local one in your area, and though they don’t take ads, you can advertise the sale by telling the mailing list you will be offering the leftovers to fellow Freecyclers after 3 or 4pm on the last day of the sale.  You’d be surprised how many of these dedicated folks will show up well before the event is over to see what they can find!
• Supermarkets - Most every local supermarket has a bulletin board on which you can place homemade fliers for your yard sale.  Be sure to have clearly stated directions.
• Signs - Here’s one of the best tips I ever learned about making signs for my yard sales.  Those political signs that are all over the roads right now are absolutely perfect bases for your yard sale signs.  I’m not advocating that you steal someone’s signs, but if they are still in place after the vote has taken place, they are fair game and you should grab a few and stow them in the attic or basement.  A piece of kraft paper or cardboard taped over the top will give you the canvas you need to create your yard sale signs at no cost whatsoever.

HOW:  At the end of the sale
Before you have the yard sale there are two preemptive strikes you need to make.  The first as I mentioned before is to notify your local Freecycle list of the date and time of your sale so they can come and take what they want from the leftovers.  The second is to contact a local charity of your choice that offers home pick up services.  If you tell them that you are having a sale, they will schedule a pick up time for the remaining items and you will receive a tax reciept in most cases.

Yard sales don’t have to be a headache, they can actually be a lot of fun and even a little therapeutic.  If you have kids, involve them in the process by encouraging them to let go of old toys and other items that they may have outgrown.  If they see that they are going to get a little cash out of the deal, they will probably be on board in a heartbeat!