I had my first official yard sale this weekend.  I was a little worried that with it being the 4th of July weekend I wouldn’t do well.  Boy, was I wrong.  I was open on both Friday (4th) and Saturday.  My hours were posted as 8am-1pm.  But, when I opened the garage at 7:30am on Friday there were flocks of people waiting.  “Seriously?” I thought.  It was a steady stream of people pretty much all day.  I had people coming up after I had closed.  We were trying to get over to my brother’s house for the party but evidently people in this town cannot read.  On the first day I made just shy of $400!  I thought to myself again, “Seriously?”  Today I made $120 for a grand total of $520!

This sale was the “Get my kids a wooden swing set” fund raiser and I seem to have done it!  What is funny is on Thursday Mr. Tolerable told me he would match me dollar for dollar what I make on the yard sale to put towards the set.  After the first day he was regretting those words.  He (and I honestly) had no idea we would make this much.  But, my husband is a man true to his word and says he will still match me but I “don’t have to spend that much.”  I am thinking I can get the kids a pretty awesome play area for that much!

I made a few observations while having my sale.  I think I would like to spread the knowledge;

1.) If you have uncomfortable, plastic-looking, high heel type shoes Hispanic women will buy them all!

2.) Men don’t like yard sales.

3.)  Evidently, 10 cents is too expensive for a pair of baby socks but if you mark them down to 5 cents they fly off the shelf.

4.)  If you put up a sign that says “Not Responsible for Accidents” you are covered legally if someone comes to your sale and breaks their leg…..or so people think.  (I didn’t have one by the way).

5.)  If you don’t cover up the junk you don’t want to sell (and I mean JUNK) SOMEONE will ask you how much you want for it.

6.)  Make sure you stay with a child who you let in to your home to use the restroom or he may wander around your house and barge in on your naked husband in the OTHER restroom.  (hehehehe).

7.)  If you have a child outside with you during your sale – no less than 50% of the patrons will ask you “How much you want for that one?”

8.)  People really do not try to bargain all that much.  A shocker for me because when I go to yard sales I very rarely pay sticker price for things.

9.)  No one seems to want one of these (I think its uber-cool):

10.  IT IS A LOT OF WORK!