Never Again, but I Have Said That Before....

 Garage Sales.

I really despise them.

It always sounds like a great idea!   Gather up all of the 'stuff' you don't want or need anymore. Put little price tags on those items, place them on a table, arrange them attractively, and put a sign at the end of the drive advertising GARAGE SALE.

Post the sign.

People will come.

They also will paw through all of the items on the table  They will pick up an item, examine it, curl their lips, and toss it aside

They might select an item, then ask if $3 is really the lowest price you will take on a Boyds Bear figurine that has never been out of the box, then replace it on the table when you decline their offer or $2 after saying that $3 is just too much to pay.

Then there are those who are ignoring the items on the sale tables and instead, their eyes are wandering around the garage walls. Thoughts run through our minds --- are they casing the joint to see what tools might be worth some money if they return later and hope for an unlocked door so those tools can be stolen.  Or better yet, that some enticing item might just make its way into the bag and out to the vehicle without paying for it?

Hilary was exhausted after the three days of selling.  Plus there had been several days of setting up before the event.  But she was happy that all of the Rubbermaid totes that have been stacked in the Master Bedroom are empty and out of there.  She was happy that when we actually sorted the leftovers again and boxed them for donations that there was more sold than what she thought.  That close to $1000 that was in her cash suitcase had to be welcomed big time!  I would have been very happy with that!

And I am happy, I guess, with the little bit of money that we took in from our small table of items.  A couple of skillets went to a Hispanic family.  A lady bought the Keurig.  Two men bought the three kids toys (Bucky the Horse, the duck, the wheelbarrow).  All fun things but the kids have outgrown them---and they have been through two generations of children/grandchildren.  The little high chair seat that we had strapped on a dining room chair for Lynnlee.  Also used for all of the grandkids but no one needs it anymore.  The rest of the skillets, the waffle iron, the food steamer, a box of blue dishes that we don't use anymore---all to Goodwill this afternoon.

Was it worth it?  For Hilary, probably.  For me, not so much.  I did use some of the money from our sales for dinner at Culver's so that was something!  But I am not eager to dive into more things that we haven't used in the three years that we have lived here and decide to have my own yard sale. 

No thank you!