How to Make $200 The Hard Way

Well, I know it has been a while since I have posted one of my "interminable" blogs, but I hope that you will indulge me as I write today about the Great Garage Sale that we held this past Saturday.

We kind of threw this together in a few days as I was unpacking from Gulf Wars. Needless to say, while the Gulf Wars laundry is (mostly) done (except for the cloaks which need to be Dryel-ed), the unpacking is not done because of this garage sale. I looked at the calendar and realized that not only was Easter upon us, but the Bridlewood community sale was coming up, and this is a great weekend for Garage Sales Extraordinary.

Bridlewood is this toney golf course community that is across from Wellington, the cheaper toney community that I live in. We bought the bigger house in Wellington as opposed to the smaller house in snobby Bridlewood (actually, given how snobby even Wellington is, I know we made the right choice). Bridlewood Elementary's PTA dues are three times what our PTA dues are. Our PTA offers constant programming, teacher grants, and even subsidizes class parties, so I can't imagine what their PTA offers that ours doesn't--maybe everyone gets a free pony or something.

Anyway, the Bridlewood sale is huge. Now, I don't actually go and shop because there are so many cars and pickups and flatbeds driving through the community at huge rates of speed that it is just downright dangerous. Plus, I don't need any more junk in my house. But it is a good opportunity to divert some traffic away from the sale and to our house.

I took all the really nice kids clothes that were left over from the spring Divine Consign sale to Once Upon a Child and got $59, then took my nice adult stuff (dressy clothes mostly) to a women's consignment shop, where they will be for 90 days. Fortunately I have now found one in the area (I used to live near one in Dallas). I should make a few bucks from this venture as well, maybe even about $200 or more since I did take 70 pieces (including jewelry). She takes 60% (ouch!) but it's better than I can get at a garage sale. Seriously.

So at our garage sale we had mostly men's casual clothes, a few ladies items that were too shabby for the consignment store, a few kids items that were too shabby for the consignment store, a few purses and accessories and old perfumes and bath products. I got my husband to sell some of his extra tools, drills and so forth, and we had a few housewares but not a lot since I didn't get through the whole kitchen in time.

We made $202 although we had a $4 item stolen and almost lost a brand new copy of High School Musical Extended Edition (duplicate) when a kid tried to run it to the car while I was heavily discounting the kids clothes his mom was buying (selling Gymboree for .50 to $1.00 really frosts me even when I know it's damaged!) We also had the city come through and take down three of our six signs, two of which belonged to a friend, and with it two of our candle lantern stakes were lost (which we reluctantly put on some signs at 2 am when we realized we didn't have anything to stake the signs down with).

But that is making $202 the HARD way, people. I told my husband, next time I will just try prostitution. It's not as much work and it's over faster. And I don't think I would have to haggle as much.

I priced everything at twice what I wanted and I still was amazed at the nerve of some people. I finally let some witch give me $5 for our sandbox turtle, because it was pretty beaten up and starting to crack, and I didn't want to haul it to consignment so I could get $7. But it still hacks me off. That's the Scot in me--I want to sell everything for top dollar. I will spend $50 for something I dont' need, but when I go to sell it I want $45. This is why I have so much crap in my house--because if I can't sell it for what it's worth, I don't want to sell it.

I don't mind when people are poor and want a good deal, but it irritates me when people are taking advantage of me, rich or poor. And that is the problem with garage sales around here--people take advantage. You know, I wouldn't be doing it if I couldn't use the cash, folks. I could be walking the dog and enjoying the beautiful weather, or at my crop that I didn't make it to until 2 pm. Spent too much at Gulf Wars. Need money for Scarborough Faire season. Don't have any other time to do a garage sale this spring.

My friend Lisa and I are going to try to do ANOTHER sale this Good Friday. Her kids were sick last week so she couldn't do it. The kids are off school this Friday but Robert has to work (although he will probably do so from home). In fact, he's on call, which I hope does not blow up in our faces since it's Easter Weekend and we also have Elfsea Defender and the Scarborough Faire dinner on Sunday afternoon. I had hoped to take the kids to the Arboretum but it's always so crowded on Good Friday (unless it rains, of course).

Besides, Lisa has an ebay store and she is really good at the retailing thing, so I want to see how she does a Garage Sale. Maybe I can pick up some pointers.

OK, have to run. The nurse just called. Amelia vomited at school so now she has to come home. It's a good thing I don't have a real job.

Pleasant Valley Mom (dreading going to school--did not shower yet)