So, you were laid off. Let Go. Released. Downsized. Cut loose. Anyway you say it, it means the same thing. You are out of a job. And, you join the millions across America who are unemployed as well.

Maybe you were given some notice, a nice farewell party and a generous severance package. Maybe, you were surprised on a Friday with a pink slip and an empty box (or a paper bag) to pack up your things. Or, perhaps you just discovered that your key no longer worked in your office door lock.

Now what??!!

Well, of course, you look for another job. You get your resume together, you dust off your interview suit, you join all the Social Networking sites and you start surfing Monster, Careerbuilder and wheresmynextjob.com with the intention of finding a new job FAST!

But, what happens when you don’t get hired the week after you just got fired???

What do you do with all this new-found time?

Well, while you're searching for your next job, here's some ideas, reminders, random thoughts etc. from someone who's discovering there is life after her layoff.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

334 Reasons Why My Garage Sale Was A Success!


It's now the day after my "Garage Sale Extravaganza". My back aches, my feet sting and my lips are really chapped. Was it worth it? You bet!

The experts were right. Garage sales are a great way to put some extra dollars in your pocket. And, in my case, a great way to make $334.00 extra dollars (to be exact)! What a great feeling it is to have a huge wad of bills in your wallet...even though most of them are one-dollar bills! Now I know how a stripper must feel the day after a gig!

Would I have one every weekend? Absolutely not! A lot more work went into this sale than I realized. But, you have to put work into it to make it special! Here are some tips to keep in mind when you have yours:

1- Organize! Organize! Organize! Separate and organize everything at least a few days BEFORE the sale day. Put aside the items you don't think will sell and either donate them to charity or throw them in the trash. DON"T put them back into your closet or garage! After that, organize the sale items into categories: kitchen stuff, electronics, knick-knacks, mens clothes, womens clothes, kids' stuff etc. This way, you won't be left scrambling to set things up the morning of your sale.



2- Advertise it properly. List your sale on Craigslist and other free classified listing sites like www.oodle.com and www.gsalr.com. Choose brightly colored (we used neon) signs and post them around your neighborhood the day before your sale. And, make sure people can read your handwriting!

3- If you're having your sale in the summertime, remember your sunscreen and stay hydrated! It was 95 degrees the other day and we were outside in the sun from 730am-2pm. Needless to say, we drank the whole case of bottled water we bought for the day!

4- People love to pick through all your jewelry hoping to find a rare gem hidden among the junk. Make sure your jewelry and other small items are kept close to you so no one can steal them!

5- Beware of the neighborhood "constant-talkers" - those chatty neighbors who stroll by, check out everything you're selling (and I mean absolutely everything!), talk your ear off for 45 minutes and still buy nothing.

6- To price, or not to price? Well, it depends on the items you're selling. Everyone tries to haggle for the cheapest price - who doesn't want a great deal? There's a fine line between standing firm on a price and moving your stuff off your property! Trust me...you'll start reducing your prices as the day progresses. It's okay to sell that George Foreman Grill you haven't touched in years for $3.50. You're not using it! Remember, you got into this to make some extra cash and free up some storage space. Don't lose sight of the task at hand!



7- Lastly, if you have some big-ticket items or collectibles you want to sell, you may get more money for them if you sell them on EBay or list them separately on Craigslist. Research comparable items, post clear pictures and let the bidding begin! (it's actually quite exciting!)

I'm still a little tired from yesterday, so I'll share some other ideas for making extra money with you in my next post. Happy selling!


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2 comments:

  1. BionicDaveJuly 14, 2009 at 10:40 PM

    $334!!! Selling nickel paperbacks and 3-dollar grills? Where did the bulk of your profit come from, he said enviously and curiously...

    But good job. You have inspired me. Now I want to sell my unused junk!

    ReplyDelete
  2. DUTAJuly 15, 2009 at 2:58 AM

    I'm glad your garage sale was a success. It looks you're already an expert on that and could really offer sound advice to others.

    ReplyDelete

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