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!

The Night Before Garage Sale Madness!

It's 11:00pm the night before my big Garage Sale. I've decided to follow the many experts who suggest having a garage sale as one of the many ways to earn some quick extra cash. I'll be discussing some tips for a successful garage sale in my next post...as well as some other ideas to make some extra money...so stay tuned!

I must say, I put in ALOT of work for this garage sale, but it felt great to clean out all the closets and free up some storage space! I'm exhausted...and the garage sale hasn't even started yet! Let's hope it's a success!

Having Trouble Sleeping??

When you’re out of work with no definite job possibilities and a climbing stack of bills on your desk, how do you shut off your mind and get some sleep without resorting to chemical dependence?

Some of you lucky people don’t have this problem. You fall asleep the moment your head hits the pillow and wake up rested and refreshed 8 hours later…regardless of what’s going on in your life.

Meanwhile, the rest of us lie in bed and stare up at the ceiling on a nightly basis as we worry about everything from the climbing unemployment rate to the growing hole in the ozone layer.

Sometimes, it seems like the only solution (at least, according to me) is to pop a pill. And, while it might work right now, it’s not really a long-term solution.

Here’s what the experts suggest:

1. Write your worries down on paper so they won’t keep floating around in your head.
Keep a journal or a pad of paper by your bedside to record your thoughts before bed. Once they’re written down, put them away in a drawer. Your worries won’t go away forever, but now you can free up some space in your head for nice, relaxing thoughts. (I’m going to try this tonight!)

2. Pay attention to what you’re drinking! Stop drinking caffeine after 2:00pm. A glass of wine might be relaxing in the evening (and who doesn't like wine?), but limit your alcohol intake to one or two glasses at the most. (unless you'd rather just pass out drunk on the couch and forget all this sleepless talk!)

3. Exercise regularly: Regular exercise reduces the overall amount of stress in your life. It can also help alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression. Some feel it’s best to exercise early in the day, while others prefer late afternoon. Most seem to agree, though, that you shouldn’t exercise after 8:00pm.

4. Concentrate on your breathing to quiet your overactive thought process. Focusing only on your breath will help you to shut out the outside world and keep you in the present moment. (that’s a little easier said than done).

5. Save stressful activities like bill-paying and job searching for earlier in the day. (Okay, so I’ll only argue with my family in the morning.)

6. Keep to a Routine: each night, get into bed a half-hour before you turn out the lights, and read a calming book or listen to soothing music. Don’t watch TV (especially the evening news) and don’t check your emails because they tend to be stimulating, not relaxing. Your body will eventually acclimate to this routine and start to know when it’s time to go to sleep.

7. Aromatherapy – some feel that breathing in the scent of lavender can induce relaxation and even sleep. I suggest putting some fresh lavender in a bowl by your bed instead of spraying lavender oil on your pillow case. (Why add to your worries by staining a perfectly good set of sheets?)

8. Acupuncture. While not necessarily an immediate fix, many people swear by this healing method. Small thin needles are put into the skin at various points to stimulate nerve transmitters that produce sleep-inducing hormones like serotonin. Unfortunately, it might take some time before you notice an improvement. (and the needle-thing might freak you out a little).

If you still continue to have problems, it might be a good idea to see your doctor or schedule time with a therapist.

I’m really not sure what the best way is to shut off your mind. I suppose, at the end of the day, whatever ends up working for you is the best way. Good luck and sweet dreams!

Interviewing is Like Dating (...and I wasn't very good at dating!)

Maybe this has happened to you.

After sending out thousands of resumes, you finally get an interview. You do everything right: you wear your perfect interview suit, you arrive no more than 10 minutes early, you engage in light, friendly banter with the receptionist and then you embark on your interview with your potential employer. You do exactly what the experts say to do for a successful interview…and you think its working. You think the interview went great!

Then, your interviewer says those infamous words “We’ll call you when we make our decision.” Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

You start staring at the phone, hoping they’ll call. You obsessively go over the whole interview again and again in your head. You let a few days pass, and then you call them to follow up. “We haven’t made our decision yet. We’re still interviewing”. What's that about???

I thought I was through with dating when I got married. I guess I was wrong.

All those same first-date feelings of rejection and acceptance come back when you’re interviewing for jobs. “I hope they liked me. When will they call? If they liked me, why do they still need to interview other people? I hope I didn’t say too much on the first interview! I hope I said enough! blah, blah, blah..."

Blind interview/dating is even worse! You think you’re interviewing at a hip, new start-up company (they sounded so great on the phone!), but you walk in to a dumpy 5x5 office and a “touchy-feely” interviewer who smells like cigars and Redbull! As you slam the door behind you in disgust, you say to yourself “all the good jobs are already taken!" (still see the comparisons?)
So, what do you do?

Well, when I was dating, my mom would say “Don’t give up! Just be yourself! For every pot, there is a lid!” But, how many job ads do I need to apply to before the “right pot” comes along. Not too many more, I hope!

Maybe, that’s why the experts say the best way to find a job is by networking with your friends. Tell everyone you know (subtly, or not so subtly) that you are looking for work! Eventually, someone you know may know someone who needs to hire someone just like you! And, we all know, the best dates come from personal referrals!

Battling Those Bills!

It used to be exciting to get your mail. You would find letters or a package inside, or postcards from friends in faraway places. You’d get bills, too. But it was fine because you were working.

When you’re unemployed, getting the mail just makes you nervous! All of the sudden, you start worrying about why your water and power bill is so high, and how many minutes you have left this month on your cell phone plan. You start paying more attention to your minimum monthly payments and due dates. You might get a postcard from a friend, but you may get depressed that they are “there” and you are not.

It’s never fun to pay your bills. But, don’t run away! The bills must eventually be paid!

Personally, I think the three most important bills to pay when you’re unemployed are your phone bill, your internet bill and your cable/satellite bill. (To save money on these bills, look into "bundling" them; if you use the same service for all three, you could get a better monthly rate!) You must have a phone…how else will you hear from potential employers. The internet is your connection to the outside world…and also, to this blog. Yes, you can get free internet service at your local public library or pay by the minute at Kinko’s, but it’s inconvenient…and you can’t wear your p.j’s there. Lastly, because you’re home a lot more, your T.V becomes one of your primary sources of entertainment and escapism while not working. Don’t give that up!

Here are a couple of reminders to help manage your bills: 1- you may want to try to cancel (or lower) your automatic bill payments you’ve set up with your bank. You’re out of work right now and need to be more in control of what goes in and what goes out of your bank account. 2- if you’re paying off student loans, call your loan companies to see about deferring your payments until you start working again.

These are some free websites that might also be helpful:

AnnualCreditReport.com. This is the site where you can get your legally mandated free credit reports -- you get one per year each from Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Yes, it’s easier to live in denial and pretend everything’s great, but it’s necessary to monitor and protect your credit history.

Creditcards.com: This site lets you search for the best credit card offers. If your credit card companies refuse to lower, or start to raise your interest rates, you have every right to shop around for a better deal! You can compare different credit cards based on their rewards programs, interest rates, mileage programs, cash-back opportunities and more!

Billshrink.com: this site claims to get you a better deal on your credit card and phone plans. They ask you questions about your bills and then analyze your situation and present you with competitive offers. They also can tell you what gas station in your area charges the lowest price for gas for your particular car.

Budgetpulse.com: this site helps you easily track your spending and take charge of your finances. They eliminate the fear of identity theft because they don’t sync your account information with banks. You decide what information to input.

There’s much more free information on the web to help you manage your bills during these tough times. If you’re reading this and know of other good sites, feel free to post a comment!

No One Calling? Have Some Food!

When feeling stressed out, uptight and rejected, thank goodness we can turn to comfort food to lift our spirits and make us feel happy, safe and secure again…if only for a little while. Ah…comfort food. Just the name metaphorically provides that warm bear hug that we all need when feeling a little low. Now, I must state the obvious….food will not permanently solve your money troubles or find you a job. It does not take the place of what “you’re really hungry for”. However, a slice of warm cinnamon toast can momentarily make you forget why you have no job offers yet.
So, what to eat? Well, answers will vary. Remember, the unemployed need to be financially cautious, so an expensive meal at a 5 star restaurant is not an option. Instead, think back to your childhood… what foods made you feel happy? Here’s a partial list of mine:

1. Macaroni and Cheese. My mother makes the best cheesy, crispy Mac-n-cheese ever! Other options: most supermarkets make really tasty, ready-made versions. Koo Koo Roo, El Pollo Loco and other fast food places offer very affordable sides of this cheesy dish! And, don’t forget Kraft Macaroni and Cheese in the box that costs next to nothing! Remember???

2. Cupcakes – I blame my friend, Laura, for reacquainting me with these delicious treats. Thankfully, their recent popularity has spawned dozens of cupcake shops all across the country! At around $2.50 – $3.50 each, they are a relatively inexpensive way to recall a fond childhood birthday memory. Red Velvet? Vanilla? Chocolate? Everyone has a favorite! Those who are watching their weight can opt for the mini versions…but be careful! It’s hard to only eat one!

3. A slice of pie – whether it’s a la mode or with a dollop of whipped cream…anyway you slice it (get it?) it’s delicious! It’s fun to bake a pie, and it takes your mind off your troubles. if you don't want to bake it from scratch, you can’t beat Marie Callenders$6.99 for a Whole Pie” deal!

4. A Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. Smooth or Creamy. Whole wheat bread or sourdough. Toasted or with the crusts cut off. Grape or strawberry jam. It’s all good.

















5. Summer Fruit. If carbs and fatty foods are off-limits and you’re watching your sugar intake, a really good piece of fruit will work in a pinch! A cold, crisp apple or a juicy, sweet peach…even a chilled slice of watermelon could trigger some nice memories of summertime’s past.

Spaghetti, chicken soup, mashed potatoes, grilled cheese, chocolate-chip cookies, meatloaf, chocolate pudding (well, anything chocolate), ice-cream, Jell-O…well, you get the point. Whether they’re home-made or “already-made”, organic or processed, fresh or frozen…nothing eases the pain of resume rejection like some comfort food!

Where Does The Time Go??

“Gee, what do you do with your days now that you’re not working?” You will most definitely be asked this question…usually by someone who is not unemployed.

You might not be worried about the answer to this question if you’re part of the “fun-employed”. An article in the LA Times featured these 20-30 year olds who have been recently laid off but, instead of looking for a job right away, they are enjoying their time off. They are supported by “severance, savings, unemployment checks or their parents” and “do not spend their days poring over job listings. They travel on the cheap for weeks. They head back to school or volunteer at the neighborhood soup kitchen. And at least till the bank account dries up, they're content living for today.”

Sounds great…but what if you’re one of the “stun-employed”? What if you were so stunned when you were downsized that you are now frozen in fear and don’t know what to do next? If you didn’t get a severance or don’t have a savings, it might be hard to enjoy yourself while you sit stressing about the economy and your growing pile of bills…and why no one seems to be calling you for a job interview!

To you, I say: make a plan! Yes, you’ve got to look for work. But, after about 2 weeks of staring at your computer and looking for work in this tough job market all day every day, you will lose sight of the world around you…or make you feel like blowing your head off!

You can structure your days to keep yourself busy. Set aside a few hours every morning for your job search. Use that time wisely by looking for jobs, making networking phone calls and sending out your resume. Then, stop and do something else.

Get up and clean one room of your house each day. Go outside and take a walk! Exercise, go to the gym, run errands or go meet a friend for coffee. Take a class and learn something new. Be social and remain active!

Make a list of activities that you never had the time to do, and do them. Put yourself on a schedule and really try to stick with it! You never know...you just might find new resources for your job search! And, at the very least, it could take your mind off some of your troubles for an hour or two!

When you’ve got things to do, the time really does fly by!