Frugal Friday

Last week's post was about a way to SAVE money and this weeks is about an easy way to MAKE money!

I'm sure most of you have a garage, attic, closet, etc. full of things you don't necessarily need. It's time to have a yard sale! The average profit from a weekend-long yard sale is $600!

Here are some ways to boost your sales:

1.) Get with some friends and have a multi-family sale. It reduces the amount of competition out there and most people get really excited to go to large sales with duplicate items. Also, it reduces the amount of work YOU have to do if you can split it up with other people involved.

2.) Make it a theme based sale. If you have a majority of baby stuff or Christmas stuff, books, kitchen stuff then write that on the sign. People who are looking for that specific item will stop by and it will attract more people.

3.) Throw in freebies! Go and buy a pack of those white powdered doughnuts or make some lemonade and hand them out after they make a purchase. Or take those little toys you are always stepping on and tripping over around the house and put them in a box and let children take them for FREE.  Parents will appreciate the fact that their child is entertained while they shop. It's another incentive to make them buy.

4.) Use ORANGE signs with bold black letters. Orange automatically shows vibrancy and cheer and will get more looks on the side of the road. And if your wording isn't visible most people won't turn around to read it.

5.) Keep an extension cord close by. If you're selling anything electronic, buyers will probably want to test it first and if they have to wait for you to find a plug they might walk away.

6.) The best times, especially this time of year, are on Friday and Saturday mornings and starting early before it gets too hot outside.

7.) Pretty obvious...but make sure to put the bigger and better items out front for those that drive by trying to decide if they actually want to stop.

So start trying to gather stuff a little at a time and see if you can con some friends into doing it with you. You can also try to get your whole neighborhood involved. That way each person can set up their own garage and driveway with their own items. And a neighborhood yard sale is sure to swoop in lots of people.

Who wouldn't want to make over $500 and get rid of clutter around your house?