Recently our homeowner’s association put on a semi-annual community-wide yard sale, and we decided to partake. Basically, take all of our stuff (okay I cannot keep calling it stuff, this would be a disservice to stuff everywhere), all of our junk we think we can sell, place it in the front yard, and try to sell it.
The HOA does all the advertising. They place ads in the papers, online, and signs all around the community. We are in charge of the rest. Placing stuff outside, price tagging, and then watching the stuff until the peddlers come, and boy do they come.
Here is my recount, albeit a little embellished, of one of those exchanges.
Peddler: How Much?Me: $5Peddler: Will you take $4?Me: Yes, but that is it.Peddler: How about $3?Me: Okay, but you are killing me here.Peddler: I’m just not sure yet, maybe for a $1.50.Me: Dang it, I do not have change for you, how about $2?Peddler: $1Me: (sulking) you are getting a steal, but what the hell it was junk anyway.
I think you get the point. It was a long 6 hours. Judy handled most of the transactions for which I am thankful. Blake and Brayden ran a “Cookies, Brownies and Drink Station.” They made what they like to call big money so they were happy. Most of the time they were playing with the very toys they had decided the day before they were going to sell. Go figure.
We have had several of these community yard sales in the past, but we just never felt we had enough stuff to make the effort worth it. This time, however, we went all in. We sold quite a few baby items, an old coffee table (could not believe it sold for actual money), and a couch we gave away for free. In the end, we made money, freed up some space in the house, and learned the art of non-negotiation.
What are we going to do with the money you ask? Buy more stuff (junk) of course.