Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Seven Days of Purging Makes One Weak

Wooohoooo!


The Great Garage Sale Adventure is
finally
a thing of the past.
 I’m here to report that it was a moderate success.

I had settled on this past Saturday because they say the first of the month is the best time to have a yard sale. Lucky us… our oppressive drought was predicted to last well through the weekend so we took the plunge.

We ransacked both attics and every other conceivable innie paradise and brought anything we even remotely considered selling out to the garage. 


Did I mention that daily temperatures reached 100 degrees all week? 
They did. 


Which make this a hot mess...


Sorry, that's the best picture I have. I forgot to factor in lens condensation from the sweat balls on the end of my nose.

And do you know what we discovered? Junk. Seriously, there were very few big ticket items.  To be honest, I would have tossed in the towel right then and there had I not been using it for a sweat rag.    

In addition, I raised a tenacious android for a daughter who wouldn’t let me quit. She got the bossy gene from her grandmother and an organizing clean-freak gene from her aunt.  The good news is that bossy organized androids get things done.  

And we did.

She put that schmancy college education to use and set up a spread sheet upon which to log our schtuff, which she called inventory. 

We went through every single piece of inventory. A few items snuck back up the attic stairs.



Others took a long overdue ride to the dumpster. 



Most of it was listed and assigned a price. Stuff too goofy to deserve a price was boxed together.  

Baggies were filled with small stuff. 


Other stuff was given both an individual price and a box bargain price.


While I listed, they piled like-priced items together in various corners of the garage. Then we they she made sure it was all clean and complete with necessary parts. Then we tagged it.

Then, we divided it again, 
this time with similar items for display.


On Friday afternoon, we set out all our tables.  That’s just about when it started to thunder.

That thunder rolled for most of the evening, and since we’re in the middle of a serious drought, I would have gladly taken the rain.  Unfortunately, it was just another false alarm. We never got a drop. All we got was a mutant strain of hair spray resistant Georgia humidity.


We got up at 4:00 to set out our inventory.


I had planned to get a better shot, but early birds arrived a full hour early. I have an opinion about that, but I'll have to save it for another yakabout.

And we sold...


And a whole lot more.

Someone made us an offer on that sideboard
 that I've tried and failed to fix all year. It doesn't  have doors and hardware, but off it went.

I think I'm glad...


Before the end, we were close to empty...



I had followed advice and had a plan for the leftovers. I'm glad that I did because the free loaders came by after it was over. I have an opinion about that too, but I'll save it for the same yakabout where I cover the early birds...


In the end, we made exactly $333.00.  
$37.00 of which went to advertising.

Considering the hours worked multiplied by four workers from beginning to end, I figure that we would have made more money by hiring ourselves out as onion pickers.


I'm still calling it a moderate success since we did get rid of all that inventory.  For those of you cheering me on in the hoarding rehabilitation, I'm proud to report that I didn't bring a single thing back in the house.

I brought several...
Baby steps, folks, baby steps.

*****
Linking this with the other anti-procrastinators @ New Nostalgia

29 comments:

Ann said...

The early birds and "freeloaders" are TWO of the reasons I HATE having yard sales. The other is the "haggler" when the item is alway as low as it can be - any lower and we'd donate it and take it as a tax deduction!

But over $300 is a good sale. Way to go Debbie! Now you can help me (emotionally) when DD#1 comes home for several months and insists to help with a yard sale here ...... bleh.

Cheers!

Sharon said...

Oh my goodness - again, I'm laughing out loud. And a bit envious that you actually took the plunge on this. You might remember me telling (moaning, whining, complaining) about cleaning out my garage. Well, about 1/3 of my garage is full of stuff for the garage sale that hasn't happened yet...Can you loan out your android??

It's got to happen one of these days soon - because when I looked at all your photos, it made my little *hoarder hands* very, very itchy. Wanted to browse and buy. AND...as we all know (and just in case I forget, Mr. Neatnik Husband reminds me all the time) we can't bring more schtuff in unless we get rid of some of the old schtuff. (He's so strict!)

I'm calling your sale a rousing success - and you made quite a bit of $$$! By the way, even if onion pickers make more money, they end up smelling bad. Wait a minute - come to think of it, that probably was a problem with the garage sellers, too. (Except we women don't sweat, we glow...)

Love your baby steps - I haven't even started crawling yet... :)

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

I am sitting here laughing out loud... again... at your descriptive post! Everything you said seems to be just what my experience is. Yep, make me an onion picker too, especially if they grow onions in the shade. The last attempt at a grage sale was at our kids house, and it was every bit of 100 degrees. I seem to remember GIVING stuff away... it's for sure I didn't make enough to consider it a success!

I think your writing is gifted!

xo

Chatty Crone said...

You are so funny. I call it a sucess - didn't look like you had that much left. For me - I had a lot left - gave it to Good Will and got a tax write off!

Ms.Daisy said...

Debbie,
Another laugh out loud post. You have that delicious sense of humor that just tickles me. The last garage sale I was involved with was my neighbor's who asked me to bring over whatever I wanted and set it out with hers. We sat and enjoyed the morning and at the end I sold a $1.00 item. I said that day that was going to be the end of garage sales for me. Boxing it up and donating it to Goodwill and taking a tax deduction will be the way I roll from now on.

~Jean

Anonymous said...

I would like to know, exactly which Grandmother is BOSSY?

elizabeth said...

And that, my friend, is why I haul it all off to Goodwill or Salvation Army and use the tax write-off! :)

Lynn said...

Good for you Debbie, $300 for stuff taking up space in the attic, that's great! And look at all the time you spent with the girls:@)

Canadagirl said...

WOW!!! You did so well. I am proud of you and you probably got more satisfaction with having less in your home to clutter it up. I REALLY need to do the same except I won't do a yard sale I will just give it to the second hand store. [o= I hope to be purging soon. You are a inspiration.

Blessings and ((HUGS))

Anonymous said...

Debbie,
That was a big deal! But purging is wonderful. I enjoy attending a garage sale. I don't come before it starts, but I'm not above shopping the curb when it's over!
(I shopped the curb on trash day this week and picked up a little treasure. That was not post-garage sale. Just regular trash. But I digress.)
Great job by all!
Carol

southerninspiration said...

Good for you, girl....$333, not bad for cleaning out closets and having it hauled off!! Done, and I bet you're glad!
suzanne

Barbara F. said...

Debbie I really enjoyed your post today. I'd say it was a success. I like the idea of a spreadsheet for the inventory. Is that a bread machine I see in one of the photos? I always thought I wanted one. :-) xo,

Sue said...

Sooo funny Debbie, and I am looking forward to reading the posts about the early yarders, and those free loaders.
You had some good stuff there, and I am sorry you live so far away or i might have been one of those early birds. ~LOL~So glad you had some help, I don't do them hardly ever cause all my help moved away.
As always enjoyed my visit.
Hugs,
Sue

no spring chicken said...

You're still making me laugh out loud! When that stops I may just stop visiting. That oughta scare ya...

I thought about the money vs work ratio and I'm sure that onion picking in 100 degree heat with mutant humidity deserves more pay! Just sayin.

The Dragonfly On Iron Gate said...

Laughing and Laughing.. omgosh.. we need to do this. Only I can't do the yard sale thing again. I'm going to put it all together and send it to the vets. ONION PICKERS !!! too funny !! Hugs !! Stop by sometime... Jules ♥

Sharlotte said...

Hey Debbie! Onion pickers?!!! TOO FUNNY!!!
I love reading your posts...always a hoot!
Seriously, great job on your sale, I'd say it was a success and yes, you have less things in your home! I need to clear out things as well, {do you hire out?} :)

Sharlotte

Maryann said...

I loved this post. I think I need to borrow that daughter of yours. You made over three hundred dollars? sounds like a great success to me.

Tami said...

So happy for your success. I hope you enjoy the fruits of your hard work. Wish we lived close by-I would have helped. I so love a good garage sale. It is a great place to meet new people and people watch. Not sure if I would want to do the onion picking though:)
Now I eagerly await your post about the early birds and freeloaders-I'm sure I'll need my depends for that one!:)

Mevely317 said...

GREAT post, Debbie! I'd better clip this for those times I consider holding a garage sale -- all of the DH's stuff, that is. I LOVE "my" stuff (tee-hee).
Happy to see the little "dad" cup was saved. I'll bet there's a sweet story behind it?

Jen said...

Onion pickers..LOL! Yard sales are hard work! I used to enjoy having them and make a few dollar, but I haven't had one in years. I donate 4 times per year now. Thanks for stopping by my blog :) I am your newest Google friend.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh you have the garage sale gene...we do not and after two complete days we hardly sold anything...so I am not having them come pick up items...furniture etc and we were cheap.

Oh the secret you have is your daughter...please may I borrow her through the end of the month for my move....all my boys are just well...not big helpers, just muscles!

Yea, yea for you...now you can feel so clean and organized for summer...enjoy!!!

Joan Hall said...

Baby steps....I just need to take a baby step to begin purging. It's amazing what all we can collect.

I here you on the drought sister - it's bad here in Texas. We did get some rain on Sunday, not enough, but grateful nonetheless. Of course it DID raise the humidity levels. :)

Blessings,
Joan

Denise said...

Well it looks like your hot mess made you some big garage sale bucks! Since I suppose I'm responsible for the organizing clean-freak part of your android, WAY TO GO MD! Those daughters of ours are certainly wonderful, aren't they?

The best description (aside from your post about the traveling innie) was the mutant strain of hair spray resistant Georgia humidity! LOL you hit the nail on the head!

And alas, say it isn't so. The Duchess is bossy? I can NOT even imagine it...

Shug said...

One thing that can really make me cranky is having a garage sale....We all need to do this from time to time, but with Texas weather, there really is not a definite (GOOD) time to have one....Our daughter and her husband just purchased a new home and she will be having a HUGE Sale in about two weeks...I'm talking about a housefull of stuff that is going to be sold..My advise to her was to get moved and then set the garage sale up in the house so she can stay cool..If she chooses not to take my advise, then I am going to plan to be out of town!!ha
Glad you did well on your sale...Now, go REST..
Shug

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

I job WELL DONE! You "CAN" donate it to charity and they will give you a certificate of what you want for it AND then you can deduct that on your income taxes. You do make out MUCH BETTER...""BUT""... I SO MUCH MORE enjoyed reading your little adventure. AND just think of the bonding you did with your daughter! Thank you for sharing the "FUN" with us!
Big Hugs to you,
Donna

Beth said...

Oh, too funny! Thanks for sharing. I have done a garage sale every year for almost 20 years. Every year, we say we aren't going to do another one. I suspect we won't this year because I am working, but who knows! I started off making "inventory" lists but it is so much work. Maybe we started doing it for money but we have learned there is almost no money in it since it is so much work. Still, we love getting rid of stuff we don't need any more, and people love to come get it. We had opinions about early birds in the beginning. Now we just make them help us get the stuff out.

Linda W said...

I'm still laughing! Onion pickers? LOL

Loved seeing that "not a single thing...", alas "several". Yep, baby steps, my friend. I'm laughing as I clean closets and "organize". Reading this has made my project at hand more enjoyable as I keep thinking 'onion pickjers'...

LOL

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Debbie, I'm happy to see that your Bossy Android is putting her education to good use! I'm also happy that you've got your garage sale beHIND you (say that with a little sing-song in your voice!) because I wouldn't wish a garage sale on my worst enemy -- not that I have any. I suspect you and I agree 100% on the early birds and freeloaders. Can you just imagine the yakking that would go on if we got started on those subjects?!!!

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

LOL! I don't like having garage sales. I let my daughter and husband handle the money transaction and I just wander around schmoozing with the people. It's a fun way to see neighbors you only see to wave to. For many years we just donated our stuff figuring that it was actually worth more that way than selling the stuff!

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