Feeling a bit squeezed by your debts? Now is the perfect time to take a look through the house and garage and get rid of those things you no longer want by having a yard sale.
Plan to have your sale on a Saturday after the 15th or 30th of the month. Many people have just received their paychecks and will have some money to spend on what you're selling. Just don't have your sale on a holiday weekend because they'll likely be out of town.
Start the sale at 7:00 a.m., but make sure you're ready by 6:30. If you're a night owl, this will sound terrible to you, but unfortunately, people who love to go to yard sales start out extra early, and if you want your stuff to get sold, you'll have to accommodate them.
Advertise your sale in the newspaper and on websites such as CraigsList. Do not put your phone number in the ad, or you will get phone calls instead of people coming by.
Another unfortunate truth about yard sales is that you will have to offer your items at a deep discount or they will not sell. This is true regardless of how new they are. Just remember that you really don't want these things anymore anyway, and whatever money you get from them will help you pay your bills.
You can price things with a discount for several, such as paperback books for 50 cents each or four for a dollar in order to entice buyers to take more with them.
It's helpful to have an extension cord plugged into an outlet so people can test any electronic items you're selling. And you should try to get the dust off of items before displaying them so they will look more appealing.
Many people stop by the ATM before they hit the yard sales, so they'll likely hand you a twenty for a one dollar item. Get some cash at the bank before the day of your sale, and make sure you have a lot of one dollar bills and small change available.
Little things can add up to become big things. Just like you've heard that some things can "nickel and dime" you to death, the opposite is also true. So remember that anything you do to help yourself earn some extra money, save money, and pay down your debts, no matter how small it may seem, it will add up to get you to your goal of getting out of debt.