As Christmas nears, shoppers are out digging through store aisles in search of bargains. Give them a real bargain while making extra holiday money for yourself by having a before-Christmas garage sale.
While garage sales are typically a warm weather venture, December is the perfect time to prepare for the arrival of your new presents by clearing out the clutter. Have each member of your family go through their belongings to clear out unused items before adding more Christmas gift possessions to your home.
Preparing the Sale
Sort through items, separating them into containers designated for keeping or selling; have a trash bag on hand as well. Items that have been sitting around unused for at least two years are ideal items to sell.
Once the items have been sorted, mark prices on mailing labels and attach these stickers to your merchandise. To save time, place like items together in one box with a price on the box showing how much each item costs.
Put small miscellaneous items into Ziploc bags or small boxes and label them as “stocking stuffers” or put an assortment into brown paper bags and label them “grab bags” with a $1 tag.
Attracting Customers
Advertise your sale on Craigslist or in your local paper as a last-minute shopping extravaganza for unique bargains. Remember to offer bargains at your sale if you are promising them. Some grocery stores have bulletin boards where locals may also post sale information. If you live in a cold climate, hold the sale inside your home or a heated garage to attract customers.
Theme Sale
Since your goal is earning holiday money, give your sale a holiday theme. Dress up as elves and offer cookies or miniature candy canes to your shoppers with a purchase. Your children might also enjoy selling hot chocolate instead of lemonade.
Offer a minimally-priced gift-wrapping service for items purchased at your sale and play holiday music in the background. Handing out a number or raffle ticket with purchase designated for an hourly free prize drawing is also a festive way to set the mood of giving.
Consider offering a portion of your earnings to a charity such as Toys for Tots. While teaching children about giving is a year round lesson, Christmas is the perfect time to set an example when many children are anticipating receiving gifts.
If you find that having a before-Christmas sale will not fit into your holiday schedule, having an after holiday “Tired-Elf” themed sale is another excellent way to make up some of the money you spent on buying presents.
 |
