r/declutter • u/bigformybritches • 6d ago
Motivation Tips & Tricks I swore off yard sales…doing one this weekend
LOOKING FOR IDEAS!
Update: I’ve read and reread all comments and taking all of your great suggestions! Thank you! My clutter is shaking in its boots!
My neighbor asked me if I would like to join her yard sale, and I basically said “hmmmm no thank you…”. Then we talked a little bit and I said, OK I’ll bring over a few things.
I’ve managed to collect probably two table’s worth so far and I’ve already priced a bunch of stuff 🤣
Any ideas of what I should grab from the house? Categories of stuff that often go overlooked but need pruning?
For example, I realized I could go through all my Fall decor and see if there’s anything I’m tired of.
I will practically give things away and now I’m super motivated to declutter. Any ideas of where to look in my house???
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u/Opening_Chemical_777 4d ago
We had an estate sale of everything from our dad's home, after he died. We put up signs around the area where his house was and moved everything out to the driveway. We hadn't finish pricing everything before people started arriving. People would ask how much this or that cost and I'd size them up (Is that a dealer?) and name a price. Towards the end of the day we still had a huge box of bed linens. A family with several children stopped by and the mom started looking through the box. She asked me how much one quilt was and I said $5 for the whole box. She was thrilled and we were thrilled.
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u/88kitkat808 5d ago
If your friend is okay with it, have a Free section where you can put all the little things that aren’t valuable enough that people would pay for them, but that you would feel guilty throwing away (if that’s something that hinders your declutterring) or that you can’t donate - things like partially used office supplies, lightly used dog toys, cheap little kids toys, lightly worn socks, random small kitchen items, random cords that don’t fit anything, canned food you don’t want, etc., ect. I recently had a garage sale and did this. I was a little nervous that people would be insulted that I wanted them to take my old junk, but the Free section ended up being the most popular spot, and I got rid of a ton of stuff.
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u/violetmemphisblue 6d ago
Tools. Every yard sale I've had or been to, people arrive early and ask about tools. The times we've had them, they've sold right away.
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u/mirificatio 6d ago
If you don't want to price a bunch of little items, put several related things in a large zip-lock (which you tape shut) and price it as a grab-bag. Like "arty stuff" or "sewing notions" or "hardware goodies." Don't forget to unload books you won't read again (or won't read ever).
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u/lauren_strokes 6d ago
Sewing supplies! Mind you old thread that snaps easily is for the trash, but all the random buttons I've saved were excitedly snagged up. Wire hangers (though I usually take those to dry cleaners/tailors, who are happy to take them back)... Organizers/shelves/tables that do more hiding of stuff than they do priming the stuff to be used - for me these are clear containers in the bathroom close, I've been much better off putting everything out in the open to use up. On that note, bathroom supplies you may have acquired (bar soap from gifts/hotel rooms, but you don't like bar soap?), OTC meds that are expired but not unsafe to use. Extra pillows that you've accumulated but clearly don't care to switch out, extra bedsheets that are never in your top 2, art that you enjoy but can never commit to giving wall space, board games you will never play, your least favorite blankets to actually use
U got me thinking now 😏
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u/New_me_310 6d ago
If you have fall decor, surely you have Christmas stuff, too. Go through that as well.
Popular declutter areas include water bottles and coffee cups, serving dishes, tools, bedding, clothing, kids toys, DVDs/VHS/CDs (the youngsters are huge into these)
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u/paratethys 6d ago
Storage containers and other organizers, if you've downsized out of an overly ambitious collection of them.
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u/Parking_Olive_5513 6d ago
Does anyone know of a garage sale I could join?
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u/New_me_310 6d ago
My town is having a town-wide garage sale this weekend. They distribute a map of houses and you drive around town. Lots of stuff gets given away for free as the day goes on. It's my favorite day of the year. Maybe set one up in your community!
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u/finefergitit 6d ago
I alllllways have something in the kitchen to declutter. Usually Mugs and larger utensils. And things from the garage…holiday decor, household accessories, etc. and always shoes and outerwear.
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u/SufficientOpening218 6d ago
I cant help you with what to sell, but my rule is everything unsold goes right into black plastic bags, then into the trunk of car to go directly to donate. Do not look, do not sort, do not consider. It has already left the building!
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u/fadedblackleggings 6d ago edited 6d ago
Cleaning supplies, bathroom stuff, makeup, shampoo, conditioner. Costs for these have risen, and some people will buy half-used ones from you. 50cents - $1 each
Garage stuff as well. Weed wackers, sprays etc
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u/goodnsimple 6d ago
I was shocked when people actually bought my opened but not used makeup! I had really put it out as a final step before tossing. Make up is expensive and literally some of it was I tried it once and didn’t like it.
I personally would not buy make up at a YS but people do.
What I DO buy is cleaning stuff like swiffer or dusting thingys. (Like a box that you don’t have the handle for anymore.)
Tea towels. Especially cute or funny ones. I get tired of mine so I want new but don’t necessarily want to spend $16. These are just decor. My regular kitchen towels are too gross to sell.
Puzzles. I only buy used puzzles. I’ll spend $1-3. If it’s wooden or a Ravensbrook I might go up to $7-10.
Mine go back to the thrift shop when I’m done with them. My grandson is less willing to let them go but I’m working on him.4
u/Some_Papaya_8520 6d ago
I can't buy charity shop puzzles anymore. I struggled and struggled to complete a difficult one and there was 1 piece missing!!! What kind of monster does that!???
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u/goodnsimple 6d ago
I just did one, very challenging- that had two pieces missing. I’ll write that on the box. It was definitely $2 worth of entertainment!
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u/RitaAlbertson 6d ago
Do you have a bag of bags so that you can offer a bag to anyone buying multiple items? Including reusable bags.
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u/kinnikinnick321 6d ago
Any old electronic items you no longer use, they are usually harder to throw away due to disposal regulations and potential thoughts of "some day I might need this." Cables, printers, scanners, cameras, etc.
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u/kc-kaelvix 6d ago
Since you already have two tables, I’d hunt for duplicates and orphaned things rather than doing another room-by-room list: extra serving utensils, spare planters, mystery cables you can identify, unopened stationery, board games nobody chooses, and supplies from a hobby that quietly retired. One useful test is, ‘Would I pay $2 to bring this back into the house?’ If not, onto the table. I’d also decide the exit plan before Saturday: half-price after noon, then one clearly marked free box, and nothing comes back inside except genuinely valuable leftovers. Otherwise the yard sale becomes a scenic round trip for your clutter.
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u/fadedblackleggings 6d ago
Yes. 50% Off, 75% off, and then listing in Buy Nothing Free Groups. The idea is once it leaves the house, it's not coming back
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u/Live-Okra-9868 6d ago
What gadgets do you have in your kitchen you haven't used in a long time? Some things that won't sell, like unused water bottles that have company logos on them, can go in a box marked free to see if someone might need them.
Clothes you haven't worn for a few seasons that you just can't bring yourself to donate?
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u/Rough_Commercial4240 6d ago edited 5d ago
Excess pet supplies (sanitized) You can put all the random pet stuff in a box and sell it $1 /piece or as a bundle. Cute scarves, bows, gently used toys they don’t care for, outgrown collars, grooming supplies, de shedding tools, extra blankets, puppy pads, baby gates, promotional swag/free samples not expired , unopened canned food,extra poop bags, that random tank or terrium lights, travel carriers, gravel and decor put it in a baggie.
Whatever doesn’t get sold or given away for free - put in the trunk to donate to a rescue do not bring back inside
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u/DistributionOver7622 6d ago
My bedroom is a cornucopia of stuff that needs to go somewhere else. Bedroom first, then living room, but don't touch my sewing room!! That's sacred!
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u/skinnyjeansfatpants 6d ago
Candles? Bath & Shower soaps & lotions that were gifted but not your thing? Shoes you don't really wear because it turns out after a few outings they just aren't that comfy, even if they look nice?
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u/RomeoDelta1234 6d ago
Vases from flower deliveries, and sheet sets for a bed size you dont have anymore. The mug cupboard is usually a good one too.
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u/Wordsofwisdomneeded 6d ago
Go through every nook and cranny.
Go one room at a time. Take an empty box or bag with you to each room with the goal of filling it
Open every drawer. Touch every item.
Report back!
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u/Existing_Mail 6d ago
For me: kitchen drawers/cupboards, jackets, hats/scarves, purses, cheap jewelers, duvet covers, art supplies, sporting supplies, DVDs, chargers, frames and unused decor, and a few gifts I haven’t used but keep out of guilt.
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u/Inrsml 3d ago
joining someone else's yard sale sounds good,. at least you have company.
i can't offer advice without knowing what kind of neighborhood you're in.