I Finally Figured It Out!

I have been questioned over the years about my love for hosting garage sales. Yesterday I experienced such a sale, one that I held with my friend Susan. How many garage sales have I been a part of? I don't really enjoying GOING to garage sales, but I sure love having them! Many people have asked me why I don't just donate my discards and write it off as a charitable donation. I would sort of stutter around and say something like...'because I love having garage sales' and that was the end of the conversation. Well, yesterday I gained an insight into why I like these things so much. In no particular order... my reasons for having garage sales!

The first part is the joy in 'weeding out'. It's fun to clear out those closets and cupboards of items that no longer work in our lives. With a little bit of prompting I can get Jim to 'go through' his personal items and release them to my care. He found four pair of shoes that were no longer meeting his needs. I washed up the two pair of running shoes and thought to myself...someone will love getting these because they were still looking good, just had too many miles on them for a marathon runner.

The marking portion is fun, too. I try to determine a value that is fair to the buyer. I often price on the 'low' end, but know that someone will be happy to get that item for such a good price. Helping people who may not have as much to spend makes me happy!

Then, the day of the big sale. Oh, just so much to enjoy! Here are some of the things that I remember about yesterday:
1. I got to spend a lot of quality time with Susan. We were together for about five hours and even though there were busy times, we still got to catch up on so many things. The conversation is always so good when having a sale with a friend.
2. I watched families come together. There are often three generations represented in one van that pulled up. Much of the time there is a younger person translating for an elderly person. I saw a mother choosing a couple things she liked and her son told her in spanish the cost and there came the change out of her coin purse.
3. The neighbors stop by. Granted, it's not at my house, but I do know Susan's neighbors and they checked in a couple of times. Social opportunities!
4. Kids and their thrill in the smallest things. There was one girl who picked out a pair of earrings out of Susan's daughter's discards...and she pulled out her own quarter and paid. She was so pleased, both with the earrings and with the fact that she used her own money. So sweet!
5. The same man who has come the last four years ( we have one every year) and asks, " Do you have any musical instruments?" We say 'no' and then just burst out laughing when he leaves. Every single time!
6. The man who told us his 'garage sale' joke a year ago...same guy, same joke! :D
7. The good coffee I get at Susan's house. We keep it going all morning long!
8. The joy of, yesterday at least, seeing about 80% of the inventory disappear.
9. The challenge of adding up each person's sales and then counting the money and seeing how close we came. We were only short by $2, so we each took a dollar less to balance the books! Perfect.
10. The aches and pains after a long day of physical labor are lessened knowing that many people would have something of value in their homes for a very small price.

That final wad of cash ( $10 of it in quarters!) was worth so much more than $74.00!

Priceless memories!

Remembering all the garage sale fun with Mom, Chris, Connie, Lisa, Kathy, Donna, Deepa, and Susan.

Priceless