Getting Ready for a Yard Sale

“One man’s junk is another man’s treasure”…with a little preparation you can hold a profitable sale. First, you must set a date for your sale. Allow yourself at least three weeks to get ready.

Clear an area to accumulate items that you want to sell. For the first two weeks, use at least an hour each day to find items for your sale and check that they are in good working order or are free of stains and rips. Use stickers to price the items and make signs for groups of individual merchandise; “All clothing 5 for $1.00” Different colored stickers work great for Multi-Family sales – just stick each in a notebook at the time of checkout and tally up the amounts at the end of the day.

At the beginning of the week before your sale; check the weather report and place an ad in the classifieds. (Be sure to be clear on times and if you will allow ‘Early Birds’ or if you plan to hold a ½ sale after a certain hour. If you have items that may draw a crowd, make sure that you include them in your ad!) Make big signs directing traffic to your home and have everything ready to hang them early the morning of your sale. (But PLEASE remember to take them down!) Make plans for food and bathroom runs; schedule family and friends to sit in for brief periods to give you a break. Decide on what you will serve your family for supper that night (you will be too tired to cook). Use some of your earnings to order pizza or have something in the Crockpot ready to eat.

Get $20 in change from the bank during the week so you are prepared for the morning rush. Make sure that you have an extension cord ready for customers to check any electrical items you have for sale. You can’t expect them to take your word for it. Have fun at your sale and attract more buyers by playing music and creating a nice atmosphere. Set up your cashier station in a spot that will have shade but don’t forget to wear sunscreen and re-apply regularly during the day! Set and alarm on your cell phone to remind yourself – you may be too busy to realize how much time has passed.

Get a good night’s sleep and enjoy your day!

Projects for the Summer Heat

You know those days when it is SO HUMID that you think it might just be possible to melt? Not the day to work on anything big! Even with the A/C running – use these days to catch up on things that take time but little energy.


Save projects like sorting photos or working on your Household Notebook for days that the forecast is muggy. Plan ahead; make a list of things that you want to “get to someday” that went on the back burner: File recipes (or finally put them on your computer!), Redo your address book, Catch up on filing, Plan a monthly menu or Do a Household Inventory

No matter what time of the year it is, always check the weather when you plan out your week. Use “melty days” productively and watch how you Make life Simple.

Manage the Summer Chaos

We all love our kids but - if your anything like me (and my friends) about a week into summer vacation you start asking when the dear little cherubs are going back to school!

But it doesn't have to be all chaos and anarchy...with a little planning you can have a relaxing and pleasant break! Start with making a list of what you expect of them. What are your goals and ideas to make those goals happen?

• Do you want them to keep up with reading and math? Ask your Library about summer programs - most give incentives to kids for checking out books! "Sneak" reading in by asking them to read things to you. Ask them to figure out the better deal when you are at the store.

• What about Physically? We all have those rainy days where everyone just crashes lazily - that's part of the fun of summer - but what can you do to promote healthy activity?

• Don't forget to keep them social! Especially if your child has a shy streak - involve them in an activity that they can socialize with other kids from your school district. Encourage them to invite friends over.

• Tell them what you expect from them...sit everyone down at the table with some snacks and discuss what you expect from them over the summer months...how chores will be assigned and what time they are to be inside. Go over the rules and what the consequences are going to be if they don't follow them. Write the rules out and post them on the refrigerator so no one can say "I didn't know!"

• Enjoy the Dear Cherubs! They grow up too fast!!