Now that the kids have gone back to school, your house might be a bit empty during the day, and chances are that your bank account is a bit emptier too. Between school supplies and new clothes, getting the children ready to start a new year can be expensive. For those of you with a bit of time on your hands, here is a way to earn money to cover all of those extracurricular school activities and unplanned expenses. Host a yard sale! You have heard the phrase, “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” Well it is time to apply it in your life!

Equifax Finance Blog writer Mechel Glass shares some tips in her article

“Need Extra Cash? Host a Yard Sale.”

• Pick a date. Many yard sales are held over a weekend, but some are held only for one day. After you select your date, get approval (if needed) from your homeowners’ association and local government. Make sure that you know the rules in your neighborhood, as some designate a specific weekend or two each year for yard sales and do not allow yard sales at any other time.
• Recruit your neighbors. There are definite advantages to a multi-family yard sale, including shared advertising costs and increased traffic.
• Advertising. Make sure to promote your event to attract shoppers to your sale. Most local newspapers have inexpensive rates specifically for yard sales. Don’t forget the free online sites such as Craigslist.org or garagesalesource.com, a site that also provides great free sign templates. Be sure to be descriptive about some of the key items you have—if you have lots of children’s items or furniture, say so in your ad. If there are many families taking part in the sale, use terms like “multi-family” or “neighborhood sale” to help let buyers know.

Glass offers several more tips on the site, so make sure to read her article to find out all the ways to maximize your sale. We hope your sale goes well, please leave us comments with your sales successes.