NEVER again!

[lvstephanie]

If you can write off the donations (for some people the amount they'd get for itemizing their deductions from donations won't be over the standard deduction so they'd be better off just taking the standard), then I think it depends on whether you want the money now or can hold off until tax season. It may not be as much by selling at a garage sale, but then the money is immediate. The last sale I had was a disaster. The neighborhood was having their neighborhood sales so we took a part of that. But the weekend that was chosen was cold and rainy all day (just hovering in the low 40s with a constant drizzle), so no one was out buying. Also since I'm living alone (the "we" above is that a friend also put up some of her stuff for sale too) I had to work all day weekdays; I was able to take that Friday off for the sale, but unlike other neighbors I wasn't able to have a sale on that Thursday too. I think after accounting for all of the supplies for tagging the items and making signs for the roads, I took in only about $20.

I also think garage sales are good if you have kids (at least kids that can be entertained for a few hours). I went to one and the kids were busy selling their toys. They were learning how to be a salesperson, how to handle money and give correct change, they got to do some craft work by making signs and other decorations, they learned how to bake (they had cookies for sale as well), and in general learned how to give away their possessions that they no longer used.

I like going to garage sales, esp. for CDs and books, but it sometimes is a waste of a day... Some weekends I'll spend the whole morning on Saturday driving around from garage sale to garage sale coming across all sorts of baby clothes (too bad I'm childless), but nothing for me. Then again, even if I don't buy anything, it's nice to be able to drive around listening to my favorite CD and just enjoying the nice weather.

[reiddb]

That is EXACTLY how I felt!  It was a ridiculous waste of time and I probably made as much!  Everything is already dirt cheap and many came in asking half price for what was already enormously cheap!  Rotton waste of time and energy!

[LenoraMinogue]

Yeah, I prefer donating myself, but sometimes garage sales can be better. My cousin was moving and it was easier for him to just have the garage sale than try to donate all the clutter he had gathered.

[bobes915]

Garage sales can be fun if you enjoy doing them or can be good if you are moving.  If you are looking to make a lot of money, you will probably be disappointed.  Donating your items definitely saves time. 

[blondie71]

I use to own a collectable store with new and used clothing and collectables.  I use to run yard sales to get people to come in and I was pretty low on some of the yard sale stuff and I felt they wanted it for nothing, the same with the stuff inside, I ran sales all the time all the way to 50% off I think I got my stuff (Avon) stolen more than I sold I ended up closing the store it I was not making a profit and I would have to get money out of my personal account to pay the bills.

[Skyisbluetoday]

I love yard sales! Sometime's you can find great deals! The idea of a yard sale is to get rid of stuff for cheap, and yes people don't want to pay a lot for used stuff!

[maxinmotion]

I like going to yard sales more than I like having one. Once we had a yard sale and sold mostly electronics we made a little over $300. We even sold a good working dell computer for only $25.

[Tere2]

I have yard sales two or three times a year. My friends bring me their unwanted stuff or left overs from their sales. It is hard work but I can always use that extra cash.

[hicaniplay]

What a coincidence, this article was on the front page of Yahoo news:

Tips from the Garage Sale Millionaire - http://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-lamp-tips-garage-sale-161539154.html

As some commented though, dunno how much of that million is really from sales and how much from the book he wrote about garage sales