Trying to decide which route is the best way to go to make some extra cash with your stuff? Here are a few things to consider when deciding on having a garage sale or using E-Bay.

I pondered for months on this deal. Should I have a garage sale or sell my stuff of E-Bay? I’d had successful garage sales in the past where I’d lived before. Not to mention that my sister had an outdoor thrift store for a long time near a friend’s house, like a never ending garage sale, and she did really well doing that. I almost got up the nerve to have a garage sale where I live now but changed my mind at the last minute, which my kids wanted to kill me for since we had signs and prices on stuff already. Stuff sat in my office/guest room for days and days. Finally, I decided on trying things with E-Bay. Of course, I had bought many things from E-Bay but it wasn’t as easy to sell as to buy. Some people make a killing on E-Bay, I had to re-list my stuff. So for those of you trying to make that same decision, here are a few things to consider. I wish you the best with whichever route you take!

PROS and CONS OF A GARAGE SALE

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Pros: Advertising is pretty low cost. You don’t need an ad in the paper, but if you do, there are alot of free ones that you can use. Signs in the right areas will cost you some time and paper. You can set your own prices, changing them as you go along if you need to. You won’t need to explain about an item and take pictures of it. You won’t need
to go to the post office to get it to your customer.

Cons: The weather, especially if you don’t have a tent set up. Certain times of the month when people are too busy worrying about bills than going out to garage sales. Setting everything up and breaking it down again. Having the enough money for change.

PROS and CONS OF E-BAY

Pros: You don’t need to set up and break down your sale. You don’t need to worry about the weather or the time of the month. Things can sell themselves pretty much 24/7, without you having to sit there and watch them.

Cons: Going to the post office. Answering e-mails from potential buyers. Setting up your item on E-Bay (shipping costs, description, photos, layout, etc.). Paying fees to E-Bay.

With some luck and a little work, either option can make you money from your kids’ old clothes to the weird pink dress you were forced to wear at your cousin’s wedding to those odd car parts your other half says they’ll use some day. Just remember that the old saying, “Someone’s trash could be another person’s treasure”. If you are fortunate enough to know how to sew, make jewelry or anything else, make use of your talent!! I saw a DIY (do-it-yourself) made dress that sold for probably close to a hundred dollars. It was a t-shirt from some band that someone added lace, etc. to and made it into a really cool looking dress.