Tips for Having a Sucessful Yard Sale, Part 2

Oh yes, it is that time of year.  It is that time to clean out those closets and make a little extra cash selling those items.  In my first post about having a great yard sale, I emphasized the importance of advertising.  Next, you will want to make a clean sweep of all the rooms in your house.  Use trash bags to gather items for your sale.  Do not forget items that may be tucked away in kitchen cabinets, or pushed back in the closet.  A general rule for an item is if it hasn't been used in the last 6 months, it should be discarded.  Think logically about whether you could ever see yourself using this again. I think we as Americans tend to hoard stuff, but that is another post.  Tomorrow, I will discuss items that sell well at a sale.  While there is no rhyme or reason to what generally sales, there are certain items that will generally bring more cash than others.

Tip of the Day!

This weekend a friend and I will be hosting a yard sale.  I have done many a sale and it is a great way to declutter, and hey don't we all have something that we aren't using?  Your most important tactic when doing a sale is to advertise, advertise, advertise.  Of course, some may disagree but sometimes it depends on your location.  In the city where I live, I have seen city workers driving off with my signs and this is why I use other means of getting the word out.  For our sale we put it in the classified, facebooked friends, and also listed on Craig's List.  If your city has a local paper sometimes the ad will be free, so this would be another excellent means of advertising.  The more avenues you use the more people know about your sale.  It always seems to be a good deal of work to get your items out, so you want your time to be worth it and of course earn money for your stuff.  I will have more tips tomorrow, so stay tuned...

My Ground Zero

The days that followed after my husband lost his job I will look back and refer to as the "dark days".  I touched briefly on my husband's job loss in 2008 in my first blog.  This is one of the events in my life that prompted me to start this blog.  There were days of feeling hopeless and not knowing how God was going to provide.  There were days of uncertainty and anxiety, but through it all my hope was in God's promise through his word that he would take care of our family.  Let me say also, that we have a wonderful support group of friends and church members.  They were an incredible encouragement in those "dark times".  Following 911 this year, we watched a documentary on Ground Zero at our church.  It was a story of hope for the men that served at Ground Zero during this tragic time.  Some of you may remember this from the news, but at one point in the clean-up a steel cross appeared. To those men it was a symbol of hope at a time when things appeared hopeless.  As I look back on my dark days, Christ was my hope.  In no way am I trying to compare job loss to the loss of life that happened on September 11, 2001.  Loss is a part of life and happens in different ways.  I do know that in all situations in life, that hope lies in the very essence of what Christ did on the cross!

Tip of the Day!

If you are interested in couponing, start with today's Sunday paper.  There are several inserts, including Red Plum and Smart Source.  Start those scissors clipping, it will be fun.  You might also want to buy two papers or ask your neighbor for theirs! Enjoy! 

A New Creation

Most recently our oldest child was baptized.  Even though his "conversion" happened several years ago, he most recently made the decision to follow Christ in baptism.  The Bible says that when we decide to follow Christ, the old creature passes away and we become new.  Several days ago, I went into the bathroom to find my daughter had my curlers in her hair.  She wants to be made new (different hair that is)! It reminded me of our human desire to be transformed.  Are we ever happy with the way things are?  There is always something else to desire! As a believer, Christ desires to transform me.  Only through adversity (there is that word again) is he able to shape and mold me into becoming Christ-like.  I will never reach that goal here while on earth, but I thank God for willingness to transform in spite of myself!

Couponing 101

One of the things I began to do after my husband lost his job was to coupon.  I meet many people that ask me to show them how it is done.  It is amazing how much money you can save.  I do not ever want to go back to paying full price for grocery items.  I basically taught myself to coupon after a friend told me about the Southern Savers website.  If you are local to the Birmingham area, there will be a coupon class next Thursday night, September 16th, at First Baptist of Pelham.  If you are looking to get started I would suggest this class.  The cost is ten dollars and you can register at their website by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page! Even if you are not in the Birmingham area, there still may be workshops in your area.  Be sure and check it out!

The Moth and the Ant, a Childhood Tale

Most recently my son came in from playing on a hot summer day.  In his most serious tone, he said "Mama there is a dead moth outside and the ants have torn it apart".   He went on to explain to me that this scenario was much like what the men did to Jesus before he was hung on the cross.  All the sudden I was hit with one of those rare gold nuggets we parents like to call "a teachable moment".  I went on to tell him that yes he was right, that is exactly was what was done to Jesus.  He could have called ten thousand angels to rescue him instead because of his love for us he chose to die a humiliating death.  I am reminded from my son's observation on that day that Jesus faced the ultimate adversity.  He was despised and yet he was willing to do the work of the Father.  My prayer today is that I be willing to face the hard times because he walked the path before me.  He laid down his life, the ultimate sacrifice.  Gonna close with my son's favorite verse:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23