By Andrea Howick   www.whereparentstalk.com

Every year, a friend and I would do a massive clean-up of each of our houses. It occurred to us we could actually make a few dollars if we held a garage sale. And it seemed so much less daunting to do it with a friend. So for a few years, one of us hauled all of our junk over to the other’s house, got up the following Saturday at the crack of dawn and braced ourselves for the masses.

Now, back then, we both had somewhat corporate jobs. So much of the contents of the sale was clothing that no longer fit/or was out of style. I have to admit there was a fair amount of designer items to be had more hers than mine I confess but it was enough so that when our ad appeared in the local paper, there was a small contingent of shoppers that would turn up ready to buy our discarded designer wares.

Then over the years, something changed. We had babies. We stayed home. We didn’t buy designer duds. The bulk of our garage sales was now mainly tattered toys and outgrown baby clothes. I even remember one year, one of the bargain hunters used to the previous sales demanding Where are all the good women’s clothes? Gone, I’m afraid. Traded in for nursing bras and comfortable sweats.

I have to say, it’s a bit of a relief not to have the annual garage sale anymore. Of course the house still needs to be cleaned out regularly. Now the bags go to various charities. I hope someone can make use of their contents!

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