Lots of good advice here and it sounds like you have some of this stuff already covered but here's my advice. I go to a lot of garage sales. Signage: I would definitely put your address including number on the signs. Garage Sale - 1234 Elm Street - and an arrow is all you need. Definitely go with a color theme on the sign. A bright color poster helps people follow the signs from far away. Make your signs two sided so that people coming from either direction can read it. Starting time: Whatever starting time you advertise, be out there at least 30 minutes earlier to put your stuff out. By the time the starting time rolls around, everything should be set out. You'll have early birds no matter what but when I arrive at a sale at or after the starting time and they are still putting stuff out, it's annoying. I'm not going to stand around waiting to see what's coming. There are lots of other garage sales waiting for me and the good stuff is going so I don't want to waste time. Oh! and start somewhere between 7 & 8. Any later is too late and you will lose the early customers. Pricing: Price everything. I won't ask for a price. If nothing is priced, I leave. Be willing to haggle but the haggle should be simple. Will you take $1 for this? Yes, no or a counter offer. I don't care what you paid for it, what price it would be if I bought it in a store, how meaningful it is/was to you or any other information EXCEPT if you are willing to take the amount I offered or if you have a counter offer. The money you paid for the stuff you have is GONE. You will never have that money back. Now it's about what you can make today. And that is based on what someone is willing to pay. Price your stuff according to that, not according to what you paid. When people make an offer, depending on the time of day, consider whether you want to have it left over. First thing in the morning you can afford to be more steadfast, depending on the item. As the day wears on, keep in mind that the person making the offer may be the last person to be interested. Do you want to be stuck with the item or have the money? Haggle but don't argue. Once you've gone your lowest, if the customer doesn't want it at that price, that's the end of the conversation. Don't get into an argument even if they try to. It's a turn off to other customers. Smile and walk away. Lemonade: I wouldn't do lemonade, can drinks and bottled water sell much better. Put a bunch of cans in an ice chest and sell them for 75c. They go. Books: don't make me paw through stacked books in a box. Put them spine up so I can easily glance at the titles. Don't bother individually pricing books either. Hardbacks $1 and paperbacks 50 cents. Done. Put up multiple signs with those prices, depending on how many you have. Magazines, 25 cents. That's what they charge at the used book sales at the library so that's what I'd do too. Oh, one more thing, Please take your signs down after the sale is over. Won't make a bit of difference to your bottom line but it's the right thing to do. It's frustrating to follow signs to a sale that doesn't exist. Good luck!!!

Thanks for the discussion! They really get you these days with some charities; even if you can look them up; some may be too new to get info on & you always have to keep researching because things change. Look at Komen; they started good & now lost sight of the goal. For Autism; you can also look into places like Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia who has been doing a lot of research. Check out Decoding Autism You can watch the full program at the link Previews on you tube when video is offline- Decoding Autism by Sara Lee Kessler - NJN News Decoding Autism Preview Autism Gene Decoding Autism Behaviors and Ideas for Interventions Early Detection Test for Autism Has anyone donated to Center for Advancement in Cancer Education (CACE) (beatcxancer.org) Guidestar page WIKI link to 501 codes 501(c)(1) Corporations Organized Under Act of Congress (including Federal Credit Unions) 501(c)(2) Title Holding Corporation for Exempt Organization 501(c)(3) Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Testing for Public Safety, to Foster National or International Amateur Sports Competition, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals Organizations 501(c)(4) Civic Leagues, Social Welfare Organizations, and Local Associations of Employees 501(c)(5) Labor, Agricultural, and Horticultural Organizations 501(c)(6) Business Leagues, Chambers of Commerce, Real Estate Boards, etc. 501(c)(7) Social and Recreational Clubs 501(c)(8) Fraternal Beneficiary Societies and Associations 501(c)(9) Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Associations 501(c)(10) Domestic Fraternal Societies and Associations 501(c)(11) Teachers' Retirement Fund Associations 501(c)(12) Benevolent Life Insurance Associations, Mutual Ditch or Irrigation Companies, Mutual or Cooperative Telephone Companies, etc. 501(c)(13) Cemetery Companies 501(c)(14) State-Chartered Credit Unions, Mutual Reserve Funds 501(c)(15) Mutual Insurance Companies or Associations 501(c)(16) Cooperative Organizations to Finance Crop Operations 501(c)(17) Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Trusts 501(c)(18) Employee Funded Pension Trust (created before June 25, 1959) 501(c)(19) Post or Organization of Past or Present Members of the Armed Forces 501(c)(21) Black lung Benefit Trusts 501(c)(22) Withdrawal Liability Payment Fund 501(c)(23) Veterans Organization (created before 1880) 501(c)(25) Title Holding Corporations or Trusts with Multiple Parents 501(c)(26) State-Sponsored Organization Providing Health Coverage for High-Risk Individuals 501(c)(27) State-Sponsored Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Organization 501(c)(28) National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust Here is a link that might be useful: Wiki 501(c) organization guide

Yesterday I dropped off two bags to a smiling women who thanked me for my donation and then asked if I'd like a kiss as she showed me a basket of Hershey Kisses. I asked for two, one for me and one for my DD. We smiled as we drove away. Last week I saw an ad for an event being held the following day. People donate gently used formal wear, old prom dresses etc., to girls who could not otherwise afford to go to prom. Called the number to be told they were closed. Closed the day before the event that they advertised in the paper!?! Went online, no helpful info. Called back and listened to all my voice mail options and left a message that I had 2 dresses, cleaned and ready to go. Heard back 4 hours later that they would be downtown (20 minutes away) for a 3 hour window. Picked my DD up from school and hauled the dresses, in the rain, downtown. Found parking, schlepped thru the rain into the building only to pass a group of women. They mentioned that they were from the hosting organization and were closing an hour early. Handed them the dresses. No thank you just we'll take these off your hands. Didn't want much ,just thank you or thank you for your persistence. I have to take comfort in the fact that 2 girls will go to the prom in gorgeous dresses. I hope they have a wonderful night. Sometimes you just need to do the right thing even if there is no recognition, no thanks.

Maryliz, You had a busy summer! I had a busy summer but it mostly consisted of getting to be with my grandchildren. It began in late May with piano and dance recitals and a birthday. Then my GS spent a week. We had gotten a boat (which was a surprise for all the grandchildren)and spent every possible minute with him on the wake board. Then my GD came for her visit of 1 1/2 weeks. We crafted, sewed, cooked and just generally had a good time together. Then my DD and GS came back and they all spent several more days. A couple weeks break and I flew up and picked up my Kansas GD & GS and my daughter and children came back and we had our summer get together of cousins. We had a 10 yr old, two 7 year olds and a 5 year old for 10 days. During that time my sister brought her three grands for 3 of those days. It was quite a fun time but this nana was tired when I flew home with the Kansas kids. It will be a little easier when they can fly by themselves. Technically, the airlines said they could this time but Papa said not yet. Now they are all in school so I won't get to see them much. We have to make the best of our time. I didn't get a lot of things done but we sure made a lot of memories!! Sally