Yard sale fever

I don’t know if yard sales were invented by Americans, but I bet we have perfected them. The sales can be a person with one or two items to sale from the porch, garage, or yard, family and multi-family sales, block sales, street-long sales, and city wide sales in some small towns. The largest I know of is slated as the World’s Longest Yardsale. It is 675 mi. long (1086 kilometer) and spans several states from Michigan to Alabama. It is headquartered in Jamestown, Tenn. which is not too far from where I live.
Just about anything goes in the sales, including stuff people have bought at previous yard sales and at flea markets. Unwanted gifts, old clothing, new clothing, and just about anything one can find in a “normal” American household can be found at these sales. I’ve seen tiny earrings for babies on a table sitting next to a dump truck and all were for sale, including the table. Clothes are the most popular items, almost any size and any condition. Baby clothes and other toddler items are always in demand. Things that are the most difficult to sell are what-nots and frick-fracks; Carolyn and Chris have a table full of them.
Carolyn’s first customer came by at 7:30 this morning and there have been a steady stream every since. She will probably make only a few dollars this time, compared to the close to $400 she made two years ago.
Most cities have “regulated” these sales in one way or another, with some threatening to ban them because the municipality could not collect sales taxes. The promise of law suits soon ends such governmental abuse of power. I’ve never seen statistics on these sales, but my guess is that in the U.S., there are many millions and maybe even billions of dollars exchanging hands each year from the home enterprises. Most of the money goes right back into circulation as little of it is saved. Many people pay for their vacations through yard sale profits.
—-
Have a frugal weekend, my friends.