Yes, I am going to blog about a work topic of sorts on my
personal blog! Call me crazy, but it is something that I personally have coming
up next week and I also know that you might benefit from a little information
in the subject. Here is a blog press release of sorts about “Yard Sales”.
Continue reading for helpful tips and pointers. I hope that you will join me in
de-cluttering your life and ridding yourself of unnecessary items around your
household! If you need to contact me about “yard sales” or any work or personal
topic my information is below also.
Do you have a pile of clothes in your closet that no longer
fit? Maybe you have an entire wardrobe of clothes like me that are taking up valuable
space! Losing 50 pounds has caused my extra closet to become stuffed with
clothes I can no longer wear. Or maybe some books piled in the corner that you
have already read. Well a yard sale gives you the opportunity to make a little
extra cash, and keep these items out of our landfills. And if you are like me
it also gives you spending money for a new wardrobe that is much needed!
On average Americans produce almost 3 pounds of waste per
person per day. Second-hand items are a great way to reserve space in our
landfill for items that cannot be reused, recycled or composted. Remember the old saying, “one man’s trash is
another man’s treasure.” This Savage
Girl now loves shopping at yard sales, consignment stores, and thrift stores.
You can get awesome deals! Any items leftover after your yard sale can be taken
to a local charity like the Village Shop we have here in Monroe County, or
places like Goodwill or the Salvation Army located in nearby towns. Make sure
to get a receipt for the items you donated to receive a tax deduction.
Yard sales are also a great place to find bargains. By purchasing
second-hand items, you’re not only saving money but also conserving natural
resources that would have been used to produce that item if it were new. Take a pair of jeans for example; to make one
new pair it takes approximately 2,900 gallons of water.
Next weekend, September 6 & 7, I will be having a yard
sale personally to rid my house of unwanted clothes and clutter. So if you need a bargain come and see me! Or maybe
this blog post will motivate you to have your own yard sale to give me a little
yard sale competition!
When shopping at yard sales there are a few pointers you
should consider.
- Although extremely unlikely, bed bugs could potentially hitch a ride into your home on your yard sale purchase.
- Wash and dry all clothing purchased at a yard sale as soon as you bring the items into your home.
- For items such as couches be cautious and inspect the item carefully before purchasing, especially near seams.
- Do not purchase a used mattress. For more information on bed bugs contact me at work at the Monroe County Extension office.
Whether you’re looking to make a few extra bucks this summer
like me (because I need an entire "new to me" fall and winter wardrobe) or if you
are in search of a bargain, a yard sale may be your answer!
Sources: National
Geographic. Earth’s Freshwater: A Guide for Teaching Freshwater in Grades 3 to
8. n.d. Accessed on May 10, 2013 at http://education.nationalgeographic.com/media/file/freshwater_chapter7_v2.pdf.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste
Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for
2010. December 2011. Accessed on May 10, 2013 at
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw_2010_rev_factsheet.pdf
Ashley Osborne,
Extension Associate for Environmental and Natural Resource Issues, University
of Kentucky, College of Agriculture
