Over the weekend were our city-wide garage sales, an annual event that draws bargain hunters from the surrounding area. This year, I came home with 2 pillowcases, a metal flower decoration to hang outside the house, a grass sprinkler, 6 stuffed animals, 4 silver serving trays, and a large garbage can — all for free. I also could have acquired an exercise ball I rescued from blowing down the street, a screen door, sink, chairs, and boxes of other treasures from the “Free” box that was at almost every sale.
More than ever, the sellers had a mindset that it was more important to get rid of things than it was to make money. People were aggressively bundling things and making deals in an effort to clear things out, including leaving them on the curb with a “free” sign. It was confirmation that we all have too much stuff and the consolidated garage sale event was a good excuse to do some purging.
You don’t need to wait for a sale event to share your excess with others. Old-fashioned classified ads, Marketplace exchanges on social media, Buy Nothing groups, or a sign on the curb are all ways to transfer your unneeded items to others while keeping them out of the landfill. My mother always said that “someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure.” Even more true when it’s free!
