How much money will you need in order to make enough change? It varies, but to be on the safe side, it’s good to have a couple hundred dollars in small bills – fives, tens, and a bunch of ones. If there are many items priced below one dollar, have a roll or two of quarters – ten or twenty dollars’ worth – handy. Put everything in a lockable metal cash box for easy access and separation of denominations, and don’t forget to write down how much change you had in the first place before the sale even started.
It’s important to have a calculator for several reasons: one, nobody will be able to dispute a total that you’ve punched up in front of them; two, even the biggest math whiz can make a mistake once in a while; and three, your brain will quickly grow tired of adding up figures anyway. Keep it handy, plus a spare for backup in case your first one fizzles. If more than one person has items for sale, have plenty of blank paper on which to stick the color-coded price tags so you can add up later how much each person sold.
It probably goes without saying, but guard your money closely, and let someone you trust take care of making change if you won’t be doing it yourself. When someone pays you, keep the bill they’ve handed you out of the cash box until you’ve given them the change; that way, a sneaky shopper won’t try to insist that she paid with a twenty when she really gave you a ten.
Holding a sale can be a great way to bring in a few bucks and clear your home of unwanted clutter. Sell what you can, and then donate the rest to a local thrift store or charity (many will even send a truck to your house post-sale and haul off whatever you’re willing to give). No matter how successful your sale, you’ll feel better in the end knowing that you’ve gotten rid of your excess junk and helped out a good cause in the meantime. But you’ll really feel good if you end up with a couple hundred extra bucks in your pocket. Give it some real thought and effort to begin with, and you’ll see how successful your sale can be!