You can make money in your own backyard with a yard sale. Remember that yard sales are a family affair so get the kids involved.

Before you hold a yard sale, have several family meetings so everyone knows what his or her job will be. These sales serve several purposes, first and second in no particular order are to get rid of clutter and to make some money while doing it. Yard sales are like businesses and may require a license from your City or Town Hall. You must check to see if they are allowed in your town, and if there are any restrictions.

Once you have cleared the local government hurdle you can start to plan what you will sell and how you will price the items. You may also want to check with your neighbors, are they holding a sale that same day? What about the idea of a joint yard sales that are separate but held on the same day?

Advertise your yard sale in the local newspaper and place flyers on community bulletin boards. If you have a lot to sell, start a couple of weeks before the sale. Make sure the items are clean and dusted. Put prices on everything with those annoying sticky labels so the price does not fall off or removed from items. Prices should be placed on the top of items so they are seen immediately, buyers should not have to pick up the item to check for the price.

If you have a driveway, place your interesting stuff there. It will catch peoples attention and lure them into your yard. Display similar items in clusters, the way they do in department stores. If you have costume jewelry, lay it on a table to show it off, it may be best to have someone stand at that table with a cash box. Make sure you have enough small change and singles to get you through the day. Take care to leave the cash given to you in plan site while you are making change. Most folks are honest, but a dishonest person may say that he gave you a $10.00 bill instead of a $5.00 bill. You do not want to spend time arguing about something like this.

Keep your tables full. Have someone, perhaps your child, fill those empty spots as soon as items are sold. If you have old records, VHS tapes or DVD's realize that no matter what the original cost was, you must be willing to sell them for far less than you paid for the items.

If you are selling a radio, television or VCR, turn the item on to show that it is in working condition. Or at least have an extension cord nearby so you can quickly plug the radio in. Speaking of radios, make sure you have some background music playing, something upbeat but not too loud.

Try to have a box of *Free* items for give away. Chipped ashtrays, odd salt or pepper shakers that have no mates, pretty cup and saucer sets that have a chip are perfect for paperclips, etc. Faded or torn tee shirts make good rags to wash cars. Most likely no one will buy these items but they will gladly take them for free.

If you have good weather and have done your advertising by ads, word of mouth and flyers, you should have a good day.