A couple of weeks ago when I was in a spring cleaning mode I made my boys go through their drawers and closets and get rid of things they don't wear anymore. Whew – there were so many t-shirts!
I have a hall closet that is the go-to spot for all these clothes. The door can barely shut because it is so full of stuff. As I'm piling stacks of clothes upon stacks of clothes, I think about selling some of the good stuff at a consignment store. I want to put it all in the car right then and there and head straight to the nearest consignment shop. I need to get it out of my house! But it doesn't work like that. I'll have to call and set an appointment with the store to review my items. That is never going to happen. I'm impulsive and if I can’t get it done right then and there, the stuff will most likely sit. Another option I think about is donating some of it to charity. But taking the time to figure out what day they accept for drop offs is another thing I’ll never do.
So my closet sits stuffed to the gills.
But guess what? I found something that I think I really like. It's called VarageSale—an online buy/sell platform, founded by a mom, where I don't have to do any planning to get rid of my stuff. I just have to take a picture of my item, upload it, type in a little description, put a price on it and hit the submit button. I live Uptown so I joined the newly launched Uptown to Gentilly community.
Since you join through your Facebook account, there is a sense of trust and real identities. Plus, knowing that who you are selling to or buying from actually lives in your neighborhood or close to it adds another layer of familiarity to the whole experience.
So far I’ve posted only 2 items for sale because I was a bit busy with Jazz Fest. One was a kids Spyder ski jacket, size 8, and the other a pair of Ugg slippers, size 5. (No, I didn’t buy my child a pair of Ugg slippers. They were a gift.) I’m hoping another parent out there likes the reduced price on them and scoops them up.
I like the way I’ve now made progress on getting rid of our stuff – plus I’ll make money! When someone is interested in my items, I communicate with them through the site and make arrangements for the sale. I’ll probably meet them at a coffee shop for the transaction.
There are lots of great deals on the site. I found a really cute Dora’s Kitchen set for $40 that I’m considering for my 3 year old goddaughter. With Mother’s Day this weekend, moms might find themselves a little treat in the clothing or jewelry sections! With over 40 categories of things for sale, it is easy to search items and find what you are looking for.
Locally there are 5 communities – Uptown to Gentilly, West Bank, Kenner/Metairie, St. Bernard and Covington/Mandeville.
Get started now – it’s easy. If I can do it, so can you!
Click here to check everything out.
VarageSale is a Macaroni Kid sponsor.
