Should You Have a Yard Sale or Donate Unwanted Items?

I often wonder what makes more sense: having a yard sale, or donating unwanted items to charity for a tax deduction. I think it varies in different seasons of life and for each family, but here are a few factors to consider:

1. Will Your Items Sell Well?
-I've found that all baby items, children's clothes and shoes, toys, small furniture (such as chairs, nightstands, etc), and kitchen items (especially pots and pans and small appliances), are all big yard sale sellers. Other items, such as big ticket items, holiday decorations, adult clothing, and electronics (unless you allow your buyers to test them out to prove they work), don't sell as well, or you won't get much back for your investment. For example, you can usually claim a bag of gently used women's or men's clothing for a much higher tax deduction than you could get from a yard sale, especially if you're selling things for $0.25 or $0.50 each. Since I have small children, I make quite a bit of money selling their gently used clothes, shoes, toys, and gear at our yard sales. But, once I'm out of that stage, it may not make as much sense to put the effort into a yard sale, especially if I don't have a lot of "hot sellers".

2. How Much Time Do You Have?
-Your time is worth something too. If you put 10 hours into yard sale prep (pricing, sorting, hosting, etc), and expect to make $100, you'll have made $10 an hour. Is that worth your time, or is there something else you could do with your time that could save you more per hour? It depends on your perspective. Do you have more money than time, or more time than money?

3. If You Donate, Will a Tax Deduction Help You?
-Depending on your income and other deductions, donating could help you when tax season comes around by lowering your taxable income. (Remember to get a receipt for your donations, and check the maximum value you're allowed to deduct!) But, if extra donations won't matter one way or another for your situation, and you could use the extra cash, go for the yard sale. 

4. Do You Need Cash?
-If you're saving up for something (such as a new couch, new appliances, a vacation, etc), and cash will help you out, or if you want to add a little something to your monthly budget or to pay a unexpected bill, then having instant cash from a yard sale might be worth the time and effort. If you don't really need any extra cash and a deduction would help you at the end of the year, go with the donation.

What Do You Think? Have You Had More Success With Yard Sales or Donations?

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Getting Rid of Ants the Natural Way

Last week I awoke to one of my most despised creature infestations...ANTS! After trying several "do it yourself" ant ridding techniques, the insects still remained and I thought we would have to call in pest control. After telling my friend of the ant woes, she suggested using cinnamon. Since I purchase cinnamon in bulk at Costco for only $0.25/oz, I had plenty on hand. I sprinkled a couple tablespoons of cinnamon along the door where the ants were crawling in, and around the door on the ground.

The ants retreated nearly immediately, and I didn't think much about it until my neighbor stopped me the other day. "Pest control came today," she said, "We found a line of ants coming from your house over to our house." Mission success!

Apparently the cinnamon works, and my solution cost significantly less than pest control. In addition, I didn't have to worry about my children getting into poison or inhaling pest control fumes.

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Simple Cleaning Tips...Kitchen

If you're anything like me, the kitchen become the catch-all room. As aggravating as it is, the kitchen just attracts stuff. At any given time my kitchen counters will house coupons, magazines, I think there may even be a screwdriver on there right now.

But, I hate to clean. I mean, I really, really hate cleaning. My dear, her-home-is-spotless mother has always given me one cleaning tip: "If you get something out, put it away." I have tried to live by this rule, and it really does make things easier. A little preventative cleaning every day will save you a ton of cleaning later!

Here are a few easy, decluttering cleaning tips for the "heart of the home".

• Get a basket for every room, including the kitchen. If misplaced items accumulate in a different room during the day (think mail, toys, books, etc.), place them in the basket. Empty the basket and put the misplaced items in their place at the end of every day.
• Wipe down the counters after every meal. Coming downstairs to a dirty counter just starts the day off on the wrong foot.
• Make cleaning the kitchen a part of your routine. Spend 5 minutes a couple times a day picking up. I spend 5 minutes after breakfast, 5 minutes after I prep dinner, and 5 minutes after my little one goes to bed to put away misplaced items, clean off the countertops, sweep the floors, and make sure the dishwasher is either set to run, or emptied if already run
• When you cook, clean as you go. As a habit before you start cooking, run a sink of soapy water. When you're done with each meal prep item, put it in the sink. Wash and rinse, or rinse and put in the dishwasher as soon as you're done. 
• Organize your cooking tools. As much as you thought you were going to use that melon baller, you probably don't use it as much as you think. Instead, place all your common utensils (spatulas, wooden spoons, tongs, ladles, etc.) in an easy to navigate drawer, and put the rest of your not-so-common utensils in a bag in the cabinet, or the pantry.

By spending just a few minutes every day keeping your kitchen tidy, you will save yourself from having to clean up a huge mess in the future.