My kids love yard sales.  LOVE THEM with the passion of a thousand fiery suns.  It’s gotten so that I can barely stand to drive with them on a Saturday morning thanks to the millions of signs that pepper the medians and light poles of my fair city. “Multi-Family Yard Sale!” the signs crow.  “Don’t miss this one!” Yeah, well, thanks but I’m happy to miss the entire shebang.

Why would I want to spend the (HOT) day with my children begging me for broken junk that’s “just a dollar”?

But the visiting of the ubiquitous yard sale has NOTHING on the actual challenge of holding your own yard sale. Any time that we clean out the closets or cabinets, my kids go CRAZY with money making plans.  “I never play with this old doll!” proclaims my six year old, holding up an American Girl that I took out a mortgage to procure.  “I’m gonna sell her for two dollars!” Um, no way kid - first of all, it’s my money, not yours, and second - who wants to buy your ratty doll with one eye? The worst part of yard sales, even more onerous than dragging your entire garage outside before the sun has cracked the horizon, and worse than sitting still in the heat (or rain - let’s not forget the RAIN!) for hours on end, waiting for just one customer -the worst part of any yard sale is the customer who tries to bargain your price of 25 cents for a Land’s End sweater down to ten cents.

OR, my personal favorite - I once had a woman try on a sweater that I’d priced for, you guessed it, a quarter, and then leave with it on.  When I called to her, as she left my property, to remind her she was leaving with my sweater on, she lost her marbles completely and began to screech at me that it was HER sweater and she’d worn it there.

Never mind the fact that it was 102 degrees in the shade that day and the sweater had a price tag AND a hanger still attached.

No, I’m never holding or frequenting a yard sale ever again.  You are all my witnesses. No, when I need something, I’m going to look here on Zwaggle and I’m going to list all of those things my kids no longer use. (Except for the one eyed dolls - I’ll spare you guys that treat!)  I prefer to get some good ol’ Zoints here on Zwaggle rather than negotiate with someone over 25 cents.  You can get some really cool things on Zwaggle for 25 Zoints.  Plus, it’s far more rewarding (and less frustrating) to discuss Zoint values and the concepts of sharing and reusing with my kids, rather than nickles and dimes and the “art” of haggling.

Yep, I’d much rather look around here in my spare time and, more importantly, in my air conditioning.   Also, I can avoid the begging and the pleading - “Pretty please, Mommy - I’ve just GOT to have this Barbie head with the ratty hair that I can apply makeup to - and I can use the makeup on me as well!”

What, do you think I’m c-r-a-z-y?  I doubt it.

Share some of your funny and painful yard sale memories with us here, so we can all have a good laugh.

Blogger Ali Hooper knows that being green isn’t always easy, but she also knows that making green choices whenever possible is a wonderful way to raise a family.

Ali’s blog, Blessed Treehouse, is about many things, including motherhood, family, and living green.  She posts weekly video blogs about making green choices, and she gives great suggestions and tips so that we can all be better to our planet.  Her most recent “Practically Green Vlog” focuses on Zwaggle!  She loves that Zwaggle is committed to sharing more and consuming less, and she supports our community that is based on family and green living!

Thanks, Ali, for supporting Zwaggle and for sharing your great tips on how to live “Practically Green”!