One way to make a few pounds towards you mortgage payoff is to do a car boot sale. Sales are run throughout the year, however if you’re like me then you would prefer to do one during the spring or summer. I accumulate things for my sale all through the winter months, and when I say things I mean everything. If I think an item will sell on eBay then it goes on there, if not, then it goes in the car boot box.
I’ve given up selling books at car boots so they always go on Amazon or get given to friends. I also never sell electrical items.
My top 10 tips for running a car boot sale:
- Prepare everything the day before – Wrap glass, china in bubble wrap. Price everything will small labels. Get a change bag with all denominations including £5 and £10 notes. Take lots of carrier bags, buyers always seem to want these.
- Pack your car the night before – It takes time and 5am in the morning is not the time to do it.
- Take a packed lunch and flask of tea/coffee – Don’t spend your profits at the burger van.
- Take a friend/relative – Going to the toilet etc is difficult if you can’t leave your stall.
- Wear layers of clothing as it’s cold early in the morning and then can get quite hot – take suncream.
- Be prepared to be surrounded when you arrive – this is usually dealers looking for a bargain, I just sit in my car talking for a while and then they move on
- Use a pasting table to display goods – Take fold up chairs to sit on as it gets quite tiring standing for 5-6 hours.
- Be prepared to haggle – Buyers usually offer less than the asking price, it is fun though so don’t get too serious about it.
- Reduce your prices as the buyers start drifting off – Better to make something than nothing.
- When you get home immediately empty your car – leaving it until later makes it an arduous task
They are fun car boot sales and they can make you a little bit of extra money in the process.
Charity giving – I think long and hard about items I donate to charity as I think they get in undated with rubbish which they can’t sell and then costs them money to get rid of. I much prefer to do fundraising for our chosen charity through work or to make cash donations.
Further reading:
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Another tip is not to be tempted to wander round and see what other people have for sale – you can end up spending all of your profits!
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Make sure you always have the proper directions and tel number before setting off. Its easy to be very lost in Portugal, as all villages look the same. We did 150km and never found the car boot sale, it was foggy and felt like the worst day ever. We are going to one tomorrow and have been very prepared in advance, hope we find it
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