Hot Yard Sale Items for 2012

Let's face it. No matter how much politicians continue to argue, the economy doesn't seem to be getting better. Washington may be ineffective at finding ways to boost the economy, but we the people can put our heads and our junk together and head outdoors to make some money. While some of us may need to wait until spring to setup and take advantage of yard sales, those who live in the deep South and Southwest can head outdoors now. The rest of us can start gathering up unwanted items around the house and make our shopping plans for when the weather turns warm. Remember, if a thrift store can sell it, you can sell it too.

Limited edition merchandise

Limited edition merchandise includes the limited lines of major brand names. If you stop by my yard sale this spring, for example, you might find two pairs of limited edition Adidas athletic shoes from the brand's "Originals" collection. Limited edition items go out of fashion, or sometimes, we just lose interest in them. Instead of throwing such items in the back of the closet, dust them off, price them to sell and watch them fly off your sale tables.

Vintage shoes

Shoes from the 1980s and 90s in excellent condition are a fabulous find for costume designers, fashionistas just coming of age and collectors. When I was cleaning up my house this past summer, I happened to find a pair of dance boots that I bought and wore once as a teenager in 1986, the kind made famous by Madonna around the same time. Defunct brands, such as the original Joan and David shoes, are also hard to find and fetch a pretty penny from fans who still miss the brand. Dust and polish shoes that have been around for a while and store them in large resealable storage bags to keep them looking like new until they sell.

Craft items

"Whoever dies with the most fabric wins," so goes the saying. If you bought tons of fabric and craft items, but never got around to using them, sell them. If you enjoy shopping for fabrics and crafts, don't shop at retail fabric and craft stores until you've visited the yard sales in your area. Many crafters have bigger ideas than the time to make things, and having piles of fabric, beads, yarn and other crafting items sitting around collecting dust can be depressing. To prepare for a crafty yard sale, measure your fabric and sell it by the yard or by the piece. Organize sewing notions and small craft items, such as beads, in small resealable bags.