There’s almost nothing as ominous as the phrase “finals week.” Cue the thoughts of cramming, sleep deprivation, and high anxiety. The stress the two words can induce is almost universal among college students.
However, students can both survive and succeed during finals week as long as they prepare. Here are four tips to help students get ready for finals week.
1. Get Organized
Getting organized is a great way to feel in control before finals begin. College finals week doesn’t have to blindside students, forcing them into all-nighters and sleepovers in the library. There are a couple of things students can do to get set up for finals week.
Memorize Your Finals Schedule
The dates for finals week are usually available from the beginning of a semester. This may vary by school, but students can sometimes find their finals information in their syllabus.
Memorizing the schedule and writing it down will ensure that students don’t forget to study for any exams and can budget enough time for each test.
Make a Study Plan
Once students have their finals schedule memorized, they can start mapping out their study strategy. Students can base their study tips on which finals will require the most studying and the dates they occur.
It is recommended that students avoid long cram sessions. Studying ahead of time in shorter increments helps to retain information. This is why mapping out a study plan ahead of time can be helpful.
When making a plan, there are different strategies students can use. They can create a schedule based on the difficulty level of the tests, choosing to set aside more time to study for the finals that will be the most challenging for them.
They can also plan their schedule based on the order of their finals, saving more time later on to study for the last exams.
Having a plan can help students avoid cramming, spending too much time studying for one final over another, or forgetting to study for one altogether.
As tempting as it is to stay in the library 24/7 living on ramen and coffee, staying physically healthy during finals week is important for bringing home those good grades.
Eating a balanced diet — yes, that means fruits and veggies too, before and during finals week — can help students stay focused and avoid getting sick during finals.
Drinking water is also a good idea when plotting to ace those finals. Dehydration can have many negative effects, like tiredness, headaches, reduced alertness, and diminished concentration, which could affect test performance. Even drinking water during an exam can lead to better performance.
Another important piece of staying healthy is getting enough sleep. It’s common to see students pulling all-nighters in the library during finals week, but a lack of sleep can result in a worse memory and therefore, an inability to remember what has been studied. Missing out on a full night’s sleep can be detrimental to students’ ability to pass their exams.
Exercising is also often deprioritized during finals week. Students are so focused on studying that it’s easy to skip that 30-minute workout. Exercise, though, needs to find a place in a hectic schedule because it will benefit a student during this stressful time. Exercise can both lower stress and maintain high-level brain functioning, leading to a better chance of crushing those exams.
3. Keep Your Mind Healthy
Maintaining good mental health during the school year may already be a challenge, but especially during finals week it’s important to pay attention to and take care of mental health.
Even students who don’t regularly have anxiety may experience it during finals week. There are many calming techniques available to ease anxiety, and each student should see what feels best. Here are a few techniques they can try.
• Breathing. There are tons of breathing techniques out there that can help with anxiety or stress. Students should look up a few simple ones and see what works best for them.
• Grounding. This is a technique where students focus on their senses, naming five things they can see, four things they can feel, three things they can hear, two things they can smell, and one thing they can taste. Doing this can reduce anxiety or panic and help students stay focused.
• Meditation. Taking up a daily meditation practice before studying and before exams start could help a person stay calm during stressful events. There are lots of meditation apps available as well as guided meditations online.
Another piece of maintaining mental health during finals week is taking breaks. Breaks are beneficial both for studying ability and mental health. Taking a break to do something enjoyable can decrease stress and keep a student’s mind in a good place.
Anyone experiencing high levels of anxiety can reach out to school counselors and see about making an appointment. Students may also benefit from talking about their stress with friends, family members, or professors. Leaning on a social support network during this stressful time may alleviate some of the nervousness that comes with finals week.
Lastly, students should ask for help if they need it. Most colleges have mental health services on campus.
4. Team Up
Students should remember that they’re not going through finals alone. They have a whole class of students struggling right alongside them. This can be a huge asset come finals week.
Instead of studying alone, students can form study groups.Study groups can help students be better prepared for finals. There may be some in the class who understand the material better and can teach it to others.
This helps both the student struggling and the student teaching. The struggling student gets new explanations for tricky material that may be easier to understand. The teaching student solidifies the material in their memory even more by explaining it to others.
Being in a study group can also help with accountability, so students are less likely to slack off and stop studying.
Those who need further support during finals week can visit their professors during office hours or consider getting a tutor. Professors want to see their students succeed, and though they can’t give answers to exam questions, they can help explain parts of the material that someone is struggling with.
No Pay, No Gain
Wait, so college students are paying to suffer through finals week? Technically, yes, because college costs money, of course, and even if the nightmare of finals week is still far off, it’s never too soon for students to start sorting out how they’re going to finance their entire college education.
There’s more than one resource available to students when it comes to funding college expenses. Here are a few, broken down in an easy-to-understand way.
Federal Aid
Students already in college might be familiar with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA.® Eligibility for undergraduates is usually based on parents’ income. Federal aid can come in the form of grants or loans. Grants usually don’t need to be repaid, but loans do.
Federal loans usually come with benefits that private loans don’t, such as income-driven repayments and lower fixed rates. It’s recommended that if students need to take out loans, they use federal loans before turning to private loans.
Is the FAFSA® one and done? Not at all. You must complete the application every year that you attend school if you hope to gain federal aid, and on time.
Free Money
The world of scholarships is vast. Though it can take some digging to find scholarships that students are eligible for, it’s money that usually doesn’t need to be repaid.
Scholarships can be need based or merit based, with the eligibility requirements different for each one. Scholarships come from colleges, corporations, local community organizations, religious organizations, and more.
Students might want to check if their college has any information available on scholarships. Usually, schools have a scholarship office or information about scholarships at their financial aid office.
Another Option
Private student loans are another way to help fund the college experience, when federal aid doesn’t cover all the bases, a student doesn’t qualify for federal aid, or someone has reached a limit on federal direct loans.
The eligibility for private student loans is usually based on a student’s income and credit history, or that of a cosigner. Each lender will have its own terms, including the interest rate and repayment methods, which merit research.
SoFi offers private student loans with attractive fixed or variable rates, no fees, and a quick online application.
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Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.
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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
College is a time for students to learn and grow, both academically and in their personal development. As a parent, you want what’s best for your child, and that includes helping them pick the right college. But finding the right school for your child may require some time and research, and you’ll likely want to make sure you leave the final decision up to your child.
As you consider various factors, it’s important to zero in on the ones that matter the most for your student.
How to Find the Right College for Your Child
Depending on how much time you have to invest in the process, here are some tips that can help you and your child pick the right college for them.
1. Make a List
Start by creating a broad list of colleges for which you and your child might be a good fit. Consider both local and out-of-state colleges, and don’t be afraid to let your student dream big.
Every student is different, so it’s worth curating a diverse list of options to consider. Typically, various rules of thumb suggest students apply to a mix of “target,” “reach,” and “safety” schools. This could be a good way to organize your child’s initial list of schools.
As you work through the other steps in the process and learn more about each school, you can refine the list.
2. Talk About What They Want to Study
Your high schooler may not yet know what they want to be when they grow up, but they may already have an idea of what direction they want to go. It may be worth having an initial conversation with your child about choosing a major.
Once you have an idea of what they’re interested in, you can look at the colleges on your child’s list that excel in those areas of study. If there aren’t many, you could always consider adding more.
A college education can get expensive, and some universities charge much more than others. If your child already has an idea of which schools they want to apply for or have already received their admissions letters, a key step is to dig into the cost of attendance for each school.
This step is important regardless of whether you’re planning to help your child cover the cost of their education. Finding a college with good value can reduce how much your student may need to borrow in student loans during their stay.
The cost of attendance isn’t the only important cost factor, however. If your child has already received an admission letter, consider whether there’s a financial aid package included, including grants and scholarships. If there is, calculate the total amount you or your child would have to pay after applying that financial aid to get the net price.
4. Talk About Location
Discuss with your child about whether they would prefer a college close to home or far away. Each person is different in this regard, and your teen’s desires on the matter are important.
That said, sending a child off to college, especially out-of-state, can be a stressful experience for parents. It’s normal to feel anxious about this milestone in your child’s life, but avoid allowing your anxiety to dictate your role in the process.
Explore information about student loans,
grants, and scholarships per state.
5. Learn About the Environment
Finding the right college for your child isn’t just about the school itself; it’s also about the environment the school provides. This is where it can be worth making a trip to visit college campuses with your child to get a feel of the place — or at least to take virtual tours.
It may also be worthwhile to look into some of the extracurricular activities the schools provide. If your child is athletic, for instance, ask about intramural sports. If they want to study abroad, look into the quality of each school’s international programs.
Another factor to consider that can affect your child’s experience is classroom size. If you think your child may need more attention, a school where every class is in an auditorium with hundreds of other students may not be the right one.
6. Give Your Child Time
Picking a college may be easy for some students, but it can take time for others. If your teen is having a hard time, it can be a fine line between supporting them and annoying them. Finding the right balance can be tricky.
As a happy medium, consider choosing a night each week to discuss college plans with your teen. Ask about their thought process and offer help if they’re feeling stuck.
It can be frustrating to sit back and watch your child struggle, but allowing them to make the decision for themselves can help them develop the independence they’ll need in the coming months and years.
7. Be Supportive
No matter what your child decides, they need your support more than anything else. Remember that you’re finding the right college for your child, not for you.
And keep in mind that your child may choose to transfer at some point in the future if they decide the school is no longer a good fit.
Regardless of what happens, your support can give them the confidence they need to make their college experience a good one.
Financing Your Child’s College
Once your child has picked a college, talk about how they’re going to finance their education. If you’ve managed to set money aside in a 529 Plan or can help with your current income and savings, discuss the numbers and whether your teen will need to pick up some of the slack.
Also, talk about student loans and how to use them wisely, as well as how to reduce how much they’ll need to borrow. Ideas include applying for scholarships and grants, working part-time, and borrowing only what they need.
Other options to look into include federal Parent PLUS Loans, private parent student loans, or private undergraduate student loans to help fund their education. If all federal aid options have been exhausted, SoFi offers no-fee private student loans to help parents and students pay for school.
Prequalify for a private student loan with SoFi in just two minutes.
SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.
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SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
From hiring a video arcade on wheels to treating 10 little princesses to a spa day, today’s birthday parties have gone next level. You could easily drop $500-plus on your kid’s next shindig.
Fortunately, you don’t have to. It’s possible to host a fun and memorable birthday celebration for friends and family without breaking the bank.
Here are some inexpensive party ideas to consider when planning your next birthday bash.
1. Being Selective with the Guest List
As tempting as it might be to invite everyone in your child’s class or the whole soccer team, limiting the guest count is a simple way to save money on a birthday party.
Less people means less food, less party supplies, and fewer favors — but not necessarily less fun. It’s possible to have a close knit vibe at a birthday party that gets people talking to each other and enjoying themselves even more than they would have at a big event.
If your child is willing to invite only one or two friends, you might consider skipping a party altogether and opting for an experience. Going bowling or spending a couple of hours at a play space, zoo, or museum can suddenly become an affordable option.
2. Sharing the Party with a Friend
If your child’s birthday falls around the same time as one of their close friends, you might want to consider teaming up and having a dual birthday party.
This enables you to share the costs and responsibilities with another family and, if the kids have a similar friend group, it would not necessarily have to be a much larger party. It can be a good idea, however, to make sure each child gets their own cake and presents.
While hosting a party at a local climbing gym or other entertainment venue can be appealing, you can end up dropping as much as $350 just for the space.
One way to throw a birthday party on a tight budget is to have the party at home. That said, the wear and tear on your floors and furnishings might not be worth the savings. In good weather, however, a backyard party can be a great, low-cost option. Or, you might consider having the party in a local park or garden.
If your child’s birthday lands in a cold weather season, you can save money on a venue by limiting the guest list and going with the most basic package (such as just food and drinks for each child), and providing your own cake and goody bags. You can also check deal websites for discounts and promotions or ask the venue about a discount for having the party at an off-peak time or day.
Skipping the paper and going with digital invitations can be kinder to the environment and also cut down on birthday party costs, since you won’t have to buy premade invites or stamps.
You can design your own digital invitation and send them via email or text, or you may want to take advantage of one of the many online (and free) e-invitation sites.
💡 Quick Tip: Tired of paying pointless bank fees? When you open a bank account online you often avoid excess charges.
5. Getting Creative With Decorations
One of the best things about the internet is that somebody’s probably already created precisely what you need. Rather than drop a chunk of money at the party store on themed decor, you may want to check out Pinterest for free printables.
You can also find ideas for DIY decorations on Pinterest (along with many other sites) using low cost supplies, possibly even things you already have on hand. Dollar stores can also be great places to shop for decorations and supplies.
If you do hit the party store, you may want to consider going with just one or two premium themed items and keeping the rest of the decor colorful and fun.
A custom bakery cake that serves just 15 to 25 people can run over $50, while a cake large enough for over 35 guests can easily run more than $70.
A cheaper option is to buy a cake mix, then make it look and taste homemade with a few simple baking hacks, such as swapping butter for oil and milk for water, adding an extra egg, and making your own buttercream frosting.
To make cupcakes that look like they came from a bakery, you can pipe icing on top using a ziplock bag with a tiny hole snipped in the corner.
7. Timing the Party Right
If the party takes place during lunch or dinner time, there’s a good chance people will expect to be fed a meal.
Choosing an off-time to celebrate — such as 10:30am or 2:30pm — means you can steer the party away from heartier, and costly, fare (like freshly delivered pizzas or a sandwich platter) and stick to serving finger foods and snacks instead.
If you’ll be giving each guest a swag bag, consider buying toys and trinkets in bulk sets and then dividing them up. This can be a real cost-saver when compared to purchasing items individually (even at the dollar store).
Fun items like paper airplanes, wooden yoyos, squishy toys, stampers, fidget spinners and Slinkys can often be purchased in packs at stores as well as online.
💡 Quick Tip: When you feel the urge to buy something that isn’t in your budget, try the 30-day rule. Make a note of the item in your calendar for 30 days into the future. When the date rolls around, there’s a good chance the “gotta have it” feeling will have subsided.
9. Playing Some Free Games
You don’t necessarily have to rent a bouncy house or hire live entertainment to keep a birthday party lively and fun. There are a number of inexpensive ways to make sure there is plenty of action, activity, and laughter. Here are a few fun, free games you might consider:
• Duck Duck Goose
• Charades
• Musical Chairs
• Red Rover
• Rock Paper Scissor Tournaments
• Three Legged Races
• Marco Polo (you can even play on land)
• Hot Potato
• Simon Says
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The Takeaway
It can be tempting — and easy — to spend a lot creating a memorable birthday party. But with just a few cost-cutting strategies, such as trimming your guestlist, shifting the time of the party, choosing an inexpensive venue, and organizing some free games, you can throw a festive birthday bash without breaking the bank.
You can also make birthday celebrations more affordable by setting a budget and saving up in advance.
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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
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Have you ever asked yourself this question: “When should I start saving for my child’s college?” If so, then the standard advice given is to start early. And with the rising costs of college tuition and fees, the sooner you can start, the better.
However, it’s never too late to start saving for your child’s college education now.
Getting a Late Start With College Savings
According to data presented by US News and World Report , the average cost of college tuition and fees for the 2022-2023 school year for in-state, public universities was $10,423, with the cost of private universities averaging $39,723 per year.
And that doesn’t include housing expenses, transportation costs, books, supplies, or anything else needed during that time.
So, what do you do if you’re late getting started?
Use the One-Third Rule
When figuring out how to pay for college, consider the one-third rule. This strategy involves saving enough money to cover one-third of the total cost of college expenses, planning to pay another third out of your current income, and relying on student financial aid for the final third. If you can save more than one-third, go for it. But if you can’t, at least you have this one-third plan as a baseline strategy.
Explore Scholarships
Another strategy could be to get the entire family to participate in this savings quest. Your child can play a big part, in fact, by performing well academically and then exploring which schools offer scholarships. Your child could also ask family members to donate to their college fund as a birthday or holiday gift.
Save With a 529 Plan
One way to save for college expenses is with a 529 plan, which is a qualified tuition plan that is sponsored by state governments, state agencies, and educational institutions. The two types of 529 plans are prepaid tuition plans and education savings plans. At least one type of 529 plan is available in each of the 50 states, plus in the District of Columbia.
Prepaid tuition plans allow you to prepay tuition at participating colleges and universities at today’s rates. These credits can then be used for tuition payments in the future, but usually do not cover additional college expenses, such as housing.
If your child ends up attending a college or university that isn’t part of the prepaid tuition plan, the money you’ve invested will transfer over to the chosen college, but you’ll have to pay tuition at today’s rates.
Education savings plans involve opening an investment account with funds available for college expenses.
When you withdraw funds from a traditional 529 savings plan, they can be put toward college tuition, fees, room and board, textbooks, and more. You can even use the funds to pay for K-12 tuition, if needed. Investment choices can include mutual funds, exchange-traded fund portfolios (ETFs), bonds, CDs, and short-term reserves.
What if you have a financial windfall, perhaps through an inheritance or large bonus? You can actually contribute up to five years’ worth of contributions in year one of your 529 plan, which would give you the opportunity to front-load your savings and take greater advantage of tax-free growth of your account.
Finally, here’s a question that’s sometimes asked about this strategy: When is it too late to start a 529 plan? The answer: If your child hasn’t yet started college, it’s not too late to take advantage of this type of plan.
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More Tips for Parents Starting Late
If you’re getting a late start to saving for your child’s college education and want to make college more affordable, and here are four tips to consider:
• Encourage your child to take advantage of advanced placement (AP) credits during their junior and senior years of high school, as many colleges will count those as college credit hours. The more credits your child starts with in college, the fewer they may need to take and pay for during college years.
• Explore what grants are available for your child. Grants are funds that don’t need to be paid back.
• Help your child apply for scholarships. School counselors can often help with this endeavor and, by doing so, your child can go after opportunities that may be lesser known.
• Consider using digital options for expensive textbooks. If your child rented all their textbooks from a library in digital form, you could potentially save thousands over a four-year period.
And finally, if you haven’t saved enough but don’t want to burden your child with debt, you could consider a private parent student loan to help with the ever-increasing expenses of college.
Private Parent Student Loans With SoFi
SoFi® offers private parent student loans to help you pay for your child’s tuition. The application process is quick and easy, and SoFi® offers competitive rates, flexible terms and zero fees.
In the spirit of transparency, SoFi® strongly believes you should exhaust all of your federal grant, loan, and other student aid options before you consider SoFi® as your private loan lender.
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Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
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Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
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Sure, there are lots of ways to get rid of your unwanted but still usable stuff. You could sell it online, haul it to a consignment shop…or maybe you’d just rather hold a garage or stoop sale and let people pay on the spot and walk away with their purchases.
No shipping, no schlepping, just a good old-fashioned transaction. You pick what you want to sell, you spruce it up, price it, publicize it, and then set up for your sale and staff it.
Whether you call it a “garage sale,” “yard sale,” or “tag sale,” you can boost the odds of success at an outdoor sale by following these tips and tactics.
1. Planning Your Garage Sale In Advance
Is it possible to pull together everything you need in a couple of days and hold a decent garage sale? Maybe. But your chances of success are likely to improve substantially if you put in some time planning your event.
Here are some things to consider ahead of time:
Knowing Your Goals
You’re probably hoping to make a profit and clear out some clutter. But knowing your top priority could help as you choose which items in your home you’re willing to part with and how you’ll price those goods.
Researching the Rules
Before you organize a sale, it’s a wise idea to check out how they’re handled in your community.
Some cities and counties require citizens who want to hold a garage sale to obtain a permit online or in person. There may or may not be a fee involved, but, either way, you could face a fine if a permit is required and you fail to get one.
There also may be limits on how early the sale can start, how late it can go, how many days it can last, the number of signs you can post, as well as the type of merchandise you can sell.
If you belong to a homeowners association (HOA), you might have to seek permission there as well. Some HOAs may allow only one or two neighborhood-wide sales a year (especially if you live in a community with a gate that would have to remain open all day).
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2. Setting Your Garage Sale Date
Once you know you’re able to have a sale, you can set a date and get the necessary permits.
Even if your schedule is pretty flexible, you may want to keep a few things in mind when you’re looking at your calendar:
• Consider choosing a day that falls just after a common payday (the first or the 15th of the month).
• You may want to avoid holding a sale on a holiday weekend, when many people will be away or have other plans.
• The most popular sale days are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays because most people are off from work. Keep in mind, though, that many families have activities or church on those days, so you may want to start early and end in the afternoon to attract the most shoppers. Or you could choose a weekday to avoid the weekend competition.
• You may want to hold a two-day sale and use the second day as an “everything must go” event.
• Mother Nature might not cooperate no matter when you hold your sale. Still, you can improve your chances of having better weather if you consider the season (not too hot, not too cold, not too rainy, not too windy) in your planning.
3. Stockpiling Garage Sale Items
A good strategy is to move through each room of your house (the attic, basement, garage, and sheds, too), and start boxing up items you might want to sell.
You might want to make a list of larger items you don’t want to move until you’re closer to the actual sale date, such as old furniture, artwork, or exercise equipment.
Kids who are reluctant to part with old toys, bikes, or sports equipment might be more willing if you offer to cut them in on the action. Consider negotiating a percentage of the profits, or offering to replace all the gently used toys they sell with one new one.
If you aren’t sure you have enough to grab shoppers’ interest on your own, you can ask friends and neighbors if they want to join in, or offer to sell their items on consignment.
4. Going All in With Publicity
It’s probably not the best idea to count on word of mouth to bring bargain hunters to your door. Consider advertising your garage sale at least a week in advance — and tempting shoppers with a list of desirable items.
Some places to consider publicizing your sale:
Newspapers
You may want to list your garage sale in the old-school print classifieds. You could see if your local newspaper charges a reasonable rate (and get a digital ad while you’re at it). You may want to keep the wording tight — you’ll likely pay more if you go over a pre-set maximum word count.
Many of these sites allow you to post a photo or photos with your ad, so it can help to have that ready, along with the wording you want to use.
Community Bulletin Boards
Some grocery stores, gyms, community centers and schools have bulletin boards where you can post a flyer. Consider making yours stand out with bold lettering, and including the sale date, hours, and address.
Signs for the Neighborhood
If signs are allowed in your area, consider putting out at least five or six on the day before the sale. You may want to make them easy to read from the road, with the address in bold print and an arrow pointing the way.
Also consider tying balloons and a big sign to your mailbox on sale day to make your home more visible.
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5. Preparing What You’ll Need for the Sale
A week before the sale, you may want to start considering, and gathering, everything you’ll need. This may include:
Sale-Day Supplies
It’s a smart idea to make sure you have as many folding tables as you’ll need to properly display your sale items, and enough chairs so you and your “staff” can sit comfortably. (It could be a long day.)
A payment station
You may want to set up a main payment station that’s easy for shoppers to get to when they’re ready to buy.
You could make or buy a box to hold the money you collect and for change. (It’s wise to start out with plenty of ones, fives, and quarters in case early shoppers show up with bigger bills.)
Or, you can wear a vendor apron with pockets for the money. You also may want to give family, friends and neighbors you know the option of using a P2P app to make their purchases.
Keeping some old boxes and plastic grocery store bags near the checkout table can be useful for customers who have a lot to carry home.
6. Setting Your Prices
One option is to set up a color-coded sticker system, with items grouped by cost. If you go that route, keep in mind that you’ll want to let those who are assisting at the sale know the code, as well as put up a sign for customers.
A simpler option might be to just tag most of the items individually with a roll of painter’s tape (which is typically easier to remove than masking tape). Larger signs can point out bundled prices, such as “5 CDs for $2” or “3 paperbacks for $1.”
It’s a good idea to remember your main goal when setting prices. If you want to get rid of everything, you may want to keep prices reasonably low.
To avoid cheating yourself, however, you may want to do some research ahead of time so you can get the best price for special items (antiques, collectibles, or anything that might be in high demand with garage sale regulars).
If possible, it’s wise to keep sentimentality from getting in the way of a solid sale.
Also, if several people will be working the sale, you may want to set ground rules for how low prices on certain items should go — and on haggling in general.
If someone offers a low price at the start of the day, and you think you can do better, you may want to exchange contact info, and agree to connect again later when the sale is over.
💡 Quick Tip: An emergency fund or rainy day fund is an important financial safety net. Aim to have at least three to six months’ worth of basic living expenses saved in case you get a major unexpected bill or lose income.
7. Making Your Garage Sale Appealing to Shoppers
You’ll likely want to give some thought to the presentation of your items. Organization can make the day go better for you and your customers. And a little extra effort could make a difference in how much you can get for your goods. Some ideas:
Cleaning Old Items
You can start washing, dusting, and polishing things as soon as you decide they’ll be included in your sale.
This might include Inflating balls and bicycle tires, putting light bulbs in lamps, and trying to have batteries and a power source available for customers who want to test an item before purchasing. (If something doesn’t work, it’s a good idea to mark it clearly.)
Arranging Things in a Way that Makes Sense
Consider making it as easy as possible for customers to find things using signs and a system.
For example, books, CDs, DVDs, and videogames could be grouped together. Toys, board games and puzzles might be another section.
You may want to place the biggest sale items out in front of the yard, if you can–both to attract attention, and so customers can get them to their cars without disturbing others.
If possible, hang clothing on a garment rack near hats, shoes, and purses, and set up a mirror close by.
If your sale goes well, you may have to rearrange your display several times during the day.
8. Being a Good Host
One way to keep garage sale shoppers from walking away without really looking is to make it fun to stick around.
Consider playing some energetic music and greeting customers as they arrive. You also may want to sell water, lemonade, and maybe even baked goods. (It can be nice to have snacks and beverages ready for helpers, too.)
You might also want to have some bottles of hand sanitizer available for customers to use.
If you know your neighbors, they may pop by for a chat. While you may want to be polite and chat, you may also want to remind them that you need to pay attention to your customers — and the money box.
9. Remembering Sale Day Safety
Early birds sometimes show up long before a garage sale is scheduled to start. The more you have ready ahead of time, the more you’ll be able to stay focused on keeping everything and everyone (people, pets, breakables, and the money you make) safe.
Here are some security tips:
Locking Your Doors
It’s wise to keep the doors to your home and your car locked, and to avoid letting strangers use your bathroom.
Getting a Sitter
A sitter can keep an eye on young children and pets so you don’t have to.
Stashing Excess Cash
As profits start to pile up, it’s a good idea to have a method for how you’ll transfer excess cash to a safe spot in your home. It’s also wise to avoid talking about how much you’ve made.
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10. Having a Plan for Unsold Items
When your sale ends, you’ll likely have at least a few unsold items to deal with.
If your primary goal was to clear the clutter, you may want to donate those leftovers to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or some other nonprofit group that takes used goods. (If you itemize deductions, you may be able to include your donation on your tax return. Just be sure to keep a list of everything you gave and an estimate of the value.)
If the charitable organization you choose offers a pickup service, you may want to schedule the truck for the first available day after your sale. If not, you can arrange to drop off your items as soon as possible. (It’s a good idea to understand beforehand what the charity will and won’t accept.)
If you want to try to squeeze a little more money out of what’s left over — or there are some high-ticket items you aren’t willing to give away — you may want to move on to the online marketplace and sites like Offerup , Facebook Marketplace , Varage Sale , or Swap.com .
Consider taking the time to include a photo with anything you list online. At the very least, it could save you from having to answer a lot of questions about your item.
11. Making the Most of Your Garage Sale Profits
One of the perks of holding a garage sale vs. a virtual sale is that you’ll be holding your profits in your hands (mostly in cash) when you’re finished.
That also could be a problem, though, because it might be tempting to spend it. (And maybe even buy more stuff!)
Instead, consider planning ahead what you’d like to do with your profits. This may also help keep you motivated while you’re putting in the work to plan and host your sale. If you don’t have a specific plan, consider putting the money you earned towards an emergency fund.
The Takeaway
Hosting a garage sale can be a great way to clear the clutter in your home and sell a large number of unwanted items all in one fell swoop.
A successful sale, however, requires some upfront work, as well a day (or two) or working the sale.
The process typically requires gathering and preparing your items, getting a permit, picking up sale supplies, advertising your event, and then setting everything up in an organized and appealing way early on the day of the sale.
The payoff? Newfound space in your home and (hopefully) a nice pile of cash you can take to the bank.
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