Come to My Garage Sale!
August 21, 2009 by Kristin LaVanway · Leave a Comment
Next weekend, I am going to have a garage sale. My kids love garage sales, but I don’t do them a lot. I have never had one since we moved into this house three years ago. I thought about it a while back – my garage seems to be getting cluttered with “stuff” and I would like to reclaim the space. But…this garage sale is not about space.
Like so many people out there, I am battling right now with a dire financial situation. It really sucks, that’s just a fact. I have felt so low I would have to reach up to touch the ground. But I refuse to give up. I have reached out to other people who are going through the same thing and I am so inspired by their spirit, creativity, and in some cases, success in reaching a point where they are no longer victims of their bank accounts. And that’s why I am having this garage sale.
It’s not a completely noble cause – it is summer so my electric bill is sky high. School started so there are all those “start-up” costs. I could use a few more bucks. But the garage sale is also a cleansing process. I am hauling my “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” stuff out to my driveway and watch it go away. I am really excited by that. I want to feel lighter, less cluttered, and appreciate the important stuff. I can’t wait for this garage sale. It’s like recession therapy!
I read a blog post today from Man vs Debt where the author has a list of the 142 things he and his family are keeping – everything else goes. I am not sure I want to get down to 142 things – I noticed that his list does not include towels or pillows! But I love the concept. And I think in these times, a lot of people are realizing that most “stuff” is pretty meaningless and in fact, gets in the way of some really important stuff.
So next Saturday – August 29th – come to my garage sale! It’s going to be great. My kids are master negotiators and my 12-yr old entrepreneur will have his lemonade stand going. And me, I will just be smiling as I watch my life get simpler and less cluttered with stuff.
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I am a Realtor in Gilbert, AZ, working with clients throughout the Phoenix Metro area. I am lucky to love what I do and appreciate the difference I can make in people's lives.
In a previous life, I was a rocket scientist - really! - but decided to step away from corporate America to be a Mom to my four boys. Found it hard to do bake sales, so I ran a small independent programming business instead.
Flash forward...I am now a single mom and I face many, many challenges everyday. I am living through the hardships that many are facing in this economy. These experiences have motivated me to help other people in my shoes.
I have recently been certified as a distressed property expert (CDPE) to allow me to better serve those who may be struggling with their finances and may be looking at a possible foreclosure. My goal is to help these folks evaluate all their options and choose the best course of action.
