Thursday, February 07, 2013

Jennie Walker and documentary filmmaking 01/30 by Successipes | Blog Talk Radio

Selling and Customer Service 01/31 by Successipes | Blog Talk Radio

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Yard Sale Treasure Hunting

It's hard to give up a fun habit that can lead to adventure, networking with people, making money, and acquiring things at amazing prices. When I went back and found this blog I realized that I started it a long time ago. I am still in the habit of being an early bird yard sale junkie and specialize in the fine art of dumpster diving.

Many are curious how I got started as the Princess of Trash to Cash and involved in dumpster diving. Please note. I do not put on a swimsuit and jump into the dumpsters, I have been known to remove items from the large dumpsters which have already been pitched in and discarded by others.

Where and when did I get so involved in turning trash to cash? The answer is easy and I remember exactly when I started finding treasures in the trash and going to yard sales. It was 1976. That was the year that my mother was head of household, a divorcee needing to support two children. We lived in a huge apartment complex with about 25 buildings and 25 huge garbage dumpsters.

In fact, we are not ashamed or embarrassed or unclear about how we paid the rent for the first year. It was absolutely paid in full by collecting and re-selling the garbage people discarded and we resold at flea markets. People placed in or near the dumpster everything from furniture to accessories to decorative items such as mirrors, lamps, end tables, pictures, to books.

We walked, we talked, and we found ways to get the "trash" which became our "treasure" back to our apartment. Of course we practiced "safe dumpster diving" with tools such as rubber gloves and other necessary items to keep us safe and sanitary.

The coolest part of all this dumpster diving is that we knew we were on a mission to succeed and survive. I am rather shocked at the extreme stories I've heard over the last few years and the stories I've seen on television about "extremely cheap" people who will find food in the dumpsters and eat it.

Let's be clear. I never brought home food from any dumpsters, nor would I eat discarded food. I am a bargain hunter, yard sale enthusiast and the author of "The Trash to Cash Toolkit." My book, "The Trash to CashToolkit" explains about finding collectible items at yard sales and offers ideas about how to turn them into cash.

My best advice for those who are interested in making money going to yard sales is to be prepared before you go with lots of small change whether nickles, dimes, quarters, and dollar bills. It's easier to bargain and negotiate with people when you give them a dollar than if you try to hand someone a Twenty dollar bill.

My greatest yard sale mentor was grandpa Harry. His famous question was, "How much do you want for this quarter item?" He pissed people off and then they would laugh and then they would give him the item for a quarter. If  you know anything about collectibles... Would you be happy finding an item marked "Occupied Japan" for a Quarter??

You can follow my social media at http://Xeeme.com/loriwilkhttp://Xeeme.com/loriwilk