By CATHERINE PORTER
On any given Saturday morning, one can see the signs. From fluorescent posters staked in the ground to groups of tables lining the streets, the telltale signatures of garage sales are everywhere.
In an age where everyone from a neighbor to Tori Spelling is holding
one, the trend of garage sales is becoming increasingly prevalent. No longer a way to merely pass on junk, it
has morphed into a way to support a green and economical lifestyle.
“[As a society], we want to use resources more efficiently with less waste; garage sales do that. You take something that you don’t place value in and sell it to someone else,” economics teacher Richard Houston said.
An economical alternative to conventional buying, garage sales provide multiple benefits. Not only is one able to purchase an item for a reduced price but is also able to participate in a “green” lifestyle by reusing the item. By not purchasing the item’s newly manufactured counterpart, one is able to prevent unnecessary use of water, energy, timber, petroleum and other natural resources.
“Garage sales are a fantastic way to go green; you’re recycling your stuff instead of just throwing it away,” sophomore Karina Ferreira said.
As the pool of buyers and sellers grows, services crop up to help match the two. The formation of eBay and Craigslist was only the beginning; now sites such as weekendtreasure.com and garagesalehunter.com match
buyers and sellers based on items
offered, location and dates. Weekend treasure boasted a record of 3,000
sales posted a week.
“The whole deal with matching up buyers and sellers across the country is great; we get more use out of the stuff we produce,” Houston said.
As the nation continues to battle a recession, frugal living
is a mantra that emanates from every corner of the media. For freshman Hannah Via, garage sales provide a way to successfully shop on a student’s budget.
“A lot of my stuff is actually from garage sales. I get really excited when I find something that is cool that I got for really cheap. You can find some pretty good quality stuff if you look hard enough,” Via said.
For Assistant Principal Dr. Oleh Bula, additional benefits can be wrought from the actual process of holding a sale.
“[Holding a garage sale is] a good experience. You learn sales, marketing, communication and haggling. It’s important that kids learn the sales and marketing side of things,” Bula said.
While garage sales are economical and environmentally friendly, downsides exist as well. When considering a purchase, one should check the item for flaws. Though it may be greatly reduced in price, it may not be worth the cost it if does not function. However, when utilized correctly, garage sales can be beneficial to both the seller and buyer.