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Yard Sale Tips & 5 Easy Recipes

Yard Sale Tips & 5 Easy Recipes

For moms who manage money, meals, and the messy middle.

Ann Woo
November 10, 2025

Happy Monday! Today is going to be a great day and I’m so glad you’re here. 🥰

This past Saturday, my husband and I hosted our very first (and possibly last?!) yard sale and let me tell you, it completely consumed my week leading up to it. I had no idea how much work goes into pulling one off! From organizing and pricing to marketing and setup, it was a full-time job. And the day of? Pure chaos! We were up past midnight the night before and back at it by 6AM.

Here are a few things I learned along the way:

Organization is everything. Group items by category, size, or price- it’ll make your life so much easier and make it a better shopping experience for the customer. I had $5 bins, baby gear table, free table, etc.
Signs work! We put ours up Wednesday night around the neighborhood, and about 90% of our shoppers came because they saw them. The rest found us on Facebook.
Do your pricing homework. Check similar items on Facebook Marketplace or eBay so you’re not guessing. Price it where you’re comfortable, knowing some people will negotiate (surprisingly, we only had one haggler!).
Stock up on bags and change. Most people paid via Venmo, but a few came with cash. Be ready for both.
Get the kids involved. Our toddler “sold” coffee and donuts, had the best time doing it, and proudly put his earnings straight into his piggy bank afterward. It’s never too early to start teaching the value of earning and saving!

By the end of the day, our home felt lighter, our basement cleaner, and the hard work was well worth it for the extra earnings and that amazing “just-purged” feeling. PRICELESS!

Before the holidays hit, take some time to declutter and make space for what’s to come. If you have enough items, a yard sale can be a great option. Otherwise, platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Once Upon A Child, or local consignment stores are perfect for turning unused items into a little extra spending money.

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? Are you holding out for those Black Friday deals, or do you shop as you go? I’d love to know in the poll at the end from all 1,165 of you! And stay tuned- my gift guides are coming your way this week!

Speaking of polls, last week’s results were so fun to read! Turns out 41% of you said stuffing (or dressing!) is your must-have Thanksgiving side and I completely agree. I’m planning to make a sourdough stuffing with sausage this year, and I can’t wait. 29% of you voted for mashed potatoes (a classic!), and many of you shared your own favorites via replies with mac and cheese, broccoli casserole, salad, and more.

Just writing this is making me hungry and so excited for Thanksgiving! Next week’s newsletter will be all about Thanksgiving recipes, so be on the lookout for that one.

Let’s get into it:

🍽️ What’s for Dinner

Miso Ramen - I had an amazing miso ramen on Friday night at one of our go-to Asian restaurants. The broth was so spicy and so good- perfect for a cold night! I need to remake this at home and this recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole With Biscuits - I was essentially raised by Marie Callender’s frozen chicken pot pies growing up and this recipe looks so easy and good. My kids would love the biscuit topping!
Zucchini & Ground Turkey Skillet with Ricotta - I love the combo of zucchini and ground turkey—they cook up so quickly, making it an easy weeknight win. This skillet looks amazing with the ricotta, and you can easily toss in whatever veggies you have on hand.
Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli - I made sheet pan halibut with sweet potatoes and broccoli last night and it was such a hit with both my kids! You could easily replace the salmon with halibut in this recipe if you like.
Skillet Chicken Thighs With Mushroom Gravy - I love this recipe for a simple weeknight hero. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes to soak up all that sauce- it’s divine.

❤️ What I’m Recommending

This section contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them—at no extra cost to you (thanks for supporting the newsletter!).

Climb that corporate ladder with these insanely comfortable suede booties. I love this statement necklace with pop of color (comes in so many different colors) and will be my go-to grab for the holidays! I paired it with this short sleeve sweater tee and the best black pants that are as equally comfortable as they are professional!
Feel chic and comfy in these comfy black straight leg jeans that have a stretch to them (hello Thanksgiving meal pants!). I paired with this old Target sweater and the most beautiful gold flower earrings that could dress up any wardrobe. I love these pointed toe flats to complete the look.
My sweatshirt says “clean eating & dirty martinis” which is the story of my life. It’s old Abercrombie but this oversized waffle tee is a dream as well. Paired with legit the best joggers (one of my fave brands) and these 3-year old sneakers that don’t seem to quit. Perfect for running around town with the laundry list of things you need to get done!

💸 In This Economy? (Mom’s Version)

How an Indiana Mom Makes It Work for Their Family of Six

In This Economy? is a weekly series showcasing the costs of motherhood from real moms. Want to share your story anonymously? Submit here — no names, no judgment.

Age: Mid-30s
Kids: Yes, 4 kids ages 9,7,3,1
Your Job or Primary Source of Income: My husband's income - he is a social media marketing manager
Household Income: $130K
Own or rent: Own, $1,600/month
Childcare or daycare expense: $500/month for part time preschool
Recent purchase you regret: Snacks at the airport for my kids (instead of bringing my own) - just insane how marked up everything is in airports!
Splurge and don’t regret: A special deep cleansing shampoo that makes me feel like a new woman! $50
Best “mom sanity” splurge: Barre class - $140/month and literally saves my sanity. Also helped me get back into shape so much after my 4th baby!!
Weekly “kid stuff” spend: $200ish
Weekly spend on groceries: $350 (not proud of this)
Most spent on a kid party: $500
Purchase that you don’t tell your partner about: Just allll of the Amazon purchases. Sometimes I just buy clothes from there so he can't ask me about why I bought something from a store he recognizes as clothes lol
Saving for your kids college tuitions: Yes they all have 529 accounts that we contribute to monthly
Something financial you wish your parents had taught you: I wish that they had talked more about the benefits of budgeting and really showed me what that looked like. One of the primary reasons my parents divorced was arguing about money so it's pretty triggering for me even talking about it with my husband.
Managing family budget: We use Outlook to set monthly budgets in different categories - still working on meeting those goals
Great ways to save money on kid-related expenses: Second hand stores like Once Upon a Child have some really great stuff! I bought my son 6 different pieces of clothing for $20 and you can sell back stuff you are getting rid of and/or just trade it in for "new" clothes.
Money advice for other moms: Check in at least a few times a month with your partner to make sure you are on the sage page and communicating well about money. It just feels so bad when you are not on the same page and everyone in the house can feel that!
Finish the sentence: “In this economy, I still somehow _______.” shop at Whole Foods

Thanks again for being here. If you love it, forward this to a mom friend—more voices make this better. And if you ever want to share, vent, or suggest something, just hit reply. I’m reading every email!

Woo you next week,
Ann