"Anyone want to go 'sale-ing'?" Dad would ask us kids, laughing at his own joke every time. It was a common Saturday-morning greeting in the summer, and we enjoyed the adventure of driving around looking for deals. For a kid without much of my own money, it was a fun way to make my own choices and purchases. In reality, we needed to have a garage sale more than we needed to shop at one.

As an adult, I have a love-hate relationship with garage sales (or "tag sales," a more refined term used by the sophisticated). I love them because they promote reusing and recycling items. And if you're on the selling end, a garage sale provides motivation to declutter, organize, and clean your garage. (My friends in the U.K. have "car boot" (trunk) sales, similar to flea markets in the U.S., though a bit less formal and with a much cooler name. Imagine that--their entire collections of cast-offs fit into their autos.)

There are other good reasons to have a garage sale. Kids are often motivated to part with their treasures when they know they can keep the profits; and you have a practical way to teach them how to total a sale, make change, and count money. A multifamily sale is a fun activity that builds community with your neighbors, team, or volunteer organization; and you'll attract more customers than having one by yourself. With enough experience, you might really cash in. Last summer, Wayzata Community Church's two-day sale grossed over $168,000 to benefit community outreach and service programs.

But I hate garage sales because they slow the decluttering process. You don't get to free up space until after the sale is over--and that could be a while. Until then, you have to commit storage space in your home or garage to serve as a staging area for future-sale items. Often the donation value of an item is higher than the price you'd earn at the sale. If you can handle delayed gratification, you'll appreciate the difference when tax time comes.

Finally, garage sales are time consuming. You could make less than minimum wage for all the hours you put in, and you'll still have to deal with whatever doesn't sell.

Considering all this, if you decide that having a sale is the way to go, keep in mind these four rules:

1. Clean everything. Period.

2. Organize your display. Random boxes of stuff frustrate buyers and send them elsewhere. The more attractive and orderly your setup, the more you'll sell. Borrow folding tables from everyone you know. Hang clean sheets over anything that's not for sale, so your buyers won't be confused. Make your pricing obvious and simple to understand.

3. Price everything to sell. Don't waste your time and energy on a garage sale if you aren't ready to part with your unwanted items at garage-sale prices. The primary purpose of your sale is to clear out some clutter. If your main hope is to make money, you might do better on eBay or consignment. Remember, your typical customers are bargain savvy, so keep your prices below those of clearance racks and thrift shops. Be ready to negotiate, especially at the end of your sale. Put up a "1/2 Price" and/or "Make an Offer" sign to help move whatever's left.

4. When the sale is over, be done with it. A friend of ours repacks everything and saves it for his next garage sale. Some of his stuff hasn't sold in years. Let it go. Donate it to charity, or list it on Freecycle.

Every garage sale has its pros and cons. If you have a busy schedule and need space right away, donating is the way to go. But if you truly enjoy the experience as a fun way to release clutter, you just might get a couple of added bonuses: new friends and a little extra cash.

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