Garage Sale Hunting : A Full-Time Job?

Now, Moore is able to supplement her family’s income by essentially flipping other folks’ unwanted goods. Since that initial purchase in 2008, she has flipped couches, chairs, dining room tables and cabinets. Occasionally, she will buy items that need refurbishing. A children’s bedroom set covered in crayon cost her $65. Once cleaned and varnished, it sold on Craigslist in one day for $600.

“I would say I make about $1,000 a month in supplemental income,” Moore says, adding that her garage sale purchases, which can be viewed extensively on her blog Becca’s Bargains, have netted more income than other small side jobs she tried after leaving her full-time position. “I ran a home daycare service for a while and didn’t make as much money.” 

Back in school to get her nursing degree, Moore tells MainStreet she recently slowed her side business a bit. But she doubts she will ever abandon her efforts entirely.

“The economy isn’t quite what it used to be,” Moore says. “Sometimes the kids need glasses, something needs to be repaired … it’s nice to have the money on hand for those unexpected surprises.”

Garage Sales Gone Viral

While Moore’s story is unique, she’s not the only one using garage sales to boost her family’s income.

Austin Allgaier launched YardSaleSearch.com after his wife and sister-in-law started scouring garage sales for discounts on children’s clothes.