Normandy Meadows Yard Sale is Oct. 4.

Clean out your closet and empty your shed: Normandy Meadows Garden Club is sponsoring a Yard Sale on Oct. 4 (7am to 1pm). All neighbors are welcome to hold their own sales that day -- the Garden Club will purchase an ad in the Commercial Appeal to promote the event. We'll list the neighborhood boundaries in the ad; all you need to do is set up your sale and tie some balloons to your mailbox.

Here are a few tips for holding a successful sale:

• Start now looking through your home for unwanted items. Put price tags on your stuff as soon as you put it into boxes or bags so you aren't trying to price things that morning.
• Price your items fairly; people are looking for bargains.
• Get $20 or so in dollar bills the day before so you can make change during the first few sales. Get $5 or so in coins.
  
• Keep your money in your pockets or a fanny pack; cash boxes can be stolen when you aren't looking.
• Be willing to negotiate your sticker price.
• Consider having a box of freebies (like fast food toys). Offer one to kids who come through. Or make it "free with purchase".
• Ask your kids to look through their toys and see if they have anything to sell. Let them keep the money as an incentive.
  
• Think about offering everything for half price during the last hour or so, if you don't want to haul a bunch of things back in your house.
• After the sale, take unsold items to Goodwill or leave on your curb (marked "free").