fun raising

Does it look hot? Because yes, yes it was. It was Labor Day weekend which means fall for normal Americans. But here in Arizona there is no fall. Just early summer, mid-summer, late-summer and spring.

We decided late summer was the perfect time to pull together a yard sale. We had never had one before and as Claire has been fundraising for her Washington D.C. trip, we thought this was a good way for her to get the rest of her first payment which was due the next week. Lots of friends donated items for us to sell and theoretically, the little kids were supposed to sell soda and water. The little kids lasted twenty minutes and then wilted. Claire and Conner helped set up and organize it, but then there was little for them to do after that, as I didn't want my thirteen-year-old daughter negotiating bargains with strange men while holding a few hundred in cash.

So yes, it was a lot of work for Blake and me. We learned a few things. 1) We will never do a garage sale again in the summer. 2) We will never do a garage sale again. 3) I'm the worst ever at making a bargain. I feel so guilty about not wanting to rip anyone off for taking my used clothing that I way underbid myself. One lady asked how much the shoes were as she brought two pairs up to buy. I told her a dollar a pair. She handed me two dollars and I said, "It's ok, just give me one dollar." Later Blake had to give me a hey-sweetie-listen visit about sales. I know. I suck at it.

Another lady rolled her eyes when I told her the price of something so I reduced it by a third. I wasn't cut out for marketing.

Despite my frequent sabotage of my own business we reached our fiscal goal of the day and Claire's first payment was made.

The next fundraising opp was through her school's travel club. One chocolate bar costs one dollar. No bargaining. No negotiating. No sweltering 110 degree Saturday shifts. This is my kind of fundraising. 

We are getting there. Claire should be able to pay for her entire trip herself with these and other endeavors. I am proud of her hard work! I have learned a lot about fundraising. 

If you need some good ideas for your own fundraising I have a few that I haven't mentioned here. Just ask me!