One person’s trash is another’s treasure—and I’ve a lot of trash. Well, not trash exactly, but plenty of stuff I want to sustainably get rid of.
Or, at least, I did—before my friends and I hosted a yard sale outside our apartment on Sept. 1. Capitalizing on the long weekend’s foot traffic, we woke up bright and early to lay old clothes, books, and trinkets out on the sidewalk for the Queen’s community’s consideration.
As a thrifty member of Gen Z, I’ve an appreciation for other people’s used stuff. My friends and I were banking on the fact that other Queen’s students felt the same—and given our modest sales—we’re somewhat right.
But what I learned from my end-of-summer cleaning wasn’t how to sharpen my business acumen, but rather how to sharpen my people skills.
Common critiques of the modern yard sale point out it can be difficult to part with items in the moment, and that the return on investment is higher when you sell things on secondhand websites like Mercari and eBay. If you’re in it for the money, these arguments have some merit: I stood in the hot sun for nearly six hours, and only made about $100.
However, during the first weekend back on campus, hosting a yard sale was an excellent way to catch up with old friends who stopped by, and to meet new people with the same taste in fashion and media as myself. I’m not always good at small talk, but trying to balance casual conversation with sales pitches for my used items was a helpful exercise.
Small talk is great for relationships and builds community. However, in the digital age, easy conversations can be difficult face-to-face—causing many members of Gen Z to withdraw, despite craving closeness. I’m often tempted to put my headphones on as I walk across campus to avoid “distracting” conversations with people I pass, failing to consider my constant need for stimulation is itself a distraction.
At the yard sale, my friends and I engaged in direct, one-on-one conversations with members of a community we love. Shockingly, we all felt energized and content at the end of the day, despite hours of constant chatter; a feeling explained by how small talk boosts satisfaction, according to Psychology Today.
Of course, as someone who hates clutter, I can’t ignore the other obvious benefit of the yard sale: clearing out junk. While donating to local charities is a great option, secondhand goods don’t always end up in the hands of those who need them most. And, admittedly, I do believe I’ve some great style pieces—ones I would love to see end up with other fashion-focused students.
Hosting a yard sale helped me make room in my closet for warmer fall clothes in a way that felt right for me. Coupled with the benefit of feeling more connected to the Queen’s community, I would highly recommend the experience to anyone with a little free time on the weekend and a lot of trash for someone else to treasure.
The next time you see a “yard sale” sign around campus, follow the arrows. You never know what you might find.
Tags
back to school, Campus, community, Fashion, Lifestyle, secondhand clothes, yard sale
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