It was a VERY slow morning, nobody wanted to spend more than £1 and some folk wouldn't even spend that much! I'm beginning to think we have too many boot sales in the area, there's too much choice.
In total I took £67.50p less the £5 pitch fee so £62.50p profit. I brought home some things which I'll take to the lady who collects everything for the WI boot sale which is next weekend. Some will go to a charity shop, one or two things went in the dustbin and a few others back in the cupboard.
That was my second and final boot sale of the year, the third one I've done on my own and that's enough! I have no idea what I'm going to do with all the buckets of nails, screws and other random bits that are still in the workshop - obviously no point in hauling them anywhere to sell except maybe the auction yard.
One interesting thing happened.............a lady in lovely 1940's type clothes, twin girls and the dad walked by and I thought "hey, I know who that is!" so I leapt out from behind my table (probably making them jump!) and said "Hello! You used to write a blog?" and yes I was right it was Michelle and her family from Lincolnshire and 'Remembering The Old Ways blog'. Still posting on Instagram she said, but busy with home schooling and just visiting Suffolk where their son now lives.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Morning Sue, what a pity people didn't want to buy even at cheap prices...you still got a fair amount, though. How lovely to recognise and meet a fellow blogger...I remember her blog, it was so gentle and reminiscent of a lovely simple age. I once met Vix - Vintage Vixen - by chance at a vintage fair....she, her OH and her stall were unmistakeable. She was lovely when I approached her.
ReplyDeleteShe still posts on Instagram using the same title
DeleteNice to meet with a blogger. Sorry you did not get to much for Colin's things. We don't have any Boot sales in our village but we do have a couple of jumble sales during the year.
ReplyDeleteIt looks as thou it's going to be a good day today, I am of on the bus to Leyton Buzzard today is market and I have several things to get. Have a nice day Sue.
Hazel c uk
I love a good jumble sale, mainly for books nowadays but before car boot sales it was the only place to find childrens clothes
DeleteAfter my husband died my son and son in law cleared his barn. They had a skip just for metal. He had jars and drawers full of nails and screws and metal bits (it must be a small-holder's thing!) They took all the scrap metal somewhere and it brings a high price.
ReplyDeleteLuckily there aren't enough nails to fill a skip! But I'll need to clear them somewhere
DeleteI used to enjoy reading Remembering the Old Ways because the tone it was written in was always, positive, polite and charming. What a nice chance meeting.
ReplyDeleteIt was a surprise to recognise someone from blogging, I hope they didn't mind me leaping out at them!
DeleteHi Sue, After my husband died I called Tools With a Mission. They will take any tools (broken or otherwise) and all the other oddments which are then refurbished and made up into toolkits for Africa. They also take garden tools, decorating equipment, computer stuff and sewing machines. It's a really brilliant charity.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I was trying to remember the name of that charity, I'll give them a call
DeleteIt's not just a smallholder thing, saving every tool, screw and nail. We have a garage and a huge shed - both full of 'useful' things. Meccano for grown men?
ReplyDeleteColin could fix anything and always had the right stuff to mend everything - he liked collecting things that "might come in handy"
DeleteIt is a struggle selling at the boot sale I know, most people just want something for nothing, I have to do another soon, probably Sunday if the weather is good, but not looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteI was pleased with £60 because it seemed like I was having to almost give stuff away! Not a lot of spare cash around in this part of the world nowadays I think
DeleteYes, Michelle still posts on Instagram but I do miss her blog greatly. She is one very busy lady! How wonderful to recognise her like that, and to meet her. Sorry you had to bring so much stuff back, but I wonder if boot sales have had their day? All good things, as they say, come to an end. There are so many charity shops now, you wonder how long they will last too.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping not to do anymore boot sales - but I bet I will sometime. The number of people selling hasn't gone down - think it was just a quiet Sunday
DeleteI'm afraid I save spare bits and pieces such as screws and nails. You never know when they'll come in handy! About three years ago one of the joints underneath the garden bench had broken and, just the job, a small brass plate and some brass screws out of an old dismantled and disposed of wardrobe fixed it perfectly and it's still strong. Mind you, I guess one day our kids will be able to open up a branch of Screwfix.
ReplyDeleteColin saved all sorts of things that might have been handy had he still been around to use them!
DeleteI don't want to wait until I move sometime before starting the clear out
Do Age UK have 'men in sheds' where you live? Maybe they could make use of some items. X
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try Tools with A Mission first and then I do know of a Man Shed enterprise so will try them for the nails etc
DeleteIf there are things that are rubbish and of no use to anyone then slowly put a little in the dustbin each fortnight.
ReplyDeleteThat will be another way to get rid of small bits
DeleteDo you have a metal recycling location either for cash or simply to donate? Might be another option is the one's suggested don't work out. I think you are doing very well as at least in the US most people have too much stuff and don't want to add more or are trying to get rid of things as you are!
ReplyDeleteYes I might see what is the smallest amount they'll take but they don't pay much for 'light steel'.
DeleteSometimes I think that people get rummage or yard or boot saled out.. (I know that isn't a word, but it fits). You still got a fairly decent return (here in Canada that would be over $100.00) and got rid of some items. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thank you. A handy amount.
DeleteYou are definitely spoilt with your car boot sales.. I wish they had one near me... you should come up to Scotland and start one maybe?! we have occasional jumble sales for a couple of charities but that's all; they always make a lot of money, possibly because of their rarity. Perhaps you could advertise your tools etc on gumtree for free pickup. These things cost a lot new after all.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why they are so popular here - there's another one just a wee bit further away too that I never go to as well as the ones by the coast and one in Ipswich that I haven't visited for years.
DeleteI don't use online selling sites as I'm on my own up the end of a hard to find lane!
Ahah - the moment you mentioned the lady in 40s dress, husband and twin girls, I thought, I know who that is too! Fancy that.
ReplyDeleteWe have a lady and her husband living locally who always dress in 40s clothes - the lady has a wonderful selection and always looks so smart - and it's always good to chat with them at our local Antiques Fairs when we are standing.
Folk are very frugal round here too, and sniffy about tools - they are always looking for the very collectable of named planes which go for silly money at auction! and not the buckets of rusty files etc.
Good morning I was just about to mention 'men's sheds' which we have in Australia,then I saw they were mentioned above.There are quite a few in Australia that have ladies sessions also.At least you were out and about in the fresh air and people watching is always fun! ��
ReplyDeleteThat would be interesting to live and dress from a different era. You would certainly be noticed. I think I enjoy wearing trousers (or pants as they are called here) too much.
ReplyDeleteDo you have Men's Sheds in the UK? Sort of a male version of the WI. I'm sure they will take your old tools and nails etc for use in their shed. They are very popular here in Australia and a great social gathering for men who are not golfers or bowlers.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, I would have been rather pleased with 60 pounds! I've just fallen down the rabbit hole of Instagram in pursuit of RTOW. What a life! So much baking! (She looks amazing for 8 children, too). A charming introduction, thank you!
ReplyDeleteWe take all our scrap metal including all the tins we use to our local scrap metal merchant. We've made about £40 this year so far. Batter in my pocket than in the council's!! Fiona x
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to meet Michelle and her family, well spotted, it's always lovely meeting fellow bloggers. And over £60 profit is not to be sniffed at, well done. Fresh air, a lovely meet up and some stuff gone = good result.
ReplyDeleteWe have two more car boot sales to do, but they will most likely be smaller earners for us too as we have been putting the more expensive items onto Facebook Marketplace. Our final car boots of this year will be our 'closing down sale' ones. One table with 'Everything £1 each' and one table with 'Everything 20p each ... or 6 for £1'. It usually works a treat to get rid of everything so that we can have a fresh start next year.