Park Slope is one of New York City’s better neighborhoods for the downsized.  While the median one bedroom rent of $1800 it is still expensive for the average 405er, the multiplex on 15^th Street features matinee prices before 4pm, there’s a well regarded food coop to reduce grocery costs, a wide variety of coffee houses to substitute for offices and many freelancers and stay-at-home moms to keep you company during the day.  There are also lots of opportunities to score free things from neighbors who leave boxes of books and clothing outside for others to take, and a popular way to make a little money from items you no longer want.  Nice weather brings stoop sales on brownstone steps or in front of apartment buildings, and particular blocks and buildings will often team up to host multi-family sales to generate more business.

Last month, on one of the warmest April days on record, I joined a neighbor in hosting a stoop sale.  We live just off of Prospect Park, and hoped to attract foot traffic from people making their way there for the sunny afternoon. He was selling furniture, many pieces of which he’d cleverly rehabilitated after other tenants tossed them out, and I was selling a motley mix of CDs, knick knacks, and black bags I’d accumulated from many years of attending conferences and career fairs. Even though I was only charging $1 to $3 for most items, I wouldn’t be parting with anything I was attached to or had spent much on. I’d loaded all the CDs onto my computer and iPod already,  the knick knacks were mostly corporate gifts I’d received from appreciative vendors in a better market, and I have enough black book, computer, and conference-logoed bags to bury me alive if I don’t stand back when opening one particular closet.  After a stint of nearly three hours I made $20 and got my first sunburn of the year.  I also received a newly painted dresser my neighbor and co-host couldn’t unload, and discovered what seemed like a huge demand for costume jewelry when several folks who perused my offerings asked if I had any to sell.

The following week I decided to host a sale by myself, and the weather and my timing were both off.

Continue Reading “I Sold Gold For Cash” by Janet Raiffa —>

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