Top 4 Reasons to Come Out to the Next Citywide Yard Sale

August 27, 2019 2:00 PM
by Naomi Raal

Do you want to get rid of the clutter in your house and find amazing deals on items you actually want? Do you wish you could live more sustainably but don’t know how? Then we encourage you to participate in Santa Monica’s annual Yard Sale! This event will be held on Saturday, September 21 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and it’s a great opportunity to get rid of items you don’t need and shop for ones you do!

Here are four reasons why you should participate in this year’s citywide yard sale:

1. Decluttering your house is good for you!

Recent research has shown that living in a cluttered environment increases stress and decreases productivity. Dr. Joseph Ferrari, a psychology professor at DePaul University, has extensively studied the effects of a cluttered home. He found that living surrounded by unnecessary clutter increased levels of cortisol - the hormone that makes us feel stressed. He also discovered that having a cluttered home caused people to procrastinate more. He theorized that having to sort through a multitude of items made starting chores a much more daunting task. So, if clutter is so detrimental to our well-being, why are we so hesitant to get rid of items we don’t need? Dr. Ferrari’s theory is that we develop irrationally strong emotional attachments to our belongings. But as hard as it may be to part with our clutter, we are all better off selling our unneeded items.

2. We will advertise your sale for you.

By participating in our Citywide Yard Sale, we make selling all your stuff easy. About a week before the sale takes place, the city of Santa Monica sends out a map with all the yard sale locations, generating plenty of foot traffic for your sale. 

3. Conveniently get all your second-hand shopping done in one day. Last year we had over 100 yard sales for residents to visit.

4. Support the people in your local community. Participating in the yard sale is a great way to get to know your neighbors and help them gain a little extra pocket change.

Participating in our yard sale is also a great opportunity to live a more sustainable life. Santa Monica has always been a leader in protecting the environment, which is why our city is aiming to reach 95% zero waste by 2030.  By participating in our yard sale, you are helping us reach our zero waste goals and doing an important part in keeping waste out of landfills.

How to participate:

Note: registration is open to Santa Monica residents only.

 

Authored By

Naomi Raal
Administrative Intern