UNWANTED wedding gifts, twice-used exercise bikes, sticky-fingered kids' toys... there's always something you can unearth at home for someone else to buy.
And the perfect way to do it is the 2017 Garage Sale Trail weekend, October 21-22 - a giant marketplace comprising 10,000 garage sales and stalls throughout the country.
Supported by 150 local councils, it's a great reason to declutter, reuse, fundraise, make a little pocket money, meet the locals, find treasures and have fun into the bargain.
Since starting small scale in Bondi Beach in 2010, the event has grown like Topsy. Co-founder Darryl Nichols said an estimated 320,000 people took part last year, more than three-quarters aged over 55.
The beauty of the trail, he said, is that more than just placing an ad in the local classifieds and putting a few posters on power poles, it provides a website and other tools for people to promote their involvement.
"If you're a seller you can go to the website and put your sale on the trail, a free and easy process. Shoppers can go on the website and search for items of interest in their area and plan their day."
Darryl said everyone who lists has to come up with a name for their sale, so people have a bit of fun with it. He especially recalls a couple of Gold Coast retirees who held what they called the "Almost Deceased Estate".
But it's not just for individuals: community groups also get involved, such as men's sheds that make items for under-privileged kids or repair items as a way to fund-raise.
Darryl said while many seniors are happy to get rid of stuff they would otherwise have sent to the tip, most say the best thing about the day is being able to connect with people.
He said the average participant met about 44 new locals "and that's a big driver for the senior community as well.
"One elderly lady wrote to us two years ago and said the best thing for her was that now she can stop and say g'day to her neighbour when she sees her walking down the street in her old pair of jeans."
- To find a list of participating councils, register as a seller (even right up to the day before) or see a map of garage sales sites, go to www.garagesaletrail.com.au
Previously offered...
- Two Canberra grandpas. Described as good for "mowing the grass or cups of tea on the balcony, asking price a million dollars each".
- Free pet baptisms with every purchase. Offered by a reverend.
- A hand-built 25-feet-long hovercraft.
- A beachside apartment.