A garage sale isn’t the likeliest of places to experience an epiphany, but upon reflection after a very hectic few hours, I realised I’d gained more than a few dollars out of the experience.
How we can learn from the humble garage sale
The trash and treasure thing is totally true! I couldn’t believe the way people’s eyes lit up on seeing some items that I had come to take for granted. Everything from bags to lamps and linen. “Someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure”; it’s absolutely true, and a really good reason to never ever just throw something in the garbage. If it can be loved in a new home, then find it a new home.
Everyone wins when bartering. Our market society here isn’t such that we barter for goods – generally, we simply pay what’s on the price tag. I think it’s human nature to haggle however, and bartering was rife during our Saturday morning everything-has-to-go clearance sale! The beauty of this was that everyone ended up smiling – and winning. Price starts high then is beaten down, then goes back up, and haggled down again; where we meet in the middle is the point where everyone feels like they’ve won, just a little bit.
It’s far more rewarding to be fair rather than greedy. People can buy all manner of items cheaply these days, and we had a lot of really nice goods for sale at unbeatable prices. Because we were totally reasonable with our price expectations, we off-loaded 85 per cent of what we needed to in one day! Not only that, but it was nice to be able to pass on our pre-loved furniture and homewares to young couples and others making the most of their nests on a budget. It was a good feeling to be able to send our treasures into another life where presumably they’ll also be appreciated.
People love a bargain. They also love stuff – lots and lots of stuff. I was actually surprised at what people wanted – foreign language television series’ on DVD, business books, vintage trinkets, kitchenware… and they arrived early too – an hour or more prior to the advertised start time. Advertise a garage sale and the crowds will come! Gumtree worked really well for us, Facebook promotion not so much. Next time I might live-stream it though, that would be novel.
People are nice. I don’t know why I was so surprised by this, but all the people who came through our house bargain-hunting on the weekend were lovely; interesting folk from a range of backgrounds and ethnicities, all smiles and full of positive words about our big move to London. To me, it had almost a nostalgic 1950s feel to the whole experience. We’ve lost that old friendly, neighbourly or community vibe in many contemporary settings, but on our morning of garage sale mania, that’s exactly what it felt like – all men, women, kids and dogs congregating as mates, smiling, chatting (or wagging tails) and bonding over similar tastes in TV shows, books, films and style. All that was missing were kids selling home-made lemonade on the footpath.
Everyone has a story, and it was a nice opportunity to be able to contribute. Our belongings had to be shed because they would simply rot up here in the tropical northern heat if we’re away for any length of time, as planned. That is our story, but people came to us with their stories – some being new to town, others with babies on the way or renovating. In fact, some stories resonated so much with us that we dug up books and resources and handed them over for free, in the hope that they would inspire our visitors on their new business or life paths. Whether our goodies were bought or we donated them, it’s lovely to feel we have bonded with all our “customers” in small yet significant ways.
It’s good to be unattached. Once upon a time I don’t think I would have dealt with letting all my worldly possessions go. Our house is literally bare – even the dog is mildly confused about what’s going on (though he is fairly laid back so has since found new “favourite corners” to nap in). By the end of the day, Cooper and I didn’t feel lost at all without our “stuff”, even though some of it we had had in our possession since we first met 13 years ago. Things are just things though, to be enjoyed, traded, passed on and put to good use time and time again. It’s actually quite liberating letting all of it go. If only my suitcase had it that easy!
Have you ever sold or given away all of your belongings? Drop me a line in the comments below, I’d love to hear about your experience. -Sarah
I’m super excited that my visa finally came through, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Is it your dream to live the expat life in the UK too? Here are five lessons I learned applying for a visa to live and work in the UK.
Live in the UK visa application tips
Use an agent – unless you’re applying for a very straightforward visa like the two year working/youth mobility visa, engage assistance from someone on the ground because it really isn’t as easy as you might first assume, especially when technical errors arise during the application process as they did for me.
Keep your filing and documents in order. I’ve been so busy over the past year that my filing isn’t as organised as it used to be (read: paperwork was all over the shop). I swear I’ll never be disorganised on that front again!
Save your dollars – visas aren’t cheap, but you also need to demonstrate you can fund your own way.
Get things moving in good time, and follow up – these processes tend to be slow, and the longer it drags on the more stressful it becomes, so don’t be behind the door at following up and asking questions.
Work out a rough time frame before you apply for your visa – most visas require that you enter the country within 6 to 12 months of approval, and you’ll need to put an estimated date of departure on your application. The benefits of planning however, mean you can budget accordingly for not only your visa, but flights, rent deposit (sometimes six weeks is required in London now), general rent and expenses until you find a job.
Do you have other tips, or maybe a question? Please drop me a line in the comments below -Sarah :-)
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Scared of change? No worries – look at change like planning a trip, and the process becomes a whole lot easier to take (and much more fun)!
Taking a step in the opposite direction, whether that be career, relationships or life in general can often feel like a difficult thing but it really doesn’t have to be and we can learn a lot about the similarities between planning a trip to changing the direction of our life.
The first thing, and perhaps the easiest thing to do (for most people) is to decide where to go and this is where the fun starts…
Ten steps to making amazing, memorable and achievable change in your life
How are you going to get there? There are many ways to achieve the same objective, for example – if you want more money you have two options – earn more or spend less, which one works for you ?
Who are you going to take with you? Sadly not everyone will make the trip with you, they may have other destinations they want to visit and that is ok – it is their passport and they can get it stamped anywhere they want to. On the flip side, you will meet some wonderful people in the new place you get to, so bid your buddy farewell before you get to the gate.
What do you need to leave behind? When you are in busy work-mode, you don’t take that with you on a trip and you don’t take your schedule with you either. What behaviours and attitudes have you created in your current life that you don’t want to pack to take with you for your change of direction? There are always costs for excess baggage!
What do you need to take with you? Optimistically you arrive at your destination determined to have a good time. Get your head space right for your transition. HOPE for the better will be the critical travel companion, anything else you can pick up at the lobby shop.
What are the minimum entry requirements? You wouldn’t arrive at the airport to board a plane for far off destinations without checking to see if you need a visa to get into the country. Why would you expect to take a major change of direction and not consider what are some of the criteria for the new path you are taking. Does the new life require you to be fitter, healthier, more focused, less distracted? Work on those things before you go because if you haven’t already started, chances are you will be turned around at the gate.
Do you need to learn a new language? Change the way you speak to yourself about change, doubt, fear, success and getting to where you need to go. Leave the should, can’t and other restricting language behind.
Does the location fit with your needs? I don’t sleep a lot, not a big fan of the heat and I like to be up late. A sleepy little hollow in a hot climate is not the best place for me to go for a holiday, I need activity till dawn and reasonable temperatures even cold temps. Is the change you are seeking going to give you what you need on a very basic level? If you don’t enjoy high pace competition or a spotlight, don’t take a new role that is going to constantly have you outside of your comfort zone. Every now and again is fine – but not every day, you will just burn out.
Is there a stop-over on the way? The longer the distance the greater number of stop-overs you need, the longer the trip time. Be realistic; don’t expect to make huge changes in a short space of time without incremental transitions.
Is there a TAX? There is always a tax. There will be good things, things that you love that may not make it to the new you status – and that is ok, you never lose them you just don’t focus on them as much anymore.
What are some of the things you want to see when you get there? You have to be clear about what you expect to see as a result of the ‘new you’ status. Be clear, very very clear because it is only with clarity that you can truly transition.
About the author Cheryl Daley is an internationally-known writer, speaker, mentor and coach in change management, leadership, team dynamics and empowerment.
We’re about to do something insane – again! It’s the same crazy manoeuvre which actually brought to life this space, originally named, “Sarah’s blog: Cool Britannia”, launched to share our expat experiences in London. For the past few months I’ve been bursting to announce something but needed to wait for one piece of paper – a very important document – the visa. It FINALLY came, and so here we go on another life-changing adventure. Honestly, it is overwhelming and not a decision we take lightly; but our hearts are in this big move, and the approval of my visa sparked a happy dance in the front yard. Fortunately the neighbours already know I’m a “unique character”.
We’re going back to England! Yay! And it’s no insignificant “yay” either, but a, “I’ve-been-waiting-since-the-day-we-left-London-to-go-back” kind of “yay”.
The move this time isn’t so straightforward though, with a more specialised visa requirement which had to be fulfilled (rather than the youth mobility visa which is fairly accessible if you’re under 31). My head’s already there, and my heart never left, but there’s been an anxious period this year – while this is what we want, it’s still really difficult telling loved ones and nice employers/clients/friends that you’re leaving. We’re so lucky to have people who don’t want us to go, but even though I feared the worst prior to each of these conversations, everyone’s proven to be supportive and kind. Not to mention most were not surprised – it seems my unconventional reputation precedes me.
It’s not so easy having your dream be so far away (“home” being Australia), and pursuing our various goals does come at a cost, which at times causes me quite a bit of anxiety, and even guilt. It’s a tough decision to move so far away – it’s not like a move from Cairns to Sydney, Edinburgh to London or even Vancouver to New York, for that matter (and they are big changes); there’s a reason people carefully consider trips to and from Australia – it’s a bloody long way from anything! It would be remiss however, to not follow the advice that I give others every day – life’s too short to not do what’s in your heart, particularly if you have the opportunity to do it, and with the support and companionship of your best friend. I’m lucky and extremely grateful.
I can’t wait to move back to London. The moving part this time is probably the easiest – we know where we want to live, what to do or not to do and with a second chance at it all, we’ll be sure to make the very best of it. We have to, you see, in honour of the goodbye tears that will be shed over the coming weeks.
On the exciting side of things, I’m looking forward to sharing it all with you too, as I secretly (or not so, now) harbour a desire to become a London expert. They say do and share something you’re passionate about – well, fellow fans and future fans of one of the greatest cities in the world – get ready to share the ride with me. It will be filled with colourful places, culture and vibrant people who also call London home; but aside from anything, the story and this space will be abundant with love and passion – for life, for opportunity and for adventure. Thanks as always for your support. Be true to yourselves regardless of how weird or unique you and your aspirations are. Remember, if you’re stuck on a life mantra, you’re free to adopt mine: Travel. Live. Learn.
Have you gone through this roller-coaster ride on your path to expat life? Or are you considering taking the leap but apprehensive? I’d love for you to drop a comment below -Sarah
If you prefer to escape the cold and holiday somewhere hot, then ditch the winter blues and pack for the sunny Whitsundays. When it comes to choosing whether to freeze or fry over winter, Aussies love a hot getaway, with 72.5 per cent preferring to head to a hot destination, according to a winter survey by travel website Wotif.com.
5 reasons to escape to the Whitsundays this winter
Soak up the Vitamin D: In the recent Wotif.com survey, 34.8 per cent of holidaymakers revealed going to the beach was their top hot activity in winter, followed by 29.2 per cent favouring to explore new cultures, 24.7 per cent relaxing by the pool, 9.3 per cent drinking cold cocktails. You can escape the cold winter days and swap them for 22 degree days relaxing on the beaches at the Whitsundays. It’s the perfect weather to go on a GoDo Whitehaven Beach sailing adventure with time to relax and roll out your beach towel on the powdery, white sand.
Swap hot chocolates for tropical cocktails: Relax on Hamilton Island and re-live your summer with refreshing cocktails by the pool or at one of the bars. The Hamilton Island Reef View Hotel has a range of refreshing cocktails on offer at the poolside Reef Terrace Restaurant.You can finish the evening with stunning sunset views sipping on a strawberry and orange ‘Summer Love’ cocktail at One Tree Hill, the Island’s hill-top lookout.
Indulge and get pampered: Relax at Airlie Beach’s Pinnacles Resort & Spa and get pampered with Endota’s weekday June spa special. After your pampering, relax on the private verandah with views over the Coral Sea and Whitsunday Islands.
See the underwater world: With the water temperature rarely dropping below 23 degrees, it’s just the right temperature to get up close with tropical fish and colourful coral species snorkelling or scuba diving along the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Did you know you can even spend the night out under the stars of the Reef?
Spot a whale: From July to October, whales are a common sight frolicking among the Whitsunday Islands and even occasionally out on the Great Barrier Reef. Those out on the water, the islands, or even just sitting in a café by the beach are regularly indulged by excited young calves and their mothers breaching out of the water, playing with boats and each other, and majestically gliding through the waters of the Whitsundays.
Welcome! We are Sarah + Cooper, Aussie expats living in the UK with our Westie dog, London. We like to inspire on how to travel for longer and to live and work from anywhere. Our most popular content here is about seeing the world with your pet, remote working & digital nomadism, and house + pet sitting. Create a global life of your dreams at any age! Subscribe to find out more :)
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