How to Help Your Child Run a Yard Sale or Car Boot Stall - Penny Pincher Collab

Can my 8 to 10-year-old child earn money?

 

 

So, if your child is between 8 and 10 and showing signs of entrepreneurial flair, or you’re simply looking for a screen-free way to teach them about money, a yard sale or car boot stall could be the perfect weekend project!

Not only is it a legal, safe and age-appropriate way to make money in the UK (with supervision), but it’s also a brilliant opportunity to help your child understand the value of things, make decisions, and practise real-world money skills. Here’s how you can support them to set up, sell, and succeed, all while building their confidence and boosting their financial know-how.

 

 

Choose the Right Format

Depending on your location and how many items your child wants to sell, you’ve got two main options:

 

Yard sale: Simple and convenient. Set up a small stall or table in your front garden or driveway. No licence needed, but keep it low-key.

Car boot sale: A fun day out, and a great way to shift more items. You’ll need to book a pitch and provide transport, but the built-in crowd can be worth it.

As an adult, you’ll need to be present at either event; under-13s can’t legally work or sell alone, so factor that in. You might want to rope in another parent, friend or family member to help out, as you'll want to be able to take a break!

Consider getting together with another parent to host a joint sale, as this will help reduce costs. Additionally, working together as a team will likely increase sales and potentially generate extra business.

 

Help Them Sort What to Sell

Encourage your child to go through their bedroom, toy box, bookshelves and even wardrobe. Together, choose items in good condition that they’ve genuinely outgrown.

 

Great sellers for this age group include:

• Toys and puzzles
• Children’s books and comics
• Outgrown clothes or fancy dress
• Stationery sets or unused gifts
• Handmade drawings, cards or crafts

 This is an excellent opportunity to discuss letting go of clutter, reusing items, and creating space, both physically and financially. I know my 8-year-old son has outgrown many of his old toys and games, and rather than letting them clutter up the house or throwing them away, it makes sense to try to sell some of them if possible.

 

Your child may not have a clear idea of what items are worth, so help them come up with fair and simple prices. Round figures like 50p, £1, or £2 are easy to manage and make giving change simpler.

Top tip: Use coloured stickers to mark different price bands (e.g. red = £1, blue = 50p), or write prices directly onto labels or paper tags.

 

Set Up the Sale Together

 

Let your child take the lead, but help them with the practical bits:

• Find a fold-out table or picnic blanket
• Use baskets or boxes to group items neatly
• Make signs using bold text and clear pricing
• Bring a chair, snacks and water (especially for car boot sales)
• Prepare a cash float with £1, 50p and 20p coins in a secure tin or bum bag

Encourage them to keep the space tidy and welcoming. You’ll be surprised how quickly they pick up basic retail presentation skills!

 

 

Ways To Make The Sale Successful!

 

For yard sales:

• Create a sign to hang on your gate or fence to let people know about the sale, and post it a week in advance; there's nothing worse than setting up a yard sale and having no customers!

• Tell nearby neighbours, school friends or family members; Facebook is a good way to spread the word!

• Use chalkboards or post flyers through neighbours' doors on your street to drum up business! The child could design the flyer themself, making it even more fun, and help make the sale succesful.

 

For car boot sales:

• Check the organiser’s website for start times and directions

• Pack up the night before to avoid a morning rush!

• Expect to be busy early, most of the bargain hunters come as soon as the sale starts, so manage expectations as it may seem like it's going to be constantly busy, but explain it'll get quieter later, and also have something they can do, like a good book to read, for when it is quiet, to avoid the "I'm bored" moments!

• I've already mentioned it, but take drinks and snacks, the kids get hungry, and you don't want to end up spending money on food there, it cuts into the profits! 

 

 

Talk About Handling Money

 

Use the event as a chance to teach simple money concepts:

• What change should I give if someone gives me £2 for a £1.50 toy?
• How much would it be if someone buys a 30p, a 50p and a 20p item?
• What does profit mean if we spent 50p on stickers and made £5?
• What should I do with the money I make?

 

This is where nimbl can make a big difference. If your child has a nimbl card, you can transfer their earnings digitally, a safe, cashless way to teach budgeting and tracking.

With nimbl, your child can:

• Set up separate savings and spending pots
• Create a savings goal (e.g. “£10 towards a new toy”)
• Review their balance and transactions in the app

It turns what could be ‘just a fun day’ into a hands-on money lesson.

 

 

Help Them Reflect Afterwards

 

After the sale, sit down with your child and talk through:

• What sold well?
• What didn’t go?
• How much did they make?
• What surprised them?
• Would they do it again?
• If yes, what would they do differently next time?

You can also discuss how they plan to use their money, such as treating themselves to a small indulgence, saving towards something bigger, or even donating a little to a cause they care about.

 

It’s Not About the Money — It’s About the Mindset

This kind of activity isn’t just about making a few pounds. It’s about showing your child that effort = reward, teaching them how to value things, and introducing them to positive money habits early on.

 

With a bit of guidance from you and a tool like nimbl to help them track their earnings, a simple yard sale can become a brilliant confidence booster, a memory maker, and the start of some serious financial awareness.