It was a bargain shopper's dream.

Spread out across the SilverLakes community in western Miramar and Pembroke Pines, more than 300 homeowners offered everything from clothing and furniture to antique cars at the recent seventh annual Garage Sale and Charity Event.

Treasure hunters even had a map to help them navigate to each sale.

"It makes it easy to get around and find all the sellers," said shopper Amy Regent, of Miramar.

SilverLakes is made up of 38 sub-developments, not all of which allow homeowners to have garage sales. But once a year, those rules are relaxed and the security gates swing open for browsers from all over. "Residents like it because they know when it is and have time to get ready. They also don't need to advertise it," said Joy Savaiko, the community's director of special events.

The two-day sale is a benefit to homeowners who get to clean out the clutter. Residents also donated items to a local homeless shelter and the Salvation Army, which lined up trucks at the community park to accept donations.

"It is very good for both the community and us," said Dave Sayre, director of operations at the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. Sayre said the donations filled three trucks and one trailer the first day of the sale.

Previous charities to benefit from the event include the Miami Rescue Mission, Crossroads Food Bank, Women in Distress and Kids in Distress.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. - Lisa Perry wants to make one thing clear about her decision to sell nearly everything she owns in one massive eBay auction.

"This might be midlife, but it's not a crisis," the 45-year-old St. Paul woman said. "It's midlife excitement."

When the online auction ends Thursday, the top bidder will get everything but Perry's dog, cat, photo albums and some clothing.

Talk about a clean slate: The 300-plus items going in a single lot include snowshoes, a futon sofa, a coffee maker, a queen-size bed, a Village People album, a milk crate of seashells, a computer, skis and shoes. There's a coffee table with inlaid tiles, Danish modern bookshelves and rugs.

The auction winner has to pick everything up within three weeks.

You can have it all right now for $2,000. That's her reserve number, meaning she can back out of the deal if the top bid falls short of two-grand. But she's so ready to unload her stuff, she might lower the reserve.

"I don't need it all," Perry said. "I don't use it all. I just have it all. Actually, it has me."

Perry has been studying Buddhism the last six years and started fancying the notion of "releasing attachment to things."

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By Roger D. James, Galesville, Wis.

Thank you to all but a few of the people who came to our "garage/moving" sale. My wife and I had an enjoyable three days meeting and visiting with you. We feel that we "did well." It was interesting and educational that some items sold so rapidly and others that we thought would go quickly were slow. All things considered, it was fun.

Unfortunately, one female had a different approach than most and "took a little shine" off our experience. Some also stretched "good taste" or "fair" by moving items into boxes that were marked at one price for the box. That was disappointing but not to the extent that it was a big deal.

On the other hand, young female, you may choose to try and fool yourself into thinking you made a good deal when you piled so much together then got it all for $30 (offered $20 for $60 to $70 worth of items that you removed some tags from).

I don’t think you really got "a deal" because those items and your forehead have "thief" indelibly written on them. Please understand that removing the tags and hiding a platter under the clothes was not part of the process of dickering or bartering. You know very well that your intent was to hide items and you rationalized that you would then "get a deal."

It’s doubtful that your conscience will bother you much, but please remember that you did, in fact, write "stolen item" on some items. When you look at them, only you will see the writing — others will see a really good deal.

Yes, you "paid for them," and Sheila, my wife, did agree. She didn’t get to see all of what you had in the pile (she was busy with honest people); you’d done well arranging items. You did steal her smile and part of the fun she had. Friday night and Saturday she still worked at her sale and enjoyed the interaction with others. You were still there though and kept a dark shadow over the enjoyment of a very, very good person.

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Garage sales, yard sales, rummage sales -- by any name, low prices are sweet.

While some people sell their stuff to clean out the clutter and others do it for the money, families along Bramble in Saginaw Township go to sales to catch up on gossip, said John E. Cyborowski, 60, who lives in the neighborhood.

"We have three neighbors who get together and do it every year," Cyborowski said. "They don't do it so much for getting rid of things. They do it as a get-together."

The sale is from 9 a.m. to

5 p.m. today and Friday.

"If it was up to me, I wouldn't have one," Cyborowski said, explaining that the women folk insist. "Two of the ladies have young kids, and every year, this is their chance to sell the clothes they grew out of."

In cities such as Frankenmuth, businesses profit as well as those hosting the sales.

"We've already had people calling, asking when the citywide sale is," said Jennifer A. Tebedo, president of the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"Cars clog the streets on both sides. It's wonderful," she said. "It's a lot of fun, and for the businesses, it's a wonderful food and beverage day."

People wishing to place an advertisement in the classified section of The Saginaw News can benefit with a how-to kit, said Denise Taglauer, supervisor of classifieds.

The kit contains a checklist of things to do for a sale, an inventory sheet, tips for a successful sale, about 100 price stickers and two garage sale signs.

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