If you're like most people, you probably managed to acquire a lot of surplus household items, gadgets, knick-knacks, and just plain junk over the course of your marriage. Chances are, it started in the basement or the attic: a gradual accumulation of material possessions that you never use, but somehow, you can't quite bear to get rid of either. Then the clutter spread to your closets, bookshelves, countertops, that space under the stairs, trunks, and boxes.(Rubbermaid has a whole line of products designed specifically to hold your personal clutter!)

Your notes from that interesting psychology class in college; the baby's highchair (the "baby" is a 10-year-old boy, now); that old football; three of the six vases you received as wedding presents; the fondue set you never used -- all these and more are taking up valuable physical and psychic space in your home. The breakdown of your relationship has caused you to begin a new chapter in your life, so why not use this opportunity to really start fresh by getting rid of all that clutter?

A successful garage sale fits the bill perfectly. After you and your ex have divvied up the "good stuff," what you're left with is potential garage sale material. Even something you think is little better than junk has a good chance of selling at a well-managed garage sale.

There can be terrific benefits to organizing a sale: you'll get rid of unwanted possessions instead of packing and lugging them with you if/when you move; you'll put some extra cash in your pocket; and you'll have the pleasure of knowing you're a good citizen of the planet, because your old stuff will be recycled to new owners rather than ending up in a landfill.

If you can't bear the thought of organizing and holding a garage sale, you can still turn some of those unwanted goods into cash by selling them to a company that buys and sells used goods.

Here are some tips to help ensure your sale is a success in every way: