The kids are home for a whole month during the World Cup... By this time, they've ridden their bikes, skate-boarded, climbed trees, gone to the movies, they've hung out at the malls and now they're driving you dilly...

Here's an idea to keep them busy and instil a sense of entrepreneurship in them...

Get them to organise a neighbourhood jumble sale. Here's how to do it...

Ok, so let's set the scene. All the kids in the neighbourhood club together to sell their families' unwanted goods. They make pocket money to last them the rest of the holidays and they contribute to charity. Now, don't undermine the charity bit, it will serve them well in the marketing stage.

The planning and preparation is key to making their jumble sale a success....

Step # 1: Find a venue for your jumble sale (a church, school hall, even in your garage if it's spacious).

Step # 2: Contact the charity you will donate a portion of the profits to and get their permission to publish their name in your advertising. If your favourite charity isn't responsive, don't waste time, contact the next and the next, until someone gives you an okay. Take their name and position and make a note of the date of the call.

Step # 3: Create a flyer with a response coupon, telling the neighbouhood children about their planned jumble sale. Sell them the idea by tempting them with enough pocket money to keep them going for the rest of the school holidays. The response coupon must be signed by a parent (so you don't end up with a situation where the parents of participating children are not aware of the sale and come home to find their possessions have all been sold)

Must have details: the date of the jumble sale, the venue for the jumble sale, the cost to join the jumble sale (I recommend R50 per child, this will go towards your marketing and advertising costs), the date the entry fee is payable, the address they need to drop the entry coupon and fee at (your home address preferably), ideas of goods to sell (eg. cookbooks and novels, clothes, blankets, needlework, artwork, frames, kitchen appliances etc.), and inform them that they'll be donating R5 per item sold to a charity.

Step # 4: Start advertising the jumble sale by making a few brightly painted banners to hang up around the neighbourhood in busy spots. Remember to include the date, time and venue of the jumble sale - and mention that part of the proceeds will be given to the [named] charity.

Step # 5: Take a walk through the house with mom, dad and brothers and sisters and decide what you don't need anymore and what you would like to discard. These are your items you will sell.

Step # 6: Collect the entry coupons (don't accept any not signed by parents) and the entry money (at least two weeks before the jumble sale will take place).

Step # 7: Market the jumble sale. Place some cheap advertising, using the money you received from entrants... And make flyers to reprint and slot in mailboxes. Remember to emphasise that the charity will benefit from the sale... TIP: If you tell your local paper, a charity will benefit, they may even publish a news release for you at no cost!

Step # 8: Call a briefing meeting for all entrants and remind them of date, time and venue details...

Delegate tasks such as a banker who processes the transactions (remember to have lots of change on the day), a security look out to keep an eye on the "stock", a few "packers" to keep the tables tidy... Remember to have stand-byes in case the key personnel are sick or can't make it for some reason on the day.

Inform the entrants to price their goods clearly so there's no confusion on the day and to write their names on the price tags so the banker can make a note of who she owes profits to.

Step # 9: Set up the tables, ensure the key personnel arrive, like the banker, supervise and be available and "in charge" in case the entrants need to ask your advice on something. At the end, tally up the profits, pay the entrants their portions, less their charity contribution and bank or return the money "float".

Step # 10: Deliver the contribution to the charity... And enjoy your pocket money!

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In the name of wealth and happiness...

Pascale Barrow
Managing Editor of Personal & Finance Confidential