You know the drill. You walk into a silent auction saying, “I’m just here to support the cause.”
Next thing you know, you’re the proud owner of a basket of artisanal mustards or—worse—a giant painting of a dog that looks nothing like your furry friend.
As someone who prides herself on resourcefulness, I’m officially offering my services as your unofficial Silent Auction Strategist.
Because really, shouldn’t we have ground rules?
Here’s my personal checklist before placing that first bid:
✅ Will this add actual value to my life (or can I share it with a friend)?
✅ Will I be devastated if I don’t win it?
✅ Will I wake up tomorrow and say, “Wait…did I just spend $300 on a baby snowsuit?” (True story.)
✅ Am I okay treating this like a straight-up donation—even if the item gathers dust?
🔥 Pro Tips from the Field:
Team up! I once split a celebrity chef dinner. Best move.
Keep your eyes on sleeper items—the ones no one’s noticing
Monitor your bids like it’s the stock market in the final 5 minutes
And whatever you do: DO NOT BRING YOUR KIDS.
My daughter figured out the bidding app at age 7 and walked away with some serious swag.
My son recently conspired with a close friend to trick me into buying two dog portraits (they signed my name to the bid sheet). He even told another bidder, “This looks just like my childhood dog” to ward her off. The audacity.
So yes—it’s for a good cause. But also, it’s a jungle out there.
Stay sharp. Stay resourceful. And maybe leave the kids at home. 🐾
If you’d like this lovely piece of art, please consider a donation to the worthy organization that originally offered it at their silent auction – Richcroft Inc. Or just DM and it’s yours!
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever won at a silent auction?
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