Unclutter and make a few bucks in the process?

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Unclutter and make a few bucks in the process?

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Started 1 year ago by coeurfragile
Latest reply from SunshineR
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coeurfragile
Member

Hi guys, I'm new here and have been inspired to declutter my life! Now, I've tried this several times before but I'm really motivated this time, and maybe this forum will help me from getting stuck.

The easy part is seperating what I want to keep and what needs to go. I took pictures of everything before packing it into boxes. Now this is where I usually stall. I feel very guilty about having paid for these items, and it's not easy for me to put things on Freecycle or donate to Goodwill/Salvation Army etc. I don't feel like I get anything out of that, even though I know other people could use the items.

Somehow I feel that I should at least make an attempt to get some of the money I spent back. I've tried Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, but I don't get very many responses (and virtually no serious offers), even though I'm not asking for much. I'm not really an eBay or Amazon marketplace type of seller, as I don't want to have to go through the trouble of paying listing fees and shipping items. So basically, no one buys the things I list, and the things never leave the house.

I don't know if this is a good strategy or if it will work, but I was thinking of making a list of what I am getting rid of and asking for a minimal amount ($1 per item?). I figure if I sell 20 items for $1 I'll be doing more than selling one item on Craiglist for $5.

My question is this, how do I let go of this money guilt, or what strategies have you used with success in gaining at least a few bucks back from your old stuff?

Posted 1 year ago #
Claycat
Member

Have you tried having a yard sale or garage sale?

Posted 1 year ago #
jbeany
Member

If you list, even just generally in some cases, what you are donating, you get a receipt for the donation and you can deduct it from your taxes. My local Salvation Army just gives you a blank slip, you write down things like "3 boxes of craft supplies" and there is a spot on the slip for you to write down your estimated value amount. You set the value, not the thrift store. It saves you the time and hassle of selling things, and you do get some of the value back financially. If you consider "paying" yourself an hourly wage for the time you would spend selling the items, you would never make enough off most of it to make it worth the time. At $1 per item, given the time it takes to list, pack, track internet communications, and then ship all the items, what would you be making for an hourly wage? Negative numbers, most likely. If you have any valuable items, then by all means take the time to list them, but otherwise, consider the time spent on it that you could be using to do something that is worthwhile to you.

Posted 1 year ago #
Another Deb
Member

I do a lot of shopping at Goodwill. The idea that you can get great prices there helps me balance out the feeling that you are getting rid of something valuable. I've saved so much money on items in the past I don't begrudge them the things I donate.

I also remember how fabulous it feels to send an item on to a new owner who needs it and will use it more than I did. I get to claim it on my taxes if I itemize and the few dollars a garage sale may bring in are not worth the hassle to me.

Donating things gets them OUT of the house. If you collect garage sale items or list them on eBay they will still be cluttering up your life until they sell. IF they sell!

Posted 1 year ago #
ozegal
Member

@ claycat - As long as whatever you don't sell, you throw/give away, no problem with a garage sale (MIL tends to bring them all back into the house - we have 2 or 3 a year!) I don't enjoy holding them myself or getting up early enough to go to them. MIL buys things at garage sales and tries to MAKE MONEY selling them on ebay which makes me hate sales more (since she lives with us and the stuff she buys fill my garage). What she has discovered (although wont admit, but I can see it plainly as the 'G' on my keyboard) that people sell stuff at garage sales that they don't want, and the liklihood of other people wanting them is therefore minimal, but not non-existant. So at the end of the day, don't bring anything back inside otherwise you've just taken one giant step back in your declutter journey.

I have always felt like I am ripping people off trying to flog things I really want to put in the trash! The quickest way for me to 'let go' is to just throw it out or give it away immediately and then I don't have the option of getting it back. So the good stuff I give to good will, and the really crap stuff, I just throw away. Chances are, if you can't see it, you'll be less attatched anyway.

I do like to good will shop - it feels good to know that someone thought about me and decided not to throw something worthwhile out so that i could use it when they were finished. Plus, the money I spend there goes to charity, instead of lining some corporate moguls pocket (really don't like those people).

@ coeurfragile - I have had plenty of items that i haven't WANTED to give away. Especially now that I know my MIL might just go and buy it back and try to sell it (LOL)! But when you're emotionally (or financially) attatched to something its really hard to think someone might have it and not treat it as well as you did, or not appreciate that it cost you $100 and they bought it 1 year later at good will for $5... But I have let that go. I figure - its just a thing, it was useful/made me happy for a while and now for this item that life is over. If its taking up space/causing me stress, well that bothers me more.

Try hard to shift your thinking. The less money you have, the more likely you are to hoard for this reason (ie, it cost me so much, but I don't really want it, but it represents a large part of the little I had at that time etc..) Maybe try shopping at a goodwill store a few times, and you might be able to feel better about giving something back to them.

Good luck!

Posted 1 year ago #
coeurfragile
Member

Thanks for the replies! The garage sale route is actually so simple I never even thought about it.

I have never donated before so I didn't know you could itemize on your taxes, may have to check that one out too. Thanks for helping out and I hope I didn't sound like such a newbie!

Posted 1 year ago #
jbeany
Member

No worries about sounding like a newbie. I haven't been here that long either, but it's a great website for getting feedback. Heck, we all love to give out the free advice that's cluttering up our heads!

If you can, get with a couple friends or neighbors on the garage sale idea. More fun with company, and easier with help. Plus, the more the shoppers can see from the road, the more likely they are to stop and shop. My local thrift store will let you arrange to have their truck come at the end of the sale and immediately haul away the leftovers, too.

I also did a couple of indoor flea markets this winter, when I was on my first decluttering burst. (I'm in Michgan - no yard sales in the winter here!) Often for as little as $10, many places will give you the use of their space, their folding chairs, and an 8 or 10 ft banquet table and the floor space under it for display. (Rent two if you have more than a trunk load!) Over 3 different shows in 4 months, I sold almost $500 worth of junk, collectibles, books, and jewelry. Again, get someone to come along if you can, although I did one alone and it was fun, too. The other sellers are always happy to watch your booth for a minute if you need a break. (And try not to spend all the profits at other people's booths!) Sometimes the flea markets will arrange for a charity store pick up, too. Then you can just leave everything behind when you are done. And don't underestimate the power of a FREE sign. I still had some large, heavy pieces left at the end of the last sale I did. I had no desire to reload my station wagon with any of it, even if it was just to drop it off at Goodwill the next Monday. I stuck out the free sign during the last 20 minutes, and had only a single grocery bag left to pack back up.

Posted 1 year ago #
SunshineR
Member

Some folks have specials towards the end of their yard sales/book sales which say, "all you can put in a bag for $1" or such. I have tried the free sign idea; it worked very quickly...lol...heehee.

A friend just told me about a local animal shelter which will pick up unwanted yard sale items. They have volunteers who sell at a large local flea market.

I have been sorting through my belongings and am deciding between bothering to have a yard sale (because I'm not working outside the home this year) or directly donating the items to charity without expecting any "profit".

Posted 1 year ago #

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