Anyway, do you feel like you have too much stuff as well? I don't think I'm the only one. When I watch movies/TV shows where the characters live in other countries or in another time period, whether or not it's accurate, they seem to have less "stuff" and live more simply. We're in debt. We should be living simply anyways, right? We don't think so, obviously, since we have junk overtaking our apartment.
Over the last month and a half, I've been slowly cleaning sections of the apartment, finding things to sell or donate. Ideally, I'd love to have a yard sale, but it can't really be done where we live. Option #2 is eBay, Amazon, and local online classifieds (not Craigslist). I don't like taking the time to list things on eBay or ship the stuff, but now that listings are free and they've (finally) simplified their listing process, it's not too bad of an option. Amazon is super easy to sell books, movies, and video games. And online classifieds (through local TV news stations) are really only worth selling on for more expensive items (TVs, a car, furniture, etc). I really wish we could have a yard sale though because then I could sell even the smallest of things - like a candle, binders I no longer use (but are in excellent condition, of course), stationary, clothes, etc. No one looks on eBay or classifieds for some of those "other" things. I've recently discovered local Facebook groups that are kind of like online yard sales. Good concept, but the posts are mostly people who are trying to get you to buy into their "work from home and make $10,000 a month" scam.
So why simplify? Here are my reasons.
- Less stuff = less clutter
- Make some money on things we no long need/use
- Less to clean around
- I don't like keeping things we don't need just because we can - my husband does, though
- Get rid of the guilt - the guilt that comes from seeing the "one too many" of everything that we own and the debt we still have - why keep spending the money?
Want garage sale tips? I've collected some on a Pinterest board for you.
I have created two free printables for you for tracking garage sale and online sale income. Click the images to download the PDF files.
Do you have any tips/websites to share for selling online?
I don't know if you would want to use your blog for this reason, but when I went through my scrapbooking stuff, I listed some of my stamp sets on my blog before I turned to eBay. I was able to sell a few things to readers, and still have people contact me occasionally when they come across that post.
ReplyDeleteI'm wanting to sell a lot of stuff in storage, so thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely on my to do list as well. Debating whether a garage sale would be worth my time...it will definitely have to wait until fall!
ReplyDeleteThis is great, I love that you did this! :) thanks for the freebie.
ReplyDeleteSara
Miss V's Busy Bees
For the yard sale - so you have someone with a place that you can use and both do it? or a local hall with minimal hireage fee that maybe you and some friends can do
ReplyDeleteAny place near by that does car boot sales? or a craft market that might let you set up a table with items??
Man vs Debt is a good site for debt reduction and Miss Minimalist is a good one for decluttering
Good luck
Lisa in New Zealand
host a blog sale!
ReplyDeleteI second what the above person said. Find someone to have a garage sale with. My friend and I had one last week in my garage. She lives way out in the country so she said she would do the legwork (get tables, out signs, etc) if she could use my garage. It worked out perfectly ad we both got rid of a lot of things. Mine was a lot of little stuff that is such a relief to have out of here!
ReplyDeleteYou should add things to sale on blog, someonemy need/want something and pay shipping.
ReplyDeleteTo declutter ... something I like to challenge myself with every year ... usually January or February, when I'm really sick of spending money, is to go for an entire month without buying anything (except absolute necessities) I try to buy minimal food too .. so I use up what's in my freezer and cupboards. Sometimes I do the no spending more than once a year. Definitely cuts back on clutter!
ReplyDeleteHey Tiffany! Your blog is fantastic, I check it every day. What a conscientious person you are to return your iPad! Really, I don't know many people who would be able to do that! I've been giving away a lot of stuff recently, too. It is the most liberating feeling! Love it. If you'd like, check out my blog, blairblogs.com. I just wrote about a donation bin that I keep in the trunk of my car to remind myself to donate all year long! Good luck with everything! XO
ReplyDeleteI live in an apartment and have been trying to get rid of things I don't need for many of the smae reasons you listed. Since I can't have yard sales where I live I borrow my friends' driveways. By having multiple people there we make more money. We each advertise on our facebook too to get more poeple to show. I always try to sell bigger items on facebook and craigslist first. You can easily sell books on amazon for cash. Now that I have purged about half of the things I owned (a little at a time) I feel so much better! good Luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the online sales sheet!
ReplyDeleteKelly
I live in the city (Boston) and can't really have garage sales either, so I feel your pain. But, I've had good luck with Craigslist to get rid of pretty much everything. I was a little nervous at first that I was going to get a lot of really sketchy people responding to my ads, but I've never had a problem. Everyone has been totally normal.
ReplyDeleteTiffany, I love reading your blog...it's so inspiring and I'm an organizational lover myself so I thoroughly enjoy reading as well. I also like your other one, 'the learning effect'. I'm a teacher as well. And in light of this topic I have a suggestion as you prepare for the school year. During the month of December I ask all my 1st graders to bring in a gently used book and every 1st grade class in our building, 7 in all, count up all the books and present them to a foster care agency. It's a wonderful way to allow parents to 'declutter' a little but the lesson the kids learn about giving and charity is wonderful. Your topic here is is valuable and teaching it to kids can sometimes be tricky. Have fun!
ReplyDeletewww.edisbeauty.blogspot.com
we are having a garage sale on the 28th!! there is a ton i won't get to sort out before the sale, but there is always next year! i have sold some stuff through our local for sale facebook page too. We have a great consignment store here in town for fancier clothes that people buy out of state/online, you get more for your clothes selling them there on consignment than i would at any garage sale! Good Luck, you inspire me, still trying to get my binders set up! i did use the meal planner, and due to making a meal EVERY NIGHT... we ended up with way more than we needed... will slot in nights for "left overs" next time!
ReplyDeleteI love that you were honest enough with yourself to decide the ipad wasn't worth it. I have them in my classroom, but I know I would never purchase one for myself. They can really become money pits, as my district is finding out the hard way!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the de-cluttering! I agree, you should post things on the blog...no yard...have a blog sale instead! :)
Yes! We started an online Facebook Garage Sale Community - for our County! I've sold a ton of and bought way too much! It's been great and it's also been great to meet people in the community and see everyone work together on more than buy/sell treasures! :)
ReplyDeleteIf you really wanted a yard/ garage sale, could you take them to a friend or family member's house?
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog through pinterest. Really enjoying it.
Hey Tiffany, great article! Thanks! Think http://www.yardmama.com is exactly what are you looking for. It's FREE and you can post there a single small item like a pin if you will. Search allows people from your neighborhood interested in your items to get in contact and pick them up. I bet you're going to love it! Give it a try, you won't regret! Happy yard selling!
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