2016 Destash - The more things you own, the more they own you

[damskipi13]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everybody on this thread. I've been secretly following it for about a year trying to get the motivation to get rid of my stuff. A lot of it has even been set aside ready to sell, but I've just been too lazy to do anything about it. Well, this morning I finally did something! I held a garage sale and made about $200 but more importantly got rid of about 2/3 of the stuff I put out. $200 might not seem like a ton, but I didn't put out everything because some items will still be in use for 2-3 more months. I plan to have another garage sale in May/June where I will get rid of a lot of furniture and clothes. And now I know that a garage sale isn't as scary as I thought, so it'll be easier to motivate myself next time

I do think I'm going to take the books to the library to donate. I had about 100 books out for sale and barely anybody even looked at them, not one sold. So I think I should just cut my losses and donate them. Too much of a hassle to sell 100 books at $1 apiece

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everybody on this thread. I've been secretly following it for about a year trying to get the motivation to get rid of my stuff. A lot of it has even been set aside ready to sell, but I've just been too lazy to do anything about it. Well, this morning I finally did something! I held a garage sale and made about $200 but more importantly got rid of about 2/3 of the stuff I put out. $200 might not seem like a ton, but I didn't put out everything because some items will still be in use for 2-3 more months. I plan to have another garage sale in May/June where I will get rid of a lot of furniture and clothes. And now I know that a garage sale isn't as scary as I thought, so it'll be easier to motivate myself next time

I do think I'm going to take the books to the library to donate. I had about 100 books out for sale and barely anybody even looked at them, not one sold. So I think I should just cut my losses and donate them. Too much of a hassle to sell 100 books at $1 apiece

See if you have a place that will buy used books. We have a place sort of close to my house called the Book Barn, they buy used books. I can get cash or credit, and I usually swap back and forth between cash and credit. They don't take everything but I can usually get them to take 1/2 - 3/4 of what I bring in. Then I take the left overs to our church/school for their rummage sale.

 

[PrincessKymm]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everybody on this thread. I've been secretly following it for about a year trying to get the motivation to get rid of my stuff. A lot of it has even been set aside ready to sell, but I've just been too lazy to do anything about it. Well, this morning I finally did something! I held a garage sale and made about $200 but more importantly got rid of about 2/3 of the stuff I put out. $200 might not seem like a ton, but I didn't put out everything because some items will still be in use for 2-3 more months. I plan to have another garage sale in May/June where I will get rid of a lot of furniture and clothes. And now I know that a garage sale isn't as scary as I thought, so it'll be easier to motivate myself next time

I do think I'm going to take the books to the library to donate. I had about 100 books out for sale and barely anybody even looked at them, not one sold. So I think I should just cut my losses and donate them. Too much of a hassle to sell 100 books at $1 apiece

If you wanted to take the time you could try to sell them on Amazon. I haven't gone all the way through the process but it seems pretty easy.

Otherwise yes I vote for donating to the library or a church. Our library sells used books and uses the proceeds to pay for fun stuff and programs for the community. There is a church in my area that will give the books out for free at their community store and they said they never have enough.

I know our local food pantry also accepts books and will let a family choose a couple each time they visit.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

told my mom she can keep our wedding china (she uses it regularly for gatherings we never do.

Contacted replacements to see what they would offer for the teapots

unpacked 3 boxes of childhood ceramic figures that have been packed away for decades - let DD keep about a dozen of them - the rest are going on CL

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

YES! One car, 3 boxes of parts, 2 seats out of my house! And money in my pocket!
Now we are off to get DS15 a new phone.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

It doesn't hurt to get a quote! Just go over to the Replacements.com page and click on the "Sell to Us" link. You tell them what you have for china (brand/pattern) and they will send you a PDF file with their "offer" (i.e. how much they are paying for each piece and what they will buy/won't buy and the FAQs about condition, etc.). WARNING.... DO NOT look at the SELLING price for your china because the BUYING price will just depress you!! I totally understand that they have costs involved in owning/running their business.... but it kind of irks me when I sell them a dinner plate for $14 PLUS I pay for packing and shipping.... and they sell it for $70! But since I couldn't even get a NIBBLE on these pieces on Ebay or the FB yard sale, even at a fraction of what they sell for on Replacements, I figure I'll take the money for now. Debating about packing up the pieces they aren't buying right now and putting the in the attic and trying again in a year or two.... but that kind of goes against the "decluttering" I'm trying to do!

Best of luck..................P

HAha! I just checked Replacements' site and my pattern is on sale there ... 20% off - lol. So if they are selling my Gorham Golden Swirl dinner plate for $12, I can only imagine the pittance I might get for my dozen place settings - haha. They also show that they have 24 items of each piece so I think the demand is just not there to fetch a decent price. I guess I'll just have to keep them and deal with the small amount of space these dishes take up in my pantry. Oh well ...

 

[melmel]

Managed to get 5 bags and 4 more boxes out of the basement. Still a ways to go but I'm starting to see more floor than piles. At this rate I might actually meet my goal of having a play area for the kids this spring.

 

[StephMK]

Ok, well spring break is almost over and I wish I had another week! I did get several small projects done but not as much as I wanted.
- cleared out kids' bathroom vanity and DD has a pile of things to get rid of
-cleared out art supply drawer and will relocate the rest of the supplies to the basement
-cleared out one set of kitchen cabinets - organized & relocated some stuff off one shelf into the now empty drawer
-cleaned & painted the kitchen once the floor was done and washed the curtains
-collected some dishes & cups to donate

I ended up having to wipe down and clean everything I took out of the kitchen because the whole main level got dusty from the flooring removal. Hoping to finish one or two other small projects before the weekend is over.

 

[pjlla]

Decided that I might be best doing the basement in bits and pieces instead of trying to dedicate a whole weekend and getting overwhelmed or exhausted..... so when DH was getting ready to go to the transfer station, I dashed downstairs and just GRABBED stuff..... didn't stop to think, reconsider, etc. It's all TRASH, but somehow I end up wondering if will be needed for something (yup, gotta a little dash of "hoarder" in me). So out went three empty kitty litter buckets (you always need another bucket, right??), the boxes from a 5 year old computer monitor and two other computer boxes from when DD's laptop was sent back for service (they will send you a new box with a shipping label if you are getting warranty work done), plus the box that the sound bar for my television came in. Also found a LARGE piece vinyl that I THOUGHT was a dead pool blow up toy.... not sure exactly what it was, but it's gone! All in about 5 minutes!! Wow... that feels good!

I also have a "thing" for glass jars (trying to give up plastic storage as much as possible) so I save LOTS and LOTS of glass jars.... but there comes a point when you realize that you have MORE than you could possibly ever need all at once! So I sorted a bunch and will part with about 50% after I'm done posting here.

Also had a local woman who was looking for large plastic jars (like what rice or pretzels come in)..... well, of course the "hoarder" in me had a bunch of extras, so I bagged up about 6 for her and she was supposed to come get them MONTHS ago.... and of course, she never did. So they've been taking up space in the garage.... but I told DH to grab them and bring them to recycle so now they are gone!

Also grabbed a box that had been sitting under the pool deck for a few years (and had somehow made its way into the garage last fall)..... full of pool and sandbox type toys that belonged to DS.... who is now 18 years old! Some pails and shovels, a few Rescue Heroes (most of those were indoor toys, but I let him have a few for the sandbox), and the like..... off to the "take-it-or-leave-it" shed at the transfer station they went!

Woohoo..... feeling good about making some quick decisions and getting rid of a carload of JUNK today! Now I just need to repeat that about 1,000 times!!...........P

 

[hcothren]

I just found this thread. I am home this morning with my youngest daughter who is feeling under the weather. The rest of my family are off to Church. I needed this today, while she sleeps I think I will tackle my bathroom drawers. Last time I worked on them I was nesting while pregnant with her 3 years ago!!!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Not much over the weekend. I started raking the yard down, this task is going to take weeks!
DD cleaned up her corner of the room and I started on my night table.
DS19 worked on putting new lights in his truck. The wiring is a hot mess!

 

[OhMari]

Walked the dog outside and picked up. I try to pick up after he is done, but my dh is lazy and just lets him go and never picks up. Drives me crazy.
I am a blue jean capri horder. I went thru all my capri's and I put 4 pair on Buy Sell and Trade board and sold 2.
I wore a pair on Saturday and my dd said, "it must be spring, mom has on capri's." What the heck am I suppose to wear. I am not going to run around in black spandex.
I am 54, not 24.

 

[sarahk0204]

Walked the dog outside and picked up. I try to pick up after he is done, but my dh is lazy and just lets him go and never picks up. Drives me crazy.
I am a blue jean capri horder. I went thru all my capri's and I put 4 pair on Buy Sell and Trade board and sold 2.
I wore a pair on Saturday and my dd said, "it must be spring, mom has on capri's." What the heck am I suppose to wear. I am not going to run around in black spandex.
I am 54, not 24.

DH organizes the children to pick up after the dog. Hooray!

I love my jean capris (and I wore them last week when it was warm)! I am 46 and don't need to be running around in spandex either.

 

[PrincessKymm]

I've been down with the flu for three days but I'm finally feeling better. I cleaned a little on Saturday before I was all achey and today I cleaned a little more.

I posted one item on eBay but I doubt it will sell. I'll probably just donate again. I don't want to waste my time with the FB groups, they aren't that great in my area.

I did get the mail sorted and trashed everything I didn't need to file away.

I got the laundry done and my clothes hung up. I have a serious clothing problem but I refuse to give anything up just yet. Maybe in the fall.

I started a kitchen clean out and I started with the junk food. The chips are now in DS's closet so I'm not tempted to get them out. Weird but hopefully it works. Now I just have to stop buying it!

I think I'm going to purge some books next weekend.

 

[Dashzap]

I do think I'm going to take the books to the library to donate. I had about 100 books out for sale and barely anybody even looked at them, not one sold. So I think I should just cut my losses and donate them. Too much of a hassle to sell 100 books at $1 apiece

You've likely gotten rid of the books by now, but if you haven't look into a chain called Half Price Books. They buy used books.

 

[melmel]

Last night I sorted and purged all the craft supplies. I started with 6 bins of varying sizes. Manged to get it down to one neatly packed bin.

 

[dreamin_disney]

I just went through my 3rd bedroom and found a bunch of new items for my nieces Easter basket I also went through my craft stash and got rid of some stuff to donate . I have about 3 boxes of misc stuff , 2 large bags of clothes and a bag of toys to donate to a church or family services. I want all this stuff just to go to people that really need it and not to a place that sell it. I'm feeling really good about decluttering. I just want to be done with all of it

 

[OhMari]

Another dh story. We have new hardwood floors, or whatever they are being called. But I got a Bissel Steam/Vac last year to clean the floors. Apparently, you are suppose to buy Distilled Water only, to use with the machine. Leave it to me, not to read directions. So the Steamer stopped working. No one in our area, fixes them.

So my dh emailed Bissel. He did not hear back, so he wrote a complaint letter that it had been 2 weeks and nothing, and he was going to make a complaint to the BBB. That got a response. They are sending us a new one, since this one is under a year old. We have to cut the chord off the old one and mail it in. They sent us a FED EX label for free return. When they receive the chord, they will promptly send the new one out.

Now here is the hoarder in my dh. He is going to go out and buy a new chord, so I can use the vacuum part of the Bissel. I told him, the new one will have the vacuum on it. But he wants to save it for parts now, incase the new one will need parts. I am proud that he did the leg work of the Bissel, but he just cannot get rid of anything.

 

[toystoryduo]

Our bedroom is almost finished. We had 1 bag of clothes for charity, 2 small bags of garbage, and we found about 10 items that we can list on eBay/Craigslist. So far, we have sold 2 items this week!

I think we'll work on the office next week, and the other bedroom the following week when the kids are on Spring Break.

 

[pjlla]

Okay.... here goes... HOW'S THIS for justification?

I want to go to the thrift store today.... I've been on a roll finding Fiestaware for my collection and I'm a bit excited. But I KNOW that I should NOT... A). spend the money and B). bring more junk into the house!

So I am justifying this way.....

I will grab at least 7 items from the basement to get rid of and bring them to the transfer station ON MY WAY to the thrift store. And I will ONLY take the money that I have available in my "fun money" envelope to spend (which isn't much today). I will also try to ONLY look at dishes, since that is primarily what I am going for.... but I can't help it if a beautiful blouse calls to me!

How's that for justifying!?? I'll let you all know how it goes! ................P