Debt Dumpers 2021

[Tygerlilly]

Breathing a little easier today now that the new stimulus package has passed the House! I've been making a plan for how I want to use the 'leftover' money from that after we pay off our loans.

1) Rent a dumpster and clear out garage. Looks like it will be approximately $350 for one for the weekend. We have an old couch, old mattress, carpet from the whole house, and tons of miscellaneous junk to throw away.
2) Get the rest of the flooring needed to finish the last 2 rooms. $300ish?
3) Buy the last of the baby stuff we need. I need 2 new harnessed boosters for the big girls and a new seat for baby boy ($300 total), a new wrap carrier ($50), miscellaneous sheets/burp cloths/etc ($50), new stash of cloth diapers ($150), and the stroller I really want that I'm definitely splurging on, including adapters and bench seat ($700). So about $1250 there, although I can maybe wait on the stroller for right now and see if a deal comes along.
4) Finish off clothes shopping for the whole family, including new shoes for everyone. Budgeting $800 for this.


Our other big decision is that we have decided to postpone Disney until Spring. Originally, we planned end of October, but we've decided to hold off because crowds will be crazy and by spring little man will be around 6 months and a little more stable with sitting and routines.
We're going to do a few long weekend trips while I'm on maternity leave instead: San Antonio, Kansas City, Oklahoma City are on the list.

 

[pblack]

I like them too! Another favorite of mine is Fitness Blender on YouTube as well.

I'll have to check them out!

 

[slightly_obsessed]

We've been making little strides in our debt dumping.
We filed our taxes on the early side and already got our refund. What didn't go to paying down little debts went to savings for future expenses.
Aside from that, we've been graced with additional unexpected medical bills from our sons two arm surgeries. Poor kid had to have a reduction and pins set in his arm to repair the fractures.

Also, our method of having the prearranged birthday cards has already served us well. We've used 4 of them so far. I know what why I didn't think of that sooner

Poor guy! Hope his arm heals quickly!

 

[DLgal]

Breathing a little easier today now that the new stimulus package has passed the House! I've been making a plan for how I want to use the 'leftover' money from that after we pay off our loans.

1) Rent a dumpster and clear out garage. Looks like it will be approximately $350 for one for the weekend. We have an old couch, old mattress, carpet from the whole house, and tons of miscellaneous junk to throw away.
2) Get the rest of the flooring needed to finish the last 2 rooms. $300ish?
3) Buy the last of the baby stuff we need. I need 2 new harnessed boosters for the big girls and a new seat for baby boy ($300 total), a new wrap carrier ($50), miscellaneous sheets/burp cloths/etc ($50), new stash of cloth diapers ($150), and the stroller I really want that I'm definitely splurging on, including adapters and bench seat ($700). So about $1250 there, although I can maybe wait on the stroller for right now and see if a deal comes along.
4) Finish off clothes shopping for the whole family, including new shoes for everyone. Budgeting $800 for this.


Our other big decision is that we have decided to postpone Disney until Spring. Originally, we planned end of October, but we've decided to hold off because crowds will be crazy and by spring little man will be around 6 months and a little more stable with sitting and routines.
We're going to do a few long weekend trips while I'm on maternity leave instead: San Antonio, Kansas City, Oklahoma City are on the list.

Rather than renting a dumpster, have you looked into a junk hauling service like Junk King? They charge way less than that and usually bring a big truck and charge by how much of the truck your stuff takes up. We got rid of some large furniture, an elliptical, a recliner and ottoman, a bike, and old patio furniture and they only charged me $150.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Rather than renting a dumpster, have you looked into a junk hauling service like Junk King? They charge way less than that and usually bring a big truck and charge by how much of the truck your stuff takes up. We got rid of some large furniture, an elliptical, a recliner and ottoman, a bike, and old patio furniture and they only charged me $150.

We just put stuff like that out at the curb and usually junk collectors pick it up before the trash truck comes. If it’s something huge like a refrigerator, we have to call our town hall and make an appt. Those pick ups are only on Wednesdays whereas our regular trash day is Monday. Even then, it’s usually grabbed early by some collector and we have to call to cancel the appt. That was the case with out last fridge.

 

[DLgal]

We just put stuff like that out at the curb and usually junk collectors pick it up before the trash truck comes. If it’s something huge like a refrigerator, we have to call our town hall and make an appt. Those pick ups are only on Wednesdays whereas our regular trash day is Monday. Even then, it’s usually grabbed early by some collector and we have to call to cancel the appt. That was the case with out last fridge.

Yeah, we get 2 "bulk pickups" per year for free through Waste Management, but as renters, we don't have access to the account and cannot call for this service. There really aren't junk collectors around here either. It's a fairly high end neighborhood and if you put something out on the curb, the HOA will slap you with a fine in a hot second.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Yeah, we get 2 "bulk pickups" per year for free through Waste Management, but as renters, we don't have access to the account and cannot call for this service. There really aren't junk collectors around here either. It's a fairly high end neighborhood and if you put something out on the curb, the HOA will slap you with a fine in a hot second.

Yup, our HOA would fine us so quick. We don't really have junk haulers either because the local dump charges a stupid amount of money to dispose of stuff.

Popped into Target and for probably the first time ever, was able to snag some of the fun spring decor from the dollar spot I've been seeing all over IG. Now I'm in the mood to spring clean and decorate.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Most of my county was built in the 60s, before HOAs.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Yup, our HOA would fine us so quick. We don't really have junk haulers either because the local dump charges a stupid amount of money to dispose of stuff.

Popped into Target and for probably the first time ever, was able to snag some of the fun spring decor from the dollar spot I've been seeing all over IG. Now I'm in the mood to spring clean and decorate.

A lot of junk people collect is for the scrap metal. Dh and his coworkers would collect "waste" metal from his job, pieces of pipe, etc. His employer only wanted to keep the stainless steel so any brass, aluminum, etc they would put in a separate pile and their boss didn't mind them keeping it. Every few months dh with around 3 other coworkers would take the metal to the scrapper and each would come home with several hundred $. Once the boss heard how much $$ they all made, it was decided that employees can't have any of it. Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

Some people are handy and fix bikes that people throw out and then sell them. Personally, I couldn't be bothered. Every trash night we see a truck or 2 driving around looking for potentially good stuff. Kind of like that show Pickers. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

 

[jen7233]

Just on the subject of picking up "junk", if it's anything that is still in decent condition, the Habitat for Humanity or Salvation Army may pick up. I've done that before, and have them picking up again. I used to consign clothes, but with Covid the thrift store won't take it and the Just Between Friends is not work I feel like putting in anymore. When the kids were babies and little, I rotated clothes more often with growth spurts and all, and there was a lot more baby/little kid *clothes reselling it seemed.

Currently, the thrift store I use won't take any books either, but the haul coming will take them I have a big amount I just don't want to keep hauling around. I put aside the books I see as classic or nostalgic to me, i.e. my Pat Conroy and Jane Austen book collection, Green Eggs and Ham, the Cat in the Hat, Christmas books I used to read to the kids, a Disney story collection, that sort of thing. But books that mean nothing are going, I'm tired of the dust and shelf space taken up. I don't feel like going through the process of re-selling them myself online and mailing. My son had a huge Nerf collection and likes occasionally posting on eBay to sell them, but sometimes that all takes a bit of time.

 

[jen7233]

Oh and a few more made it, Maurice Sendak Where the Wild Things Are and There's a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer, my kids had me read those so many times for at least a couple years, they made the cut!!

 

[DLgal]

Just on the subject of picking up "junk", if it's anything that is still in decent condition, the Habitat for Humanity or Salvation Army may pick up. I've done that before, and have them picking up again. I used to consign clothes, but with Covid the thrift store won't take it and the Just Between Friends is not work I feel like putting in anymore. When the kids were babies and little, I rotated clothes more often with growth spurts and all, and there was a lot more baby/little kid *clothes reselling it seemed.

Currently, the thrift store I use won't take any books either, but the haul coming will take them I have a big amount I just don't want to keep hauling around. I put aside the books I see as classic or nostalgic to me, i.e. my Pat Conroy and Jane Austen book collection, Green Eggs and Ham, the Cat in the Hat, Christmas books I used to read to the kids, a Disney story collection, that sort of thing. But books that mean nothing are going, I'm tired of the dust and shelf space taken up. I don't feel like going through the process of re-selling them myself online and mailing. My son had a huge Nerf collection and likes occasionally posting on eBay to sell them, but sometimes that all takes a bit of time.

The stuff we got rid of was all literally broken, so no SA pickup for us, although we have used it in the past.

I usually have good results with our local Buy Nothing FB group. I gave away an old TV, coffee table, end table, a bunch of toys, and 2 kids bikes. We also gave away a treadmill that needed a minor repair but we just wanted to reclaim the garage space so we could fit both cars inside. A neighbor happily hauled it away, put a new belt on it and put it in his own garage.

I am always happy to give things away if it means someone will come get it!

 

[Tygerlilly]

I have zero patience for selling outside of the occasional yearly yardsale. If it's in decent condition, I just put it at the end of the driveway and post in my local mom group to come get it. Everything is literally broken or so worn it isn't in any condition to pass forward.

Speaking of yard sales, I'm excited to start going again. They're starting up around here this month and I'm on the hunt for some cheap things to redo for the house. I've been watching way too much diy on youtube and gathering a lot of ideas from IG on how I want things to look around the house. I love a good diy project and haven't done one since I redid the free dresser (that's now a TV stand in our living room) and night stand in my daughter's room.

 

[crazycatstacy]

So my BFF and I started the flower wall for my mom's birthday party. WOW...it is way harder and more time consuming than I had expected (of course what DIY isn't?). It was originally going to be 8x8 as I have 2 4x8 peg board panels hinged together. It is now 4x8 and the other half will be covered in fabric. A local party rental place was selling bolts of fabric for $1 a yard but you had to buy however much was on the bolt. Went there today and bought 6 yards of fabric (more than enough to cover it) and it cost me $6! Pretty good deal. Also rented a cocktail table for $15.

 

[barkley]

i recently learned about a couple of not for profit thrift stores in our area that sell to the public but allow veterans to shop for free. the article spoke to the items that are most commonly sought out by the vets-we've got a good bit so i've started gathering and hope to do a drop off in a few weeks.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have zero patience for selling outside of the occasional yearly yardsale. If it's in decent condition, I just put it at the end of the driveway and post in my local mom group to come get it.

I son’t even have the patience to have a yard sale. Whatever our kids outgrew (clothes and toys) we either gave to family members with younger kids or donated. Purple Heart picks up donations from our front porch and whatever they don’t accept we put at the curb. If the pickers don’t take it, the township trash pick up will take.

 

[imbatman]

and Jane Austen book collection

I kinda panicked until I read that you KEPT those. Thank goodness!!!

local Buy Nothing FB group

I had no idea about this group and now I'm a member!

 

[jen7233]

I kinda panicked until I read that you KEPT those. Thank goodness!!!

I had no idea about this group and now I'm a member!

I had no idea about this group and now I'm a member!

Yes, keep!

I never heard of the group either but now I'll keep it in mind when we have things to part ways with that might be of interest to someone else.

 

[DLgal]

Yes, keep!

I never heard of the group either but now I'll keep it in mind when we have things to part ways with that might be of interest to someone else.

The Buy Nothing groups are local, so just search in FB under your neighborhood name or city.

 

[barkley]

anyone going to benefit from the new stimulus plan's retro unemployment taxation changes? i'm just glad my dd hasn't done her return yet-i was going to help her do it this week but we'll have her wait a couple of weeks for new irs instructions (she only got a few weeks of uib but had them withhold the 10% so the change could result in a few hundred more to her refund ).