To Sell or Throw

[TheRootedNomad]

I'm not so good at the qouting from one thread to another or the linking so bear with me....There was a thread dated like 12/16 or 18 that was talking about donating things instead of keeping them around for e-bay. I have a HUGE self conflict over just getting rid of stuff if it'll probably sell at a yard sale. I have buckets of things building up in my half done laundry room waiting to yardsale as it's the wrong time of year. Part of me says "Salvation Army here we come!!!!!" and the other battles back "I could be enough after a yard sale or two to pay for you're new water heater" ........Anyone else out there have conflicting discussions/clutter based goals with themselves???? and how are you remeding them????

[jennaica]

I relate. We have been downsizing for a long time now. A yard sale a year.
You sell about 2/3's of what you put out. Planning on having one final one. Given lotas of stuff to charity but gather up appliances, tupperware, etc. and it will be worth your while. Have it early in the spring and then you're not looking at it all the time. Just don't put everything in your sale. Check internet find out what sells. Store everything in black plastic bags. Some to charity and some to sell. That way you can get some extra change for something you need and help someone else as well. Works for us.

[AmyMCGS]

This is one of the things I've really worked on in the last year-- letting go of stuff. I felt guilty getting rid of things that are still "good", even if I don't like/ wear/ use them. Flylady talks about this a lot. Eventually I came around to the idea that if it's not blessing me or my home (Flylady's phrase) then it needs to go out, regardless of what I paid for it or what it might be worth.

For me, putting the "out" pile into another area of my house and then storing it for someday when I might have a sale just didn't work. It was still there, it was still clutter.

So, last summer I called a local charity that has a pick-up service. I put thirteen trash bags of stuff (clothes, craft supplies, decorations, etc) on my front porch, and they came by and picked them up. Now I know the stuff is going to people who can use it, and, I got a tax receipt, so I can deduct it. I can't describe for you what a relief it was to see all that stuff finally GONE! :)

[Edna_E]

I have a rather tattered wicker trunk. I collect things into it, and when it gets full, I have to decide what to DO about the stuff. Sometimes it gets given away, sometimes taken to a consignment store, and occasionally it gets mended and used. I can't ever seem to pull off a garage sale, and so stopped pretending I was going to.

[Telephus44]

I've been having the same arguement with myself about the clothes I've decluttered from my closet. I finally decided to pick just 5 things to try and take to the consignment store, and the rest will go to the Salvation Army.

[AmyBoz]

I absolutely have this dilemma. Especailly since our local consignment shop just instituted a $1.00 charge for each item you consign. For some items, it's not even worth it, so I'm left with the whole donate/trash/garage sale dilemma.

It's a toughie, and I have no advice, but whewf...I know that's a hard decision to make.