Tips to unclutter my place?

[EJMichaels]

...And no it is not just one thing. It is just crap I have collected over the years. I do have a bunch of unopened toys I would like to get rid of, but I am unsure if I can bring myself to do it. I also have hundreds if not thousands of VHS tapes I am ready to just chuck. They are not worth anything.

Both fit into my category of "too good to discard". I usually try to find new homes for such things. The toys seem perfect for donating somewhere. The tapes -- not so much. Maybe save a few you love and just get rid of the rest. How much will you regret their absence? Compare that to how much you will enjoy having made some space in your home.

You might perceive some items as having too much value to give away, but finding a buyer is not always worth the effort. Compare the theoretical lost income to the value of reclaiming your space.

Unless it's a high-dollar item that would actually make sense to sell, I use Freecycle for things other people might want. Knowing it wasn't wasted makes it easier to get rid of. Goodwill and places like that tend to discard a huge amount of the donated items.

I save huge amounts of stuff, but most of it fits into a different category -- need or might need, and not easy to buy when I do. Far too many things become discontinued or otherwise unavailable, or would be difficult to obtain on short notice. For that, I "go vertical" with stacking bins. The process of packing the items gives you a chance to evaluate the need to keep them.

So, for me, it's not about how often I use it, but rather why I'm keeping it. Things need to justify the space they occupy.

 

[Alistair]

If the unopened toys are in good condition and you want to make a few bucks put them in a local auction. My dad had tons of toy cars that we got rid of when he passed. We got a couple thousand off them.

 

[TickTockMan]

If the unopened toys are in good condition and you want to make a few bucks put them in a local auction. My dad had tons of toy cars that we got rid of when he passed. We got a couple thousand off them.

They are all mint. I was thinking eBay. I don't know of any local auction places.


I looked on eBay. What I have has been selling for between $10 and $50 each + shipping. I don't know if I could get that lucky though.

 

[sixthson]

Even if you got only part of that amount, it's better than them taking up space in your home. And by all means, if you have two closets full of stuff you never look at, get rid of them. Things you don't thin will sell can be donated or in the trash. Simplify your life.

 

[peeonme]

When I purge I use a method I saw on TV, I have 3 pile, things to be tossed out, things to donate and thing I can sell.
To get in any of these 3 piles the item has to be a. something I didn't know I had. b. a duplicate, who needs 2? c. something I know that I will never use.
Don't get overwhelmed, do one room at a time and put on some music.

 

[roadtripboy]

This works for me. Every week take one large trash bag. Fill it with stuff to donate or to throw away. It's manageable without making it seem like a big project.

 

[Alistair]

They are all mint. I was thinking eBay. I don't know of any local auction places.


I looked on eBay. What I have has been selling for between $10 and $50 each + shipping. I don't know if I could get that lucky though.

If you want to do all that work selling them. With an auction you just call the company. I'm sure you can find on online in your area. You don't have to deal with the stuff that doesn't sell, and have the stuff sitting around while your waiting for it to sell. A lot of the auction places will pick up the items for you.

 

[sixthson]

I think Alistair has a good idea there. If you have anything of value, an auction company can handle it and many will also do the rummage sale stuff, too. Maybe Eastofeden can advise you on this as well.

 

[TickTockMan]

If you want to do all that work selling them. With an auction you just call the company. I'm sure you can find on online in your area. You don't have to deal with the stuff that doesn't sell, and have the stuff sitting around while your waiting for it to sell. A lot of the auction places will pick up the items for you.

I think Alistair has a good idea there. If you have anything of value, an auction company can handle it and many will also do the rummage sale stuff, too. Maybe Eastofeden can advise you on this as well.

I did find two places in near by towns. I have emailed them.


Thanks for the idea.

 

[jjonn3]

My next place is going to be a one bedroom house with a 20 car garage for my "treasures".

 

[Willie Boy]

Why not just buy another house? You can transfer the important stuff to the new house and live in it while leaving the less important stuff in the old house and come back to visit from time to time. Or stay in the old house if you prefer and send the not-so-important stuff to the "vacation home".

 

[Zeno Lorea]

In your case, I'd hold a yard sale. Not just because you can use the money. You are clearly too attached to things to give them away or throw them away. By selling them to the highest bidder, you force yourself to make a choice: do I keep this item or would I rather have the sum of $x.xx for it?

Inevitably, there will be some things that are worth more to you than to potential buyers, but most of the stuff will get a chance to clutter someone else's house. And a lot of things may not be sold to the first bidder, but to the second or third. Other things may never find a buyer and you will realize it is just garbage that brings back memories.

 

[Latimer]

I've been wondering: is TickTock an Ox reference?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tik-Tok_of_Oz

 

[TickTockMan]

I've been wondering: is TickTock an Ox reference?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tik-Tok_of_Oz

It is not. It is from the story in my avatar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/"Repent,_Harlequin!"_Said_the_Ticktockman