(Yes, I’m supposed to be studying for finals. Shhh…I can’t tear myself away from blogging. )
Spring is just around the corner, and the desire to start tossing practically everything we own out the window is growing stronger everyday. It seems we always collect more junk each year, and then I spend a month going through it and purging what we no longer need.
Years ago, the amount of stuff that I would re-home was tiny. But having two kids somehow multiplies that amount to the nth degree. From clothes that are quickly outgrown, to toys that seem to reproduce like bunnies in the dark, if I don’t get this junk under control it will take over our house.
(And let’s not forget the money that was spent on all of this stuff. I wouldn’t mind having some of that money back.)
So what do I do with all of this stuff? Well, sorting it is generally how I begin. Anything that shows serious signs of wear is thrown out immediately. What purpose does a chipped glass have, anyway? Even if that glass was part of the set we received for our wedding, I can’t keep every item that has the slightest sentimental value.
Those items that can be reused are then scrutinized for value. Most of the Cordy’s clothing will be saved for Mira. Some of Mira’s clothing, and toys they no longer play with, will be sold to a resale shop like Once Upon A Child. Anything not sold back there will be given away.
Electronics and brand name baby clothes (like Gymboree) will likely go to eBay. These items have a higher resale value, so I can clean out my house while making some decent money in the process. I’m a bargain shopper – most of the items I own were purchased on sale to begin with. On more than one occasion I’ve sold items on eBay for close to what I purchased them for, and once or twice for more than I paid.
Miscellaneous items will be offered to friends and family, and the remainder will then go to a charity group. I used to hang onto things in the past just because I didn’t know what to do with them, but didn’t want to toss them out. Now I have no problem throwing a box of stuff together and dropping it off at our local Goodwill.
I think the best way to get rid of unwanted junk, though, is to stop buying so much to begin with. We’ve already cut back on our frivolous spending, thanks to $3.45 per gallon gas and grocery bills that are pushing $100 every week. Simply asking “Do we really need this?” goes a long way.
What about you? How are you saving money and simplifying your life?
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This post is part of the Parent Bloggers Network blog blast sponsored by Zwaggle, an online community devoted to helping parents get rid of what they no longer need and find items they want, without the retail price tag. Sign up for Zwaggle through this blog blast to get extra Zwaggle points to use towards their first transaction.
I have been saving money lately by not buying a coffee every day. That saves about ten bucks a week (more like twenty)lol
I have also been saving money by cutting out the store-bought coffee – I have also shopped for many clothes at thrift stores and consignment shops. I never thought I would do that…I guess I was a bit of a thrift store snob!
I have saved a lot of “me” money by just putting it into the baby … but it took me a few months to realize she doesn’t need EVERYTHING I SEE … so like you I simply say “do we HAVE to have this?!”
Working on sorting as well, though I find that having two kids (or even one, if the older is at school or the younger is napping) around makes it REALLY difficult to actually finish any one thing in a day.
I’ve gone through at least 4 kitchen boxes (we moved here over a year ago but our garage is still rather full of boxes that need to be unpacked) and given most of it – whatever she wanted – to Slipshod’s niece who recently moved out of her mom’s house and needs her own stuff.
I’ve gone through some clothes and had no problem boxing at least 1/3 of them to give away AND just got lucky about that – a charity group is coming to our neighborhood on Tuesday to pick up usable clothes people have ready to give away. Suh-weet!
As for toys, I’ve been noticing lately that we have a LOT of big baby toys that the little one has outgrown. A neighbor is going to take one of them. I’m considering trying to sell the rest on Craig’s List.
Things I cannot or am too lazy to sell I post to my local Freecycle group and someone in town who wants them will e-mail me and come and pick them up.
I’ve been thinking about this stuff a lot too, particularly since we’re moving soon. I was planning to post about something similar as well and will link back here.
I’ve never actually sold anything on ebay. It always seemed like it would be a lot of trouble. Perhaps I need to reconsider.
We have a 3 pronged attack this year:
1) sorting and getting rid of what we dont use or need.
2) limiting our spending on non-necessary items
3) buying organizational things and rearranging our house to make better use of the square footage we have!
This isn’t really a money-saving venture, but it is an attempt to bring less junk into the house: I try to use canvas bags for small shopping trips. I think I’ve saved at least a dozen bags this week alone.
I’m trying to keep extra book clutter from coming into the house by using the public library. I use my library’s Web site to reserve the books I’m interested in, they pull the books, and I pick them up at the branch closest to my house.