Comments on: What Is The Best Method For Sorting Stuff You Don’t Need? (Your Advice)

By: Amy F.

Amy F. — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:38:51 +0000

Get one of Don Aslett’s books from the library or online (should be pretty cheap). His books on decluttering helped me whittle down my stuff to a mere 6 boxes and 3 suitcases when I had to move cross country. There is very little of what I threw out that I wish I still had. For the most part, I can’t even remember what I got rid of!

By: viola

viola — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:35:40 +0000

If you lived in a warm country, you wouldn’t even have winter coats

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:35:53 +0000

If I gave away anything I didn’t use for 6 months I would never have winter coats!

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 02:05:36 +0000

I just discussed this issue on my blog at http://goodorder.typepad.com/lawsoforder/

Basically, I sort out the trash/recyclables first, then I separate out the valuable stuff to sell on Craigslist or eBay (my cutoff is a $20 value). Whatever is left over can be put in a garage sale, and then whatever doesn’t sell gets donated.

By: viola

viola — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:21:29 +0000

To right. 80% of what we have or even own we do not use.

I believe in “travelling” light and I have the attitude “what you don’t use for 6 months should be given away to someone who needs it”…

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:54:32 +0000

If you have something packed away in your attic or basement it is unlikely that you actually need it.

4 things:

Ebay
Craigslist
Goodwill
Trash

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:41:35 +0000

I’m always looking for items that I could possibly sell, or get rid of to free up some space. I keep a laundry basket in a back closet, with possible sale items. If I don’t pull the item out within a couple of months, I guess I don’t need it! Since I don’t itemize my taxes (and can’t take a deduction for donating), I try to sell things on eBay if I can.

I’ve found that selling on eBay is not that difficult. Once I’d sold a few items and gotten the hang of it, I could easily write up an auction and list an item in less than an hour. I usually list in groups of 5-10 items and I can do all the work in a couple of hours a week. The secret is to see if the item is “eBay-able” before listing. It’s easy to search completed listings to see whether an item has sold in the past, and for how much. Any item needs to be easy to ship (it’s not worth selling heavy items unless they’re fairly valuable). (I’ve never lived in an area with an active Craig’s List but that’s another option for heavy items.) I usually save up my best items and sell them in the months before Christmas, when sales are highest.

If an item isn’t sellable on eBay (or Half or Amazon, which are better for books), then my goal is to get rid of it as quickly as possible. You can’t get too sentimental about it - if you don’t love it and value it, then is it worth the space in your house? I took pictures of a lot of my high school trophies and other items, and then got rid of the items themselves - it’s much easier to admire them in a photo album than when I have to dust them every week!

The best way to “get rid of” extra items is not to buy them in the first place. My eBay sales have dropped to almost nothing, because I just don’t buy that much “stuff” any more!

By: princessperky

princessperky — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:29:08 +0000

If you would buy it again donate it,

if you would never buy it again cause it costs too much, sell it (if you know how, if not you would prolly make more donating and writing it off)

If you wouldn’t buy it even if you knew someone who needs it, pitch it.

If it is sentimental to someone other than you, give it to a sentimental relative…not your job to keep aunt Ednas favorite platter.

If you really think it is worth something but don’t know how to sell it, put the word out..you would be surprised how many people will take what you offer (and how many wont)