Can you guess what we did this weekend? You know you have too much stuff when it begins to ooze out of the cupboards and drawers and take over residency in your main living area. Maybe some of you know way before that, but that's my criteria. So the last many months I've known that I needed to do something before I got the dreaded telephone call informing me that I would be the next featured 'guest' on Hoarders.
Anybody else out there wrestle with the whole good steward vs. just get it out of here issue? One day I get the flush it bug. I decide that our quality of life will improve vastly if I just make a trip to the local thrift store drop off. As soon as I get to rounding everything up I get this little devil/angel thing going on my shoulders.
- angel/devil: Good for you!
- angel/devil: What do you think you're doing?
- angel/devil: This is good stewardship.
- angel/devil: Is this good stewardship?
- angel/devil: Life is going to be so much simpler if you just haul it off right now!
- angel/devil: Shouldn't you recoup some cash for the household budget?
You may notice here that I didn't indicate who (devil or angel) says what. If only I were sure, it would make everything simpler. What do you think?
You may think from these pictures that I decided the angel was pressing for the cash. No, I just had a friend who needed to supplement her household budget after a surgery left her 6 weeks out of work. She had lot's of stuff that never made it out of boxes after she moved last summer. I had the better location so she showed up with helpers, and her yard sale morning survival kit. Orange juice, muffins and mochas a la Mindi.
The more I think about it, I guess I am leaning more toward the angel/sell it theory. The sun was shining for the first time in a good while, people came in droves and Mindi successfully closed shop praising God for His provision.
Maybe the devil says sell it if it just keeps you from quickly handling what you should be handling. And the angel says sell it if your cash will benefit someone else... Again I ask, what do you think?
Blessings, Debbie
I can't believe that this was the first post that I opened this morning, and it was this topic.
ReplyDeleteI had been playing the angel/devil for so long that the stuff had really piled up too. So for me, I decided to gut up to it and have the sale. We really do need extra cash for college expenses, and every little bit helps.
So... I yard saled it away this weekend. I actually do feel better for having done it, but from here on out I'm just going to do more regular hauling because it was a royal pain in the neck.
Haha! If you remember a while ago, I did a huge declutter too. Well ....a lot of it has crept back in. I don't know when but I think it just seems to appear a bit at a time so you don't notice it. I was hoping to have a garage sale but it hasn't happened ..YET! I say sell it off to make sure someone else can keep it under control. My sunroom has become a dumping ground for my garage sale stuff. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Maa
ReplyDeleteI am working on decluttering too although I did bring home a new bowl for my kitchen this weekend. In my defense, I cleaned out and donated all of my tupperware so the bowl was a "need". I live way out of town so having sale isn't an option, I take it to GoodWill.
ReplyDeleteHold your yard sale then donate everything that's left over. Win-win! You'll lose one morning to the sale but as Mindy proved, a little mocha latte can power us through anything:@)
ReplyDeleteHaving made two moves from a 4000 square foot house to 2000 to 1000, I KNOW about decluttering. I guess it's all about the intention whether you're an angel or a devil. I've heard people that volunteer at thrift stores say that a lot of people just give them junk that they have to pay to haul off. There's nothing wrong with making a little extra cash, especially if you can do some good with it.
ReplyDeleteGet rid of it! And if you can get cash for it, cool! I usually just drop ours off though, as I don't have the time/energy to sell things. But either way, getting rid of stuff WILL make you feel better. :D
ReplyDeleteWe are packing up for a move and in the process I have a lot of things that need a new home. Hopefully we will have a quick sale soon. It would be great if droves of people showed up like in your picture! =)
ReplyDeleteOh I have to do that in my school room. I have been putting it off. Just because it will be so bitter sweet. I could open a store with all of the stuff I have. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you did the right thing and it looks like you had a really good turn out.
I say sell it! If it is there at the end of the day, donate. What a lucky friend to have you help out in this way :)
ReplyDeleteThe Angel/Devil concept is a hard one. I usually just haul it away because I don't want to take the time to do the sale...but if you can get some money for the stuff...AWESOME...and to help out a friend at the same time!! Win/Win I say!
ReplyDeleteJackie
Hi Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment...THANK YOU.
Sorry I haven't been here - I will from now on!!!
I have the same two on my shoulder quite often...not sure which one wins out the most but lately I've been purging so guess it's the Angel for now! lol
I LOOOOVE THE HEADER PICTURE YOU HAVE...I grew up on those old wooden Teeter-Totters.
Karen
Great question and while we have had a few yard/garage sales like when we moved from Ohio to NC and wanted to get rid of major items, we did go for the devil/sale but most often, things go to the goodwill or thrift store or we ask around if someone is in need so that is even more helpful. I have a friend in Ohio who is a single mom with four kids and has one boy so I try to box up all of Nicholas' things and send them to him so most of the time, I go with give it away!
ReplyDeletegood post!
I'm with Happier Than a Pig in Mud! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteblessings ~ tanna
happy to stop by today
ReplyDeleteenjoyed the post...
Oh goodness. That's a good one. I like the idea of sell as it means that the buyer wants to give your unloved things a new lease of life. Why else would they pay for it? Equally I like give away through something like Freecycle. A definite feel of what goes around, comes around. I passed on a whole lot of washable nappies last week. I had no use for them anymore but it saved the receipient a small fortune. Either way I think keeping stuff moving is good for everyone.
ReplyDeleteGood for you to declutter your house. I keep bringing more stuff than I take out so maybe I'll have to do the same. We have the Diabetes Association and the Community Living who calls once a month and if we have household items and clothing to get rid off the come to pick it up. They sell it to Value Village second hand stores to support their organizations.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong for getting money for what is yours if someone wants to buy it. They will be happy and you will be happy. JB
In our younger days, every time we moved we decluttered with a yard sale and then donated the rest. Now I mainly donate....
ReplyDeleteThis is on my to do list,(decluttering)When I start to declutter I first I try to give my kids an opportunity to take stuff off my hands,(like the items they left behind when they moved out) they usually refuse. Then I usually donate, we always talk about yard sale but never seem to get around to it. I figure if I donate it at least someone is getting use out of it verses the stuff sitting in my house gathering dust
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, I just haul it to Goodwill, but I think helping a neighbor is such a fabulous idea!
ReplyDeleteWe did the exact same thing this past weekend. I am the opposite of a hoarder. I don't keep anything! My hubs is always worried about his things...that I might snatch them up and sell them at the next sale.
ReplyDeleteI have gone both ways. Four years ago, my dd and I took a trip to Italy and Poland. I held a yard sale to earn my spending money. These days, I am so busy I can't imagine having a yard sale, so I just drop the stuff off and be done with it. I also have the problem that if items for donating/selling hang around for too long, a little girl is sure to go treasure hunting and reclaim the Bratz make up kit(or dull book, unused toys, etc.) I was trying to smuggle out of the house!
ReplyDeleteI've never had a garage sale...and usually just drop everything off at my favorite (Bibles for Missions) thrift store. But a garage sale with a bunch of friends...to help someone out...sounds like a great idea.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely blog you have here and with lovely pictures. We have collected too much stuff too. I usually sell stuff for cheap on ebay because that is easier than garage sales for me. I need to get back doing that again though, and if there are leftovers, I will donate them!
ReplyDelete