2024 Decluttering Thread

[disneysteve]

I did some work in the basement. I didn't get rid of much (only one item actually) but I did create more functional use of some space so I think that counts too.

My ebay merchandise is stored on built-in shelving in the basement. Some of that shelving is also occupied by old stock that isn't currently listed and probably won't be. It's from the days when we used to sell at in person collectible shows. Over the years, I've given away a lot of it or sold it at our yard sales. I need to keep working on that.

Anyway, my current ebay stock has outgrown the space it's in as I'm approaching 400 active listings. I rearranged some of the old stuff to open up 2 shelves that I can now use for ebay. In the process, I did find one item to get rid of and another bag of plates that I just listed on ebay.

[disneysteve]

A couple of days ago, I spent the morning working in the garage. The first thing I did was to take all of my ebay packing materials (paper, bubble wrap, peanuts) out of the garage. I think I counted 14 garbage bags, 2 boxes, and 2 stacks of rolls of bubble wrap. Doing that let me gain access to everything else in the garage that is normally buried under all of that.

I had a stack of large shipping boxes that I simply never use because I don't sell things that big so all of those went in the recycling bin. A few usable sizes got added to the size-sorted pile of boxes that I actually work from.

A large suitcase and a garment bag went to the curb and I posted a free curb alert for them in a couple of places online.

I went through several cartons of assorted stuff. Some got trashed or recycled. A bunch got added to the boxes awaiting our next "free yard sale" day which I'll hopefully do later this month.

As a result of all of that, I was able to rearrange some items more compactly opening up more floor space. I finished by bringing back all of the packing materials but in a better organized way rather than scattered all over the garage.

Anybody randomly looking in now would still think it's a mess but I can clearly see the improvement. It's still a work in progress but at least I can see the progress.

[disneysteve]

Today I did some work on the shelves in our home office. We had a bunch of 3-ring binders that we save "just in case". About the only time we ever need one is when my wife or I do something with our temple choir, so I saved a thin and a thick white binder and put the rest in the yard sale pile.

Then I went through all of the random paper and notebooks. I found we had 3 packs of graph paper, so 2 of them went in the yard sale pile. We had 3 ledger books, 2 of which are brand new so those 2 went in the yard sale pile. A couple of other things, like pads with only a couple of pages left, got recycled.

I found our old mortgage paperwork which we no longer need since we paid off the loan 5 years ago. That went into the shredding box.

I found 2 file folders which I thought were medical records but turned out to be my ebay records from 2020 and 2021. Those will get put in the file box with 2022 and 2023 so everything is together.

Still a lot to go through on that shelving unit but every little bit helps.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I threw out a ton of stuff and have been cleaning the garage. Tomorrow I have an appointment with a consignment store.

[disneysteve]

The cost of clutter

A month or so ago, I used what I thought was my last 9x12" shipping envelope. No big deal. I hopped on ebay and ordered a new box.

Tonight as I was doing a little more cleaning in the computer room, I found a mostly full box on a lower shelf. I now have enough to last me at least a couple of years and totally didn't need that new box now.

How many times have we bought something new because we didn't realize we already had it or knew we had it but couldn't find it?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

The cost of clutter

A month or so ago, I used what I thought was my last 9x12" shipping envelope. No big deal. I hopped on ebay and ordered a new box.

Tonight as I was doing a little more cleaning in the computer room, I found a mostly full box on a lower shelf. I now have enough to last me at least a couple of years and totally didn't need that new box now.

How many times have we bought something new because we didn't realize we already had it or knew we had it but couldn't find it?

ME!!! I do this all the time. Ask my how many power cords we have or had thrown away.

[disneysteve]

I sold a sewing machine on FBMP yesterday morning so that's out of the garage (after getting out of my wife's sewing room first). Big heavy 1970s metal one so it's nice to be rid of it.

[disneysteve]

This could go in the Wins thread or my ebay thread too, but I thought I'd put it here.

Over the past few weeks, I've sold a number of items on ebay that either came from our personal Disney collection or from general decluttering efforts.

Just this month, I've had sales for $10.00, $10.99, $11.00, and $85.00 for stuff that was just taking up space in the house. We decided we didn't need those items anymore so I listed them on ebay. Now we're rid of those items and made $117.00 in the process (minus fees).

We always say that the best way to get started on ebay is with stuff you already have lying around the house. This just reinforces that advice.

[disneysteve]

I haven't done nearly enough in the decluttering department lately. We've just been super busy and it's been way too hot to work in the garage.

I did just clean out one of my dresser drawers that along with holding some clothing items, also doubles as my bedroom junk drawer. I tossed a bunch of old business cards, rewards cards, and other stuff that I don't need.

I've still been doing little bits here and there but no concerted effort recently. When the weather breaks, I'll get back on track. I've made a lot of progress in the garage but there's much more to do. I have been accumulating things to give away and I plan to do another free "yard sale" as soon as there's a day that isn't going to be 90+ degrees or raining.

[disneysteve]

I did a lot of work in the garage over the past few days while my family was out of town. I think I've taken 4 or 5 loads of stuff to Goodwill.

I've always been cleaning the garage just for the sake of cleaning it but my motivation has changed. Now that my reselling business has grown, I really need some usable space in there. Ideally I'd like to be able to set up a table and chair to be able to do some work out there. I'm not there yet but I definitely made a lot of progress and got rid of a lot of stuff that's been sitting around for many many years.

Cleaning has also been profitable. I've listed and sold a couple of items on Marketplace already. One item, a big drink dispenser, I got free from Marketplace about a year ago with the intent of selling it on ebay. That never happened and it's just been taking up space. I listed it on Sunday and someone picked it up last night. $20 in my pocket that's all profit and it freed up more space. I also gave away 2 big storage totes in our Buy Nothing group which cleared a nice bit of space.

Last year I had bought a huge china collection for $25, like 700 pieces. I sold a lot of it on MP and some on ebay. I lost count but I probably made $800 or more. Then over the summer we donated the rest to our temple rummage sale. Sunday night I found the box of demitasse cups and saucers from that lot. I checked them all on Replacements and one set was worth $25. The rest went to Goodwill. Another box gone with some profit in the process.

More to do but the weather is cooling off finally and it will be easier to spend more time in there.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

When people ask what I'm doing with my stuff I say selling/donating. People laugh but honestly taking a bit of time if you wanted to make extra money start by cleaning your house. It's amazing how much you often times have.

[disneysteve]

When people ask what I'm doing with my stuff I say selling/donating. People laugh but honestly taking a bit of time if you wanted to make extra money start by cleaning your house. It's amazing how much you often times have.

That is always the advice we give to new ebay sellers when they ask what they should sell. Start with your own things. Zero upfront cost, 100% profit (after fees). Learn the ropes doing that and make sure you like doing it before you start spending money buying items to resell.

[disneysteve]

I just went through my dress shirts and pulled out 5 to donate. I should get rid of more but it's a start and I've been meaning to do it for a while.

I took a garment bag and a carton of china to Goodwill today.

[crazyliblady]

I just went through my dress shirts and pulled out 5 to donate. I should get rid of more but it's a start and I've been meaning to do it for a while.

I took a garment bag and a carton of china to Goodwill today.

A death in my family has caused me to have to go through that person's property and discard much of it, some in the trash and usable items to charity. So far, I have collected video game guides, 1 PS4 game, a throw pillow, and a pill minder. I will make a large donation of clothing later. I am also donating food to a food pantry that was purchased for the person. I am also gathering stuff that needs to be shredded. This is really hard to do.

[disneysteve]

A death in my family has caused me to have to go through that person's property and discard much of it, some in the trash and usable items to charity. So far, I have collected video game guides, 1 PS4 game, a throw pillow, and a pill minder. I will make a large donation of clothing later. I am also donating food to a food pantry that was purchased for the person. I am also gathering stuff that needs to be shredded. This is really hard to do.

Sorry for your loss. I went through that when my cousin died a few years ago. I spent 6 weeks cleaning out his house. I took 10-15 car loads of stuff to the thrift shop, shredded 10 cartons of paperwork, threw out a ton of stuff, sold a lot of bigger things on Marketplace while I was there, and rented a truck to bring home the smaller stuff worth selling online once I was home. It's quite a job.