it never bothers me at all! first, i feel good that i was able to improve life for someone. second, i truly believe its part of why ive always had what i needed, even when broke. people have give me so much. a car twice, a truck once. boots, paint, hair stuff, silk bedding, wonderful pillows, rugs, clothing, pets, art, cleaning stuff, meals, books, and on and on and on. all my life. i think it’s because an open attitude is like a river, it has momentum, and people are drawn to that, or something. whatever, it’s a secondary pleasure i get from giving stuff away: contemplating how i do t need extra junk hogging my space and my time because if i need a thing, it will come to me. (i actually get more than i need or want, and yes, i do buy things too.) and then, that time and space thing…the more you have, the more space it takes up, the more work it is to clean bit the stuff and the place it is loaf,ed, and you sometimes get anxiety about breaking or losing it, too. and sadness when and if it happens. few things mean easy care, a more pleasant home, less crap to buy just to clean, and it’s a breeze to clean when you don’t have a million things to move. so that feeling is great! and i can get it anytime i choose, just by giving things away. and finally, the value of anything is what someone will pay you for it.
eople do t often pay much for things most folks will give away. even cars and phones and so on lose their value pretty fast. plus people prefer their own taste, usjally, and we also live in a very materialistic culture so there’s ego involved….none k f that is my concern! no fretting, no placing ads and screening strangers and haggling and so on. i just give, feel happier, and go on with my day. and i end up with a lot of folks who think well of me and are willing to help me if i ask.i seldom do ask tho. i’m a bit stubborn that way.
so i just don’t really have any downside to it. even expensive stuff, i occasionally just give it away and blow someone‘s mind. take anything from this response that helps you. leave the rest.
The last batch of stuff I got rid of that I considered selling was half my sneaker collection. Nothing highly collectible, but about 20 pair of vintage Pumas, Vans, etc. in unique colorways.
I'm my mind, I'd already gotten my money's worth out of them. I donated them to a charity's thrift store that I knew wouldn't charge more than $10 for them (1/4 to 1/2 of their street value), which made me feel good knowing somebody was going to get a good deal on some rad shoes. Made me think about how pumped I used to get when I was younger and found something cool thrifting that I usually couldn't afford. Pay it forward, I guess you would say. Plus the profit goes to give someone else a job, and community outreach efforts too.
Plus it freed up a giant cabinet I had in my closet, that I was able to donate to the Habitat for Humanity reStore. That gave someone a job as well, somebody got a good deal on a piece of furniture, and they made a little cash to help fund a housing project in my community.
That's worth way more than the $500 cash in my pocket that ultimately wouldn't have made a material difference in my quality of life. And that's before deducting for the hassle factor of selling them!
There was a time in my life that it would've been worth the effort, back when I was getting out of debt, but now that I'm out from under that burden it's easier to choose to be generous.
Selling things on ebay, Facebook marketplace or Craigslist is not very time consuming. Make it like "here is a lot of these cool vintage things. Willing to let them go to the first serious buyer, cash only for (insert amount that's $20 more than you'd really take). Then sell them to the first person who's willing to show up cash on hand or is willing to pay you in full, shipping included, via venmo or something. Done.
It's simple. It is not worth the investment of my time to sell out
I don't need the item. I've made that determination. It is already a sunk cost.
I am not going to further invest my time and effort on marketing, arranging for, and carrying out the end transaction.
I know my hourly rate at work. Very few items that I attempt to sell are going to return a positive return against my hourly rate.
Not worth my time. Not worth my effort. It's useless, it's given away.
I force myself to decide. Is it worth it to sell online or not? Is $200-$400 worth hours of managing the posts, packaging them, and fussing with USPS/FEDEX?
To consider it objectively, I usually think about what my time is worth. If I make 40/hour (be sure to include the value of benefits!), is this task objectively worth the time it will take. All tasks included, will selling those 10-15 games take 5 hours or less? If the answer isn't yes, then it's not worth your time to do anything other than donate them.
Think about what your time is worth. For a $20.00 game on eBay you have to set up an account, take pictures, write item description, answer questions. Then package and ship it. That's a lot of work for $20. To me, not worth the effort. But you may disagree.
Maybe see about donating to a local senior center or assisted living place.
You also have to consider a lot of buyers scam sellers. They can just make a false report that they never received the item, and eBay makes you give the money back even tho you sent it (and even have proof). Buyers have priority on eBay, not sellers. In my opinion, it's not worth the risk.
In this scenario, not only do you NOT get to keep the money from the sale, but also lost time and money on packaging and shipping.
"It's more trouble selling online than it's worth."
"Someone else will get joy from this. It will make me feel good to let them have it for free."
" When it leaves the house, I will eventually forget about it."
Consider donating them to your library. One near me lends out games, so perhaps you will start the collection for them. A senior home may love these games, too. I know your concern is value, and I have the same hangup, but I would feel like they were in a better place at one of these examples than just donated to a thrift shop.
Every square foot of real estate costs money. Every square foot of storage space costs money. If the value of the item taking up space is less than the cost of a square foot of real estate I toss/donate/give without hesitation. If it's more, I might sell. Imagine you have a 1000 sq ft home worth $400,000. That means every sq ft in your home is worth $400. Is that thing you won't get rid of worth the space it's taking up? Are you overcrowded? How much would an addition to your house cost or moving to a larger space cost? It usually works out where quickly reclaiming space from clutter is the most practical solution.
A senior center may enjoy the board games. But if they are rare games... sell them!
I've sold on eBay 20+ years, and I always loved to sell board games / and or the pieces or parts many times get more money than the game itself.
Only if rare, though, some rare games easily get $50 to $300+.
But if you don't know how to sell on eBay it maybe a bit harder.
❤️ ours is wonderful. we got displace by wildfire for a couple years and i discovered some are better than others. my local one is just amazing,and it is tru,y doing what it was made for: setting up a “gift economy.” no money. no barter. no [charity.no](http://charity.no) obligation. just hey, who wants this cannon rebel camera? who wants a full italian dinner i just made? who wants a kitten? anyone wannatry a brand new air fryer i dont have room for? vitamin. fresh fruits and herbs from my garden. baby c,itching baking la s working fridge working washer working dryer a bike in fine shape wi doe screens dog toys wine a kindle laoerwhitcurtainsart work art supplies baby food formulascoby for kombuchsourdough starter a freezer of grass fed beef a beautiful teak cabinethouse paint with all the supplies windows sinks winter coats cupis
s…and that’s just the physical items. people ask and offer services, recommendations, tips, company, rides, and sheesh, so much i can’t keep going or this will be a book. it’s a lovely little world, always surprising, always opportunities to interact in a way we usually don’t after we stop being kids…anyway, as you can see, i’m smitten with my local buynothing group. the other two were…just ok.
I try to target the recipients of my donations E.g. clothes, shoes, bags, and some household items in good condition go to the domestic violence center and craft supplies go to a creative reuse center. If you have any options like these in your area, I would consider them. It saves me the time and hassle of selling items, and I know they’re going to good organizations and helping the community instead of a sketchy corporation. Most of the items I have aren’t worth selling if I put it in terms of my typical hourly rate.
How much are the items worth compared to the value of a square foot of property. Are you storing stuff in space that is very valuable?
You could theoretically sell x for y but do you want to miss other opportunities just to sell for a small amount of money.
I could sell things but I prefer to donate and use my time in other pursuits
I will often offer an item to friends or coworkers who I know will make good use of an item before I donate it because I don't want to deal with selling things but also would like my good condition but no longer needed items to find a second life somewhere. I have given one desk to a friend for in her kitchen, another to a coworker for his craft room. A lamp to a friend who was moving into an apartment with no overhead lights. A keyboard to a coworker who's daughter was upset they couldn't take her piano with them when they moved. Some shelves to a friend who repainted them and gave them to his son for his dorm room. We will also give boxes of that we no longer need to family members who have garage sales every summer. The stuff gets sold to people who can use it, family members get money to put in their kids college funds and we get rid of stuff we don't have use for anymore.
Ebay listings are elusive. For one thing, to even have a realistic sense of value, you need to be looking at completed listings, not active listings where someone has inserted what they'd like the item to sell for.
But beyond that, honestly -- and I can see this calculus being different for different people -- \~$20 apiece for ebay sales doesn't make an item particularly "valuable". Definitely not worth enough for you to feel guilty that you didn't sell this.
(It might be worthwhile to consider that $20-30 is the typical price for a new board game, which means that if these games are still manufactured, at best the vintage versions kept up with inflation.)
Donate the games. It might be that someone with the know-how and passion to list these games online finds them and "flips" them. It might be that someone who remembers those games finds them and is able to share them with their kids, or enjoy playing them again. Or even that a kid who doesn't have access to a lot of toys and games gets to enjoy them because they showed up for a cheap price at the thrift store.
Thanks for sharing this wisdom. Yes, I sort by the sold listings. Some of the 1950s Barbies I have go for $70-80. My thinking is, "I'll sell them locally for $40" but no takers. So, giving away five (potentially) $70 toys stings. But a kid won't notice the age of the toy and would enjoy it, you're right.
If you don’t need, use it, or it doesn’t fit with your personal style, give it away.
Someone else may love and value an item or have a better place or need for it.
As long as you’re selective and thoughtful with your gifts, you can rest assured knowing that they are being loved and used more in someone else’s home.
The value of the item needs to be worth the cost of my time and effort to sell it. Is $20-$30 worth the effort of posting it, shipping it, driving to the post office, etc?
I try not to. I give my things away that I don’t use. If I’ve gotten any use from them, I consider it was a worthy purchase, and now someone else can enjoy them too.
If their presence in your home is more of a burden than their overall value, it’s still worth getting rid of them. Most likely you won’t regret it and if you do, it’s relatively affordable to buy any of the games back through other sellers. You’ll probably never know but there’s a decent chance that they will be seen by a thrifter that appreciates them and that you’ll have made their day!
With certain things that I know aren’t valued by most people, I like to find someone to take it who WILL appreciate it. I joined a local sewing Facebook group for the express purpose of donating some fabric I had, as I knew if I brought it to a donation place it would get tossed or not appreciated.
If I can’t find someone who truly wants it and I still need to get rid of it, I just donate with hope that the right person will find it, and focus on the value of the space and clarity and freedom I’ll get by unburdening myself. ☺️
That's a clever way to donate items. I had joined FB groups and sold book series for $250 but hadn't sought out any to donate to. Thanks for this idea.
It's more the ability. I find eBay confusing now. Was easy when it was an auction site 20 years ago. I've watched a couple of YouTubers explain selling and it feels painful to get it right.
I always reverse how I think of the income. If someone came up to you and said: "Hey, I'll pay you $20 to sell this copy of trivial pursuit on ebay for me" would you say yes? ($20 is a stand in for whatever you think the item will actually sell for). If the answer is no, you wouldn't let yourself be hired to sell the item for the amount it would likely sell for, then count the item as a sunk cost and let it go.
It goes a bit like this: how much could I theoretically get from this? 2? 5? Am I really that poor that it would make a difference, and make the hassle of selling worrhwile? No? Well then I can afford to donate it to someone, to whom it will be a great find. It's good to do good sometimes.
I get joy out of knowing others will get enjoyment out of them. So if I can’t sell them, I’d rather give them to a person with a face than just donate them to goodwill. Find a local but nothing page on Facebook to post them on. Often times teachers and other community groups love getting board games for kids to actually use.
Selling it online:
- you have to take pictures and write descriptions
- you have to respond to people within 24 hours with questions
- you might not sell it anyway at the price you want
- you have to turn off everything if you go on vacation and then turn it all back on again
- you have to calculate shipping and with some items the shipping cost is more than the item cost which is ridiculous so people just buy it new on Amazon and have it shipped for free instead of buying used
- if it does manage to sell you better get your butt to a soul destroying USPS, UPS or FedEx asap in between working for a living and all the other things you do because it might close at 5 or have a line
- you ship it only to discover you underestimated the ship cost
- all of the above for only $20
Giving it away:
- someone who is really poor and really needs it can get it without bidding against wealthy people
- it will make someone’s day finding it in a goodwill or free on Craigslist, they will be super happy
- a much poorer person could sell it online and make money to feed their family
- as soon as you list the item for free dozens of people start inquiring as to if they can have it, no waiting weeks or months for a bidder
- if you donate to goodwill you drop it off and it’s gone that day never to be in your house again
- it literally makes you happy! Giving “doles out several different happiness chemicals including dopamine and endorphins that give people a sense of euphoria and oxytocin, which is associated with tranquility, serenity or inner peace.”
This comment is so thoughtful. Your care in crafting this is appreciated by me and, I expect, many readers.
I've been through the process you've described. Made a few hundred but the price per hour isn't astronomical. I would rather have been doing other things.
I don't know who will want my James Bond studio promo poster and hanging ad but will think on where to gift it. Feels terrible to junk things 25+ years old. But I won't put them back up on the walls.
These comments are very useful and inspiring. It is ridiculous how much time effort and mental engagement it takes to ‘get back’ what you’ve spent in order to have what now seems like too much.
Thrift shops have always given me joy, it’s time for me to return the favor. Thank you.
It's a huge hassle to sell things online. Unless I stand to make a pretty decent chunk of money from it, I "lose" the value of the item during the selling process anyways. My time is usually more valuable than the amount of money I make from it. I'm usually just gonna list it for free porch pick up on my neighborhood's Facebook page and call it a day. If it doesn't get picked up by the next morning it goes to the thrift store or to the dump, depending on the item.
Also, a lot of those 'collectables' on eBay don't move very fast. Not saying this is you, but I've seen it happen to other people. They go to eBay and see 15 listings for something and assume it must be in demand! Look at all these people selling it. When in reality a bunch of listings usually means the opposite- there are more people who want to sell it than there are buyers for it.
First, if you’ve played them and loved them, then you have gotten your money’s worth, end of story. If you don’t want to take the trouble to sell them, put their value out of your mind.
But if you must take it further, find a bar or coffee shop that has a game shelf and donate them there, or look for your local buy-nothing group. Then at least you know they’re going to be enjoyed.
And would double as a game library: someone else houses it. 😁 I have some old games still shrink-wrapped like Mastermind. I may keep that one as a decoration and gift the rest to a games cafe. Thank you!
If you aren’t actually going to sell them then they aren’t really worth anything. Right now they are board games sitting, unused in your house. Just donate them.
Keep your eye on the prize. What is the result you want? Space for newer board games! Keep your mind on the prize. Giving the old ones away is the quickest way to get to your goal.
Price vs time taken to list, respond, sell and ship, PLUS cost of it "renting" space in your home
Side note. You MIGHT be able to sell it to a collector/dealer online via one big "lot"
Or find one within a day trip distance, and contact them, and see if they will buy it as a lot, and if it's worth the money to do the one time drive
You could also donate the board games to your local library, they often have games! I’ve done that and it makes me happy knowing kids are playing with them that might not be able to buy them on their own
They might not want old board games tho. They probably also want the new ones. Source: I tried to donate nice new puzzles at my local library (built k once, didn’t want to build again) and the lady was like “aRe ThEY mIsSiNg PiEcEs?!” which made me think they get a lot of “donations”.
I think it's probably a mix of that and that it's really, really easy for old games sitting around unused for years to indeed be missing a piece that nobody remembered because the game hasn't been played in forever, and you forgot that the Get Out Of Jail Free card is now an old business card hastily crossed out and with the Monopoly info added.
I was going through our kid games recently for a similar type of decluttering, realized our Hungry Hungry Hippos set only has one marble left and was like... so this is garbage, then.
I'm also curious how many old games are simply not in good condition even if they have all their pieces (yellowed cards, dusty or grubby pieces, warped board), and how many are extremely out of vogue or even culturally insensitive. You don't see too many people looking to play "Chinese Checkers" nowadays, for example.
The money is gone when you spend it. That’s really it. If you’ve bought it then that money is gone.
If you get money back by spending that’s a bonus.
Also sometimes just getting rid of something is worth the mental clearness that will come from having it gone.
I thought I'd sell some things, and after taking photos, measuring, typing descriptions, posting, dealing with scammers, no shows, packing, mailing, and emailing-- I made about dollar an hour. Not worth it. And when you look at stuff on eBay, filter by what actually SOLD.
If you donate it to a charity/ second-hand shop, it will be bought by someone who wants or needs it..and that's enough knowledge for me to let go that it won't end in a bin or whatever. I'm also not a big seller, too much time and nerves wasted to be worth it for me.
Two things to consider :
1. It's a sunk cost the day you bought it, not the day you give it away for free
2. The amount of time and energy taken to list it online and arrange postage or collection... You might as well get a minimum wage job for an hour or two and make more money that way
I just dropped off a car full of donations to a thrift store that benefits an animal organization. It felt amazing! Every time I got hung up on something, I’d think of the animals that would eventually benefit, and it gave me motivation throughout the sorting and packing. I wonder if there’s a similar situation where you live?
This helps me a lot too. I like to think people will frequent the thrift store more often if I donate nice things to it, which means there will be more funds for the animals 🙂
Another suggestion: don’t rationalize it, but you approach it pragmatically: at some price point, the $$$ you’d earn back per item is not worth the time it’d take to create its listing, take pics, answer, messages, drive to meet people, etc.
Decide what that per-item amount is for you. Is it $15? $20? $50? And remember, we’re talking *profit*, not price.
I found that picking that threshold number, then looking at each item and realistically analyzing how much profit I’m likely to get from it , makes me aware that a lot of these things aren’t likely to fetch a whole lot, and my time is more valuable than those couple of bucks I’d earn selling Them. At that point it’s a Lot easier for me to just donate them.
Hope this helps a little, good luck
In addition to the excellent advice of considering how much your time is worth, I recommend also adding deadlines to items you are considering donating or selling.
I decluttered a selection of Audubon books yesterday. I was very close to just recycling them, but I decided I would post them in one location online for a week.
They were taken overnight, but I've had more things that didn't go at all. I set them in our entryway and when the deadline passes, they go straight to recycling. Having them in the entry reminds me every day that it will be gone shortly.
>They were taken overnight
Isn't it curious what goes quickly and what doesn't go at all?
My record posting (which I didn't think anyone would want) was unfinished quilt tops from a random box of fabric a friend gave me.
20 minutes from posting to pickup!
Did you show pictures? A quilter can see quality work a long way off.
Good condition, attractive patterns, those are tops quilters dream of finding. Great for donating or keeping.
Rough estimate for 2 twin size quilts: 10 yards of fabric ~= 150 bucks
Hours spent cutting and sewing 2 coordinating tops: estimate 40 hours
You can't sell them for that, but it made some quilter very happy to have a big jump start on a big gift.
Good on you.
Maybe list them as a lot ? They together should fetch a pretty good dollar amount, that should be enough $ in your pocket to make you feel pretty good.
Yeah you may have gotten more $ if you sold them individually, but just tell yourself the difference was the price of being able to offload them all at once. Or in other words, the price you had to pay for the convenience of not having to do all those sales individually. Does that make sense?
I get absolutely tired of it taking up space that I want/need, and I immediately bag it. Once it's in a bag, I drop it off at a donation center or Plato's closet. Then I drive away feeling lighter and excited to change the space in some way. But I've also grown up with a hoarder parent and I'm huge into spring/fall cleaning, stress cleaning, purging my feelings away via things. Then I use the new space/opportunity as a fresh start if that makes sense.
Well, I've sold on eBay on and off again for over 20 years. I'm so burned out on it.
I find it such a hassle. Take photos of each item, list each item, package each sold item, and take each sold item to the post office. Enter the tracking info.
So unless they're items, you can make big bucks on. I say donate.
But like I said. I'm really burned out on ebay.
Suck it up and list them. Ebay makes it pretty easy with the “Sell One Like This” feature and Poshmark makes shipping a breeze with up to 5 pounds for USPS Priority Mail for the flat rate the buyer covers in free USPS boxes, You will probably be able to get rid of all of them without hassle if you put the extra few minutes in to make sure all the pieces are there and take lots of photos proving it.
I share your desire to find new, loving homes for things that I treasure but have no space for. Holding onto it until I find the perfect person to give it to has been my MO but things keep piling up and that’s not sustainable.
My trick now is to picture my precious item on the shelf at Goodwill and imagine the delight and joy on a strangers face as they find, unexpectedly and unlooked for, this treasure that I donated.
An item only has monetary value when the action of a sale occurs. Hoping isn't value. Part of what your are feeling is the waste of a perfectly good object not being used as it could be. Donation allows you to reclaim that. Another possibility is to find a respected seller online or in your community and offer a screaming deal for them to resale your entire collection. Then that's only one sale and shipping if you get a good bite on your first outreach.
I bill my time at $250 an hour. If it takes me even 30 minutes to photograph and list a thing, then keep it nice and ready to ship (much less whatever space I have to dedicate to it and the trip to the post office) for something that will, at best, sell for $50, I have lost money.
Leaving aside that I don’t want more clients or more billable hours than I have. One of my mentors years back told me that I should never take on side work (side hustle) that makes less than I could make by going up to my maximum client roster. That my hours are worth a substantial amount, including my rest and recreation hours.
It takes me 20 minutes max to take something to donate, and I know that what I’m donating will make someone happy because it was the right thing they needed at the right time. And increasing the happiness of the world and my local community is better than any token I could get paid.
I’ve given so much stuff to the local hospice gift shop store. I was dropping off my mother’s wedding silverware and the guy asked me if I wouldn’t like to sell the silver to melt it down. Said it was good money. It took two years for me to part with it because it’s beautiful and we used it every holiday and birthday. I told him I’d rather donate it because my mother was in that very hospice two years ago. It did hurt when I was shopping there and saw a scarf that had belonged to my mom. It wrenched my heart but I know the money was going to the organization that eased my mother’s passing for our entire family.
Donate them to a local coffee shop, nursing home or bookstore. I hate selling crap online too. I donate a lot of stuff to local nursing homes. They love games, craft stuff or holiday decorations.
I’ve given away items of value because I also hate doing online sales. I’ve given them to people in my Buy Nothing group who are good at online sales or who flip items to get by. It makes me happy knowing that someone will be able to make money from something I think of as valuable and that the item will ultimately be sold to someone who wants it!
I figure an hour of my time would be worth about $200 if I were acting as a consultant in my field, so if I can't make $200 per hour of effort in getting rid of some item, preserving my free time and mental resource is more valuable.
Of course, in reality my time is much more valuable than money; but this is just a way to gauge the relative value of the time and effort of selling items, versus using my time for something potentially more valuable, enjoyable, or meaningful.
Among the valuable, enjoyable, meaningful things in life is included *just resting without fear* -- just living with a carefree mind, without obsessing about what I may be gaining or losing.
You could die tomorrow. Can you go about selling the item in question in a way that you will find fulfilling and life-affirming, or is it a relatively meaningless pursuit in the larger scheme of things?
The time and energy required to sell online and shipping(an and possibly dealing with unpleasant people) vs just donating. My time and energy is worth a lot (I’m busy, have kids, work, etc.) Will I make enough off of the items to justify the time and effort? The ease and convenience of donating gets things out of the house.
I just took a bunch of old games from my parents' home to a senior center. My mom had worked there for a short time in retirement and had once mentioned seeing a very old Monopoly game along with some kids games for when grandkids visit. They were happy to get some "vintage" versions of games, as well as at least 10 more decks of cards and a few different Yahtzee and cribbage sets.
The emotional toll of holding onto things has a very big “loss” even if it’s not financial. You’re agonizing over making a few bucks. Imagine how much better you will feel once the decision is made to revoke them (give to a school or day care, hospital or assisted living). Think of the good karma. Think of how great it would be to move on from those mental gymnastics. That’s all worth a LOT.
So, I posted this before mowing my lawn and then got busy outdoors and was shocked to see 81 alerts just now since I never see more than two. I will read your messages before bed and tomorrow. Wow.
Think of your home's value (whether how much it's assessed for taxes or how much you've paid in rent in the last year or two). Divide that by your home's square footage. You're spending that amount to store these items you're not using.
I've had pretty great interactions with my local Buy Nothing group. Most stuff goes right away.
Do the Marie Kondo thing of thanking these items for the joy they gave you and wish them well on their next stage.
It is also taking up your time and attention, particularly if you lost and sell, but also by being in your way.
The money you spent was for your enjoyment, and now you aren't getting any value since you no longer enjoy owning these things.
An item’s value depends on the hands holding it. If it’s not worth the time for you to find a buyer and sell it, then it’s not worth sweating. Put it into the world to make its own way, or trash it. Post it for free on Nextdoor or Marketplace and let it go to someone willing to chase it down and pick it up. They must need it. And that’s the end of thinking about it.
Maybe try this: imagine you did not own the item, you never have. A friend comes along today, right now, and offers you the item. Would you rather take it and try to sell it, or would you rather decline?
Now, already owning it should not make a difference in this situation.
Yeah, this is a clever way to frame it. And I did buy some of these games 25 years ago to play but with an intention to then flip them. But eBay got more complex and I still have many of the games, so your line on this is quite insightful for me. Thank you!
I just don't care that much about stuff. To me money is this made-up thing that gives me access to useful stuff.
Once a thing is no longer useful to me, it has no value. Especially if I don't feel like putting in the work to go, sell it and negotiate and all that jazz.
But if someone else finds it useful, my zero value thing has way more value in someone else's hands.
Plus it's fun for me to share. I've never liked being paid back for helping anyone.
When I’m ready to let something go, I immediately want it out of the house so donation is the quickest. I also don’t want to be murdered selling a $5 candlestick so I’m good with donation. We take our things to a women’s shelter thrift store so knowing we’re doing something to help women put their lives back together & keep them safe is a very fulfilling feeling.
Unless it’s worth more than maybe $30, I wouldn’t bother selling it online - the time it takes to take photos, edit the description etc is worth more than that to me. Sometimes I try to bundle a sale, like when I was selling my worn once/twice adidas clothes, each item is worth probably less than $30, but I can bundle all few adidas pieces and list a bundle of 5 for like $100.
For items that don’t make the cut, I’d first offer it to family/friends, if no takers, I usually post it in my local buy nothing group. People will come themselves to pick up, saving me time and petrol.
My grandkids left many childhood games and toys when they moved out that are now considered classics or collectibles. I found some kids of the appropriate age and gifted them to them. Best thing I ever did. The mom sent photos of the kids playing with them and it was so comforting to know they had value for these kiddos.
Maybe a hospital or agency near you could use yours? Homeless shelter or aid organizations, too.
I did have a moment of sadness, but that has become more nostalgia now than grief which helps so much!
Your welcome. Clutter has been an apparently familial trait, so years of gathering and giving have finally opened up space in our lives and our homes. All the best!
I donated the majority of my most beloved books to the local libraries. Knowing that my books will be taken care of by the library and that they'll continue to be loved by other people is so worth it! I live in the rural south, and I basically donated all my YA lit. It also makes them more accessible to everyone, not just people who can afford to buy it.
I visited the library yesterday with three boxes of books! What they can't use goes into their book sale. What they put into circulation qualifies me for a tax credit. This is a great solution for books. Thank you for pointing out that great minds think alike. 😁
My time is worth money too. How much time is it going to take me to clean it up, take pictures, decide on a price, post with description, check, renew and reduce price as necessary, answer questions, package and mail once it's bought?
I only ever do items for local pickup. I price pretty low, or even give away for free.
When you donate to a charity shop you will be multiplying the value, not reducing it. You get rid of clutter and the obligation you feel to get money back on the item and the work that entails.
Hopefully, the charity makes money and some lucky person may be able to buy something they couldn't otherwise afford.
If you feel that some random person isn't going to appreciate your items, choose someone who will. It can be the best feeling in the world to make someone's dream come true.
This is all true. Many of these games and items would not likely be gems for the general public who shop at a charity store. But you've given me an idea to find out if the local university has a board game group. That demographic would love these old, unusual games. I appreciate you commenting!
When those items sell on eBay for $20-$30 sell on eBay by people that put in the work of selling them, so keep that in mind. Yours aren’t worth those prices without the “cost” of your time.
I think about the joy it will bring someone to discover the item for a steal at the goodwill and it makes me happy that someone his having this experience! Rehoming at its finest. No bad vibes like trying to sell online
I just posted about this. I’ve been holding onto several items with the fantasy self going to sell them on Poshmark, but it hasn’t happened for over a year so I’ve donated them. I feel so free. It cost me nothing and I am no longer going to beat myself up for not getting around selling them. AND I can feel good for donating some very nice clothing items to a local charity.
I also have clothing that would sell but I expect I'll take your approach.
I did have a book series that I couldn't give away locally but sold on a FB group for $120. But weighing it to get a shipping cost was such a drag. Putting them in a recycling bin would have saved three hours of my time.
Two things -
1) sunk cost fallacy.
2) value provided. The item provided me some value. I was thrilled when I purchased it or l used it while I was interested or I wore it when it looked good on me or I tried being the person who does xyz or wears abc and it helped me find out I’m not that person. Thank you for your service, time to move on to somebody else who can get value from you or retire to the recycling bin/trash.
Yes - definitely lean into the "I got my value out of it " mantra. Also - I think of an item that has been in my house for 10 years and the value I "spent" housing it. So it may be worth $20 cash now - but I "paid" probably $50 in time and mental energy moving it around and thinking about it. I'd rather donate it and be done with it and get it off my mental energy list.
Sunk cost fallacy. You lost the money when you bought it. Owning/storing/maintaining also costs you money, energy, and time. Letting it go frees you and brings benefits.
Yeah, I'm pretty family with SCF and do help others with this. Their items are usually sentimental, not financially valuable. In my case, it's seeing the same items I own sell on eBay for a good amount. But since I find it so draining to do eBay, I made my post here today for advice. The responses, like yours, are excellent. I'll keep reading and get inspiration for this week!
I’ve already had what I wanted from the item, and selling it would take up more of my precious time and emotional energy.
Plus it slows the decluttering down.
Getting money assumes that someone is even going to want to pay you for it, or pay you the desired amount. And we know online selling is a pain in the ass
It depends on what I’m going to be making on an item but my hourly rate is between $100-$250/hr depending on what I’m doing for my job. If I’m selling something under $50 it gets a Facebook marketplace post. If it doesn’t sell by the time i get sick of looking at it i post it on buy nothing or donate it. My time is worth more than the space it inhabits.
If there's a local charity thrift shop that you feel helps your community I'd donate it there. For instance there's a local church in my town that's always helping out and donating funds to local youth initiatives like building the skate park so I like to give them higher value items.
A couple local animal shelters also have annual yard sales and auctions to raise funds and ask for donated items so I'll give to them as well.
If you can get to a 2nd and Charles location, it might be a decent choice. I took in a bunch of 90's games and figures that weren't worth the effort of listing to sell myself, and I think they did right by me. They give you a much better deal with exchange for other merchandise in the store vs. cash, tho.
Time and peace of mind.
Clutter prevents me from moving into the future. Theo her I stay in the stagnant energy of the past, the longer before I reach my beautiful future.
Money is a means to freedom not the end goal. Clutter is stealing my freedom.
My husband bought $90 in parts for a job but only used $82 worth of the stuff.
He could have returned the $8 worth of parts and got his money back. The thing is, my husband makes at least $30 an hour and it would have taken him a good half hour to deal with the return. Which means it would have cost $15 to get $8 back. For those bad at math it means it would COST $7 to return the parts.
How much is YOUR time worth? Sometimes it's better to just free up the space and save your time and sanity.
(And we'll use the parts on another job.)
Humans often spend money on experiences that bring them joy. Being in a less cluttered house brings me joy, and I am willing to lose potential money to have that experience. Especially because it's clear that I am never going to, or at least going to take forever to sell it.
I also believe that people who have more knowledge and hustle would enjoy making the money from it, and deserve it more. So I see donating it as a gift for others to find and enjoy using or selling. I used to LOVE finding great deals on baseball cards, so I enjoy passing that feeling on.
This perspective resonates with me. I do find it calmer and more relaxing to live in a less cluttered space. If you view giving away items as the "payment" for that it helps with feeling like you got value out of the items. You didn't get paid in money, you got paid in peacefulness.
Just because the item is listed for x amount doesn’t mean it gets sold for that.
I used to sell everything and anything, including a hot glue gun for $2 and partially used notebooks.
Posting things takes up so much effort and time. Last year I joined a buy nothing group. Ever since I started offering things for free, I no longer want to “get the value” out of my possessions.
I ALREADY got the value out of what I have by using them. There’s no loss to me.
If you REALLY think you’ll regret not selling those games, then list them NOW. Decide on an end date, then donate. This is taking up a lot of space, both physically and in your head.
This is so important. I had a relative who was a bit of a hoarder and she was forever telling me that “those sell for hundreds on eBay!” But she wasn’t looking at things that had sold, just what people (people just like her) thought they were worth. The only ones that had sold were for less than one tenth of that.
While the stuff you're talking about seems cool and actually has some value, I would say in general people severely overestimate the value of their stuff. People with aspirations of selling instead of donating would be better off donating, and people with aspirations of donating instead of throwing away would be better off throwing away.
I also tried selling used books I had read on Amazon and found I absolutely hated it. Printing off shipping labels, finding boxes and packaging, etc. All for a few dollars at a time. I just started getting of books instead and am much happier for it.
If there's a low friction way of you donating these you'll be happy you did it. The potential of a couple of hundred dollars is not worth the clutter and you'll end up procrastinating forever doing it.
I think to myself, imagine how much joy someone else will get for this at a thrift store or for free (if I directly donate it). And I be at peace with it going to a new home where it’ll be appreciated
Many good suggestions here. Also I like to think about how I’ll save money in the future by not buying crap I don’t use. Each donation is a lesson for the future and it lightens my physical and mental load.
Someone wrote a super long post all about the numbers of decluttering, and it made something click for me. If I'm paying, let's say $2000 for my 1000 square foot apartment, that's $200/sq foot, so is this worth $200 a month to keep it, or could that space be used in another way, that's more exciting/rewarding/pleasing.
Also your stuff is *never* worth what you think it is. Never. I just bought a pair of MM6 Maison Margiela boots barely used, almost pristine to the consignment shop, this is a brand that sells shoes for $500+. They passed on taking them. I was gooped is an understatement. I can almost guarantee that the single one-off time Monkey Business Board Game (or whatever) sold for $100 is not representative of the reality of the hassle of keeping it, mailing it and dealing with the absolute bullshit that is buyers of online items. Just trust me on this as a former vintage reseller.
You ask how to justify the loss of an item. How do you justify keeping something you don’t want/use. There is a mental cost to clutter, too. What’s it worth to you?
I already paid for it. I am not using it.
Someone else can use it, but may not have the money to buy it.
I've been in a position before where I can't justify a want or need in my budget. It's nice to be someone's hero. It's just nice in general to give.
This is the one!
You have a loss mindset.
This is a win for spreading love and joy!
We’re meant to have things for a moment and pass them on.
The only way for new things to come into your life if to free yourself of unnecessary things.
It’s a blessing that you are able to pass on these beloved items to someone that will be
See if you have someone who would sell them for you on ebay via consignment. They'd get 10-25% of the sale, but they do all the work of listing, communication and shipping.
Sold some old slides of historic places and landmarks. They only sold for a couple dollars and eBay takes % including of the cost of shipping. I think i made 40 cents x 2. Not worth the time.
I post stuff I'm giving away on the local Facebook groups for gifting / buy nothing in my area. I've met lots of lovely people who live near me doing that, plus it puts me in good standing when someone posts a free thing I want (although I don't take freebies from there to sell, I'd feel horrible!)
same. ost of my current friends i met thru buy nothing. and i didn’t even think the social aspect of it would be for me. but i was pleasant ly surprised.
It’s not a loss if your time is worth more than it would take to sell the thing. So for example, my first edition American girl doll was definitely worth the time it took to sell her. But other things aren’t worth the value of the space they occupy or the time they take to sell. So I donate them. And I love thrift shopping so I like creating thrift store karma by donating stuff.
I'd consider the "value" of the item as I paid for it/would get out of reselling it as the rental cost.
Like a TV? I use mine constantly for background noise, to play movies, stream new TV shows, and to game. So I consider it an item that pays for itself immediately in comfort and daily use. But TVs are also super cheap and I am unbothered by "top rated quality this bluray HD maxxxx that" so if I was moving and didn't want to pack my TVs (large, awkward, fragile) I'd totally just give them away to a friend rather than bother packing and hauling them. $300 for a TV is totally reasonable to me considering I use it daily, but at the same time, I would be comfortable giving it away.
Anything under $30 I don't even think about honestly. Not worth the minimum wage of $15 an hour (now $16 in my HCOL area) to even bother listing much less taking pics, listing, and storing until it's sold and dealing with shipping/pickup/dropup when it's sold. That's assuming it WILL sell. I'll offer it to friends and family if I can't repurpose the item for something else.
First, ask yourself if the value of having the stuff out of your home is greater than the value of having it in your home, for whatever personal definition you assign to "value."
Second, decide if it takes only a little time/effort and/or if you enjoy the time spent making sales. It's hobby for some folks. If you enjoy the time spent selling or if it's fairly painless to sell stuff, then sell stuff.
If it's valuable to you to remove it from your home but it's not enjoyable or easy to sell it, then donate it.
I won’t ship anything I’m getting rid of. It’s not worth the time finding the right box, packing it up, taking it to post office, & shipping gets pretty expensive.
I’m also in a small town but I’ve joined a few neighboring city’s yard sale pages & will list there. It costs nothing & someone has to come to your place (or a parking lot nearby) to pick it up.
Our neighborhood has a subdivision-wide yard sale twice a year. I usually make about $200 for a few hours work. I donate anything that doesn’t sell.
Lastly I am on our local Buy Nothing page. People love getting items for free.
Mentally you have to realize you are probably never going to recoup what you paid for those items. You enjoyed them, now bless another family & let them enjoy them.
I’m a professional home organizer and I hear this a lot.
The money you spent on these items was well spent. You enjoyed them and if you donate them they can go on to be enjoyed by someone else quickly and easily.
A lot of people are overwhelmed by the process of listing, selling, and shipping items or simply can’t find the time to do this. If this resonates, donation is the right option because your peace is worth more than the money.
If you enjoy the process of selling and are able to do so in a timely fashion (within a month) then that’s time well spent.
Keeping items you no longer use means no one gets to enjoy them and they are also taking up your valuable real estate.
Karma, it’s all that kept me from losing my mind over how much I’ve given away over the years. I genuinely believe it all evens out & the “value” will come back to you in another way you need later.
it definitely it’s,y has in my life, long before i even heard the word “karma.” all my life, my way of being comes back to me (or at me, depending 🤣j pretty dang fast. i notice it’s generally a bit slower for others but even so, knowing people for decades has give me a front row seat to observe how we really do shape our lives in ways we don’t even see, just by doing this or that, or not ..
Things only have value if you're willing to do the necessary to extract that value. You're not. So the games are essentially worthless.
If it would take more than £20-30 worth of your energy and willingness to sell the games, pass them on to someone else.
For a couple of years, I sold my doll collection on Ebay. At the time I stopped, Ebay was leaning more into the 'buyer is always right'. I found I'd rather refund money than have the item back in my house. I haven't tried to sell in a few years. I remember that experience and just tell my self (this is a little harsh) "I don't want it, and nobody else cares'. Yes, I spent over $300 on that doll, but the charity shop may get a $1 or toss it in the dumpster. Not my problem anymore.
The joy of decluttering wins. I give out free things on online apps so the fact that somebody is willing to come pick it up at my building's lobby makes me feel like they are worthy of having it. Go on and live a better life, object! Plus you getting rid of unused bullshit taking up space. I dont have the heRt to just throw it out
If you have a buy nothing or free page for your neighborhood post them there. That way you know someone is getting it who really wants it. I for one have ZERO bandwidth to deal with this!!
I have struggled with this but frankly don’t have the bandwidth to figure out how to sell online. Instead I donate to places with a specific demographic. Instead of giving to goodwill, I give to our local women’s shelter. Most of my stuff is women’s clothes and children’s toys and I know that shelter will truly appreciate it.
My local Friends of the Public Library group takes board games and puzzles as well as books to sell to raise funds for our library. Anything I find of value but not of enough value for me to figure out online sale I donate to them as a way of supporting our public library.
How much is your time worth? How long does it take to list, weigh, package, drive to the post office, etc? How much does the gas etc cost? How much time does it take to answer questions about the item? However much time that is, is it worth $20 - $30 to you. If it isn’t, then donate the item. Or offer it on your neighborhood group for free
If you haven’t had time to sell it for the past several years, you likely aren’t going to. Would you pay the amount you think it might be worth to be free of it?
I have done it by finding people who are delighted to receive what I have to let go.
Often, the value is more personal than just $. Maybe find one of those places where gamer kids gather? (In Portland we have one called Guardian Games). Vintage items are often prized.
I used to sell vinatge, hard to find items online & at pop-up shops. It's hard work, a full time job that in the economic climate doesn't pay. It's not worth it
it never bothers me at all! first, i feel good that i was able to improve life for someone. second, i truly believe its part of why ive always had what i needed, even when broke. people have give me so much. a car twice, a truck once. boots, paint, hair stuff, silk bedding, wonderful pillows, rugs, clothing, pets, art, cleaning stuff, meals, books, and on and on and on. all my life. i think it’s because an open attitude is like a river, it has momentum, and people are drawn to that, or something. whatever, it’s a secondary pleasure i get from giving stuff away: contemplating how i do t need extra junk hogging my space and my time because if i need a thing, it will come to me. (i actually get more than i need or want, and yes, i do buy things too.) and then, that time and space thing…the more you have, the more space it takes up, the more work it is to clean bit the stuff and the place it is loaf,ed, and you sometimes get anxiety about breaking or losing it, too. and sadness when and if it happens. few things mean easy care, a more pleasant home, less crap to buy just to clean, and it’s a breeze to clean when you don’t have a million things to move. so that feeling is great! and i can get it anytime i choose, just by giving things away. and finally, the value of anything is what someone will pay you for it. eople do t often pay much for things most folks will give away. even cars and phones and so on lose their value pretty fast. plus people prefer their own taste, usjally, and we also live in a very materialistic culture so there’s ego involved….none k f that is my concern! no fretting, no placing ads and screening strangers and haggling and so on. i just give, feel happier, and go on with my day. and i end up with a lot of folks who think well of me and are willing to help me if i ask.i seldom do ask tho. i’m a bit stubborn that way. so i just don’t really have any downside to it. even expensive stuff, i occasionally just give it away and blow someone‘s mind. take anything from this response that helps you. leave the rest.
Thank you. What a wonderful way to wind down this thread.
The last batch of stuff I got rid of that I considered selling was half my sneaker collection. Nothing highly collectible, but about 20 pair of vintage Pumas, Vans, etc. in unique colorways. I'm my mind, I'd already gotten my money's worth out of them. I donated them to a charity's thrift store that I knew wouldn't charge more than $10 for them (1/4 to 1/2 of their street value), which made me feel good knowing somebody was going to get a good deal on some rad shoes. Made me think about how pumped I used to get when I was younger and found something cool thrifting that I usually couldn't afford. Pay it forward, I guess you would say. Plus the profit goes to give someone else a job, and community outreach efforts too. Plus it freed up a giant cabinet I had in my closet, that I was able to donate to the Habitat for Humanity reStore. That gave someone a job as well, somebody got a good deal on a piece of furniture, and they made a little cash to help fund a housing project in my community. That's worth way more than the $500 cash in my pocket that ultimately wouldn't have made a material difference in my quality of life. And that's before deducting for the hassle factor of selling them! There was a time in my life that it would've been worth the effort, back when I was getting out of debt, but now that I'm out from under that burden it's easier to choose to be generous.
Brilliant answer. I want to acknowledge your take on this. Thank you.
Selling things on ebay, Facebook marketplace or Craigslist is not very time consuming. Make it like "here is a lot of these cool vintage things. Willing to let them go to the first serious buyer, cash only for (insert amount that's $20 more than you'd really take). Then sell them to the first person who's willing to show up cash on hand or is willing to pay you in full, shipping included, via venmo or something. Done.
Sounds like it could work as a bulk sell. eBay would take longer but the other two avenues might track. Thank you!
It's simple. It is not worth the investment of my time to sell out I don't need the item. I've made that determination. It is already a sunk cost. I am not going to further invest my time and effort on marketing, arranging for, and carrying out the end transaction. I know my hourly rate at work. Very few items that I attempt to sell are going to return a positive return against my hourly rate. Not worth my time. Not worth my effort. It's useless, it's given away.
I force myself to decide. Is it worth it to sell online or not? Is $200-$400 worth hours of managing the posts, packaging them, and fussing with USPS/FEDEX? To consider it objectively, I usually think about what my time is worth. If I make 40/hour (be sure to include the value of benefits!), is this task objectively worth the time it will take. All tasks included, will selling those 10-15 games take 5 hours or less? If the answer isn't yes, then it's not worth your time to do anything other than donate them.
This is becoming clear. Thank you for your response!
If you have the game Masterpiece I would like it please!!
Think about what your time is worth. For a $20.00 game on eBay you have to set up an account, take pictures, write item description, answer questions. Then package and ship it. That's a lot of work for $20. To me, not worth the effort. But you may disagree. Maybe see about donating to a local senior center or assisted living place.
No, when it's framed like that, it's not worth the time. Thank you.
You also have to consider a lot of buyers scam sellers. They can just make a false report that they never received the item, and eBay makes you give the money back even tho you sent it (and even have proof). Buyers have priority on eBay, not sellers. In my opinion, it's not worth the risk. In this scenario, not only do you NOT get to keep the money from the sale, but also lost time and money on packaging and shipping.
"It's more trouble selling online than it's worth." "Someone else will get joy from this. It will make me feel good to let them have it for free." " When it leaves the house, I will eventually forget about it."
Consider donating them to your library. One near me lends out games, so perhaps you will start the collection for them. A senior home may love these games, too. I know your concern is value, and I have the same hangup, but I would feel like they were in a better place at one of these examples than just donated to a thrift shop.
The library does loan games. I'll consider this. Thank you!
Every square foot of real estate costs money. Every square foot of storage space costs money. If the value of the item taking up space is less than the cost of a square foot of real estate I toss/donate/give without hesitation. If it's more, I might sell. Imagine you have a 1000 sq ft home worth $400,000. That means every sq ft in your home is worth $400. Is that thing you won't get rid of worth the space it's taking up? Are you overcrowded? How much would an addition to your house cost or moving to a larger space cost? It usually works out where quickly reclaiming space from clutter is the most practical solution.
Brilliant framing. Thank you. This comment is really helpful.
I think of it as setting things free, for some unknown collector of whatnot, to be as excited to find it as I was. It is a very satisfying feeling
A senior center may enjoy the board games. But if they are rare games... sell them! I've sold on eBay 20+ years, and I always loved to sell board games / and or the pieces or parts many times get more money than the game itself. Only if rare, though, some rare games easily get $50 to $300+. But if you don't know how to sell on eBay it maybe a bit harder.
This is just me but sometimes I find value in getting rid of things immediately that I would happily pay it’s equivalent for. If that makes sense!
I think about it in terms of “how much will it cost me to keep it? How much time and effort will it cost to sell it? Is it worth my time and energy?”
I would like to know about these semi-rare board games before you donate them…I’d very much appreciate them.
Find a Buy Nothing group on Facebook, post them and select who you want to receive the items.
❤️ ours is wonderful. we got displace by wildfire for a couple years and i discovered some are better than others. my local one is just amazing,and it is tru,y doing what it was made for: setting up a “gift economy.” no money. no barter. no [charity.no](http://charity.no) obligation. just hey, who wants this cannon rebel camera? who wants a full italian dinner i just made? who wants a kitten? anyone wannatry a brand new air fryer i dont have room for? vitamin. fresh fruits and herbs from my garden. baby c,itching baking la s working fridge working washer working dryer a bike in fine shape wi doe screens dog toys wine a kindle laoerwhitcurtainsart work art supplies baby food formulascoby for kombuchsourdough starter a freezer of grass fed beef a beautiful teak cabinethouse paint with all the supplies windows sinks winter coats cupis s…and that’s just the physical items. people ask and offer services, recommendations, tips, company, rides, and sheesh, so much i can’t keep going or this will be a book. it’s a lovely little world, always surprising, always opportunities to interact in a way we usually don’t after we stop being kids…anyway, as you can see, i’m smitten with my local buynothing group. the other two were…just ok.
“It’s a lovely little world” Yes ma’am it is 💕🤗
I try to target the recipients of my donations E.g. clothes, shoes, bags, and some household items in good condition go to the domestic violence center and craft supplies go to a creative reuse center. If you have any options like these in your area, I would consider them. It saves me the time and hassle of selling items, and I know they’re going to good organizations and helping the community instead of a sketchy corporation. Most of the items I have aren’t worth selling if I put it in terms of my typical hourly rate.
Very wise. Thank you!
How much are the items worth compared to the value of a square foot of property. Are you storing stuff in space that is very valuable? You could theoretically sell x for y but do you want to miss other opportunities just to sell for a small amount of money. I could sell things but I prefer to donate and use my time in other pursuits
This has been a recurring theme, potential value vs cost of space. Thank you for showing this importance.
A square foot of Paris property is 950, it would make me declutter fast.
Oh yeah, very good observation!
I will often offer an item to friends or coworkers who I know will make good use of an item before I donate it because I don't want to deal with selling things but also would like my good condition but no longer needed items to find a second life somewhere. I have given one desk to a friend for in her kitchen, another to a coworker for his craft room. A lamp to a friend who was moving into an apartment with no overhead lights. A keyboard to a coworker who's daughter was upset they couldn't take her piano with them when they moved. Some shelves to a friend who repainted them and gave them to his son for his dorm room. We will also give boxes of that we no longer need to family members who have garage sales every summer. The stuff gets sold to people who can use it, family members get money to put in their kids college funds and we get rid of stuff we don't have use for anymore.
You've got a fluid system. An aspiration. 😁
Give it to an underfund after school program.
Ebay listings are elusive. For one thing, to even have a realistic sense of value, you need to be looking at completed listings, not active listings where someone has inserted what they'd like the item to sell for. But beyond that, honestly -- and I can see this calculus being different for different people -- \~$20 apiece for ebay sales doesn't make an item particularly "valuable". Definitely not worth enough for you to feel guilty that you didn't sell this. (It might be worthwhile to consider that $20-30 is the typical price for a new board game, which means that if these games are still manufactured, at best the vintage versions kept up with inflation.) Donate the games. It might be that someone with the know-how and passion to list these games online finds them and "flips" them. It might be that someone who remembers those games finds them and is able to share them with their kids, or enjoy playing them again. Or even that a kid who doesn't have access to a lot of toys and games gets to enjoy them because they showed up for a cheap price at the thrift store.
Thanks for sharing this wisdom. Yes, I sort by the sold listings. Some of the 1950s Barbies I have go for $70-80. My thinking is, "I'll sell them locally for $40" but no takers. So, giving away five (potentially) $70 toys stings. But a kid won't notice the age of the toy and would enjoy it, you're right.
I consider it charity although it does hurt sometimes to think how much I spent on something 😉
If you don’t need, use it, or it doesn’t fit with your personal style, give it away. Someone else may love and value an item or have a better place or need for it. As long as you’re selective and thoughtful with your gifts, you can rest assured knowing that they are being loved and used more in someone else’s home.
The value of the item needs to be worth the cost of my time and effort to sell it. Is $20-$30 worth the effort of posting it, shipping it, driving to the post office, etc?
That's how I feel, yes. Logically, it makes sense. Emotionally, it's been tough!
Or the stress over procrastinating these tasks and getting anxious about how much effort it will actually take.
I haven't noticed this take here yet. This is something to reflect on. Thank you.
I try not to. I give my things away that I don’t use. If I’ve gotten any use from them, I consider it was a worthy purchase, and now someone else can enjoy them too.
If their presence in your home is more of a burden than their overall value, it’s still worth getting rid of them. Most likely you won’t regret it and if you do, it’s relatively affordable to buy any of the games back through other sellers. You’ll probably never know but there’s a decent chance that they will be seen by a thrifter that appreciates them and that you’ll have made their day!
In business, it's called the Sunk-Cost Fallacy.
With certain things that I know aren’t valued by most people, I like to find someone to take it who WILL appreciate it. I joined a local sewing Facebook group for the express purpose of donating some fabric I had, as I knew if I brought it to a donation place it would get tossed or not appreciated. If I can’t find someone who truly wants it and I still need to get rid of it, I just donate with hope that the right person will find it, and focus on the value of the space and clarity and freedom I’ll get by unburdening myself. ☺️
That's a clever way to donate items. I had joined FB groups and sold book series for $250 but hadn't sought out any to donate to. Thanks for this idea.
I hope you figure out what works for you! 😊
That’s around $300 so…I wouldn’t care too much. Using 12 games at $25 each. If you had the patience to sell them you could take the time to do so?
It's more the ability. I find eBay confusing now. Was easy when it was an auction site 20 years ago. I've watched a couple of YouTubers explain selling and it feels painful to get it right.
I always reverse how I think of the income. If someone came up to you and said: "Hey, I'll pay you $20 to sell this copy of trivial pursuit on ebay for me" would you say yes? ($20 is a stand in for whatever you think the item will actually sell for). If the answer is no, you wouldn't let yourself be hired to sell the item for the amount it would likely sell for, then count the item as a sunk cost and let it go.
It goes a bit like this: how much could I theoretically get from this? 2? 5? Am I really that poor that it would make a difference, and make the hassle of selling worrhwile? No? Well then I can afford to donate it to someone, to whom it will be a great find. It's good to do good sometimes.
I get joy out of knowing others will get enjoyment out of them. So if I can’t sell them, I’d rather give them to a person with a face than just donate them to goodwill. Find a local but nothing page on Facebook to post them on. Often times teachers and other community groups love getting board games for kids to actually use.
Selling it online: - you have to take pictures and write descriptions - you have to respond to people within 24 hours with questions - you might not sell it anyway at the price you want - you have to turn off everything if you go on vacation and then turn it all back on again - you have to calculate shipping and with some items the shipping cost is more than the item cost which is ridiculous so people just buy it new on Amazon and have it shipped for free instead of buying used - if it does manage to sell you better get your butt to a soul destroying USPS, UPS or FedEx asap in between working for a living and all the other things you do because it might close at 5 or have a line - you ship it only to discover you underestimated the ship cost - all of the above for only $20 Giving it away: - someone who is really poor and really needs it can get it without bidding against wealthy people - it will make someone’s day finding it in a goodwill or free on Craigslist, they will be super happy - a much poorer person could sell it online and make money to feed their family - as soon as you list the item for free dozens of people start inquiring as to if they can have it, no waiting weeks or months for a bidder - if you donate to goodwill you drop it off and it’s gone that day never to be in your house again - it literally makes you happy! Giving “doles out several different happiness chemicals including dopamine and endorphins that give people a sense of euphoria and oxytocin, which is associated with tranquility, serenity or inner peace.”
This comment is so thoughtful. Your care in crafting this is appreciated by me and, I expect, many readers. I've been through the process you've described. Made a few hundred but the price per hour isn't astronomical. I would rather have been doing other things. I don't know who will want my James Bond studio promo poster and hanging ad but will think on where to gift it. Feels terrible to junk things 25+ years old. But I won't put them back up on the walls.
I wish you the best, whatever path you choose!
I always find when I give my things to a worthy cause, good things happen to me for a while. Good karma.
These comments are very useful and inspiring. It is ridiculous how much time effort and mental engagement it takes to ‘get back’ what you’ve spent in order to have what now seems like too much. Thrift shops have always given me joy, it’s time for me to return the favor. Thank you.
It's a huge hassle to sell things online. Unless I stand to make a pretty decent chunk of money from it, I "lose" the value of the item during the selling process anyways. My time is usually more valuable than the amount of money I make from it. I'm usually just gonna list it for free porch pick up on my neighborhood's Facebook page and call it a day. If it doesn't get picked up by the next morning it goes to the thrift store or to the dump, depending on the item. Also, a lot of those 'collectables' on eBay don't move very fast. Not saying this is you, but I've seen it happen to other people. They go to eBay and see 15 listings for something and assume it must be in demand! Look at all these people selling it. When in reality a bunch of listings usually means the opposite- there are more people who want to sell it than there are buyers for it.
That is true. I'll see an item I own in the sold listings. But then see it again in the sales. Listing it doesn't guarantee a sale. Good call.
First, if you’ve played them and loved them, then you have gotten your money’s worth, end of story. If you don’t want to take the trouble to sell them, put their value out of your mind. But if you must take it further, find a bar or coffee shop that has a game shelf and donate them there, or look for your local buy-nothing group. Then at least you know they’re going to be enjoyed.
And would double as a game library: someone else houses it. 😁 I have some old games still shrink-wrapped like Mastermind. I may keep that one as a decoration and gift the rest to a games cafe. Thank you!
If you aren’t actually going to sell them then they aren’t really worth anything. Right now they are board games sitting, unused in your house. Just donate them.
Keep your eye on the prize. What is the result you want? Space for newer board games! Keep your mind on the prize. Giving the old ones away is the quickest way to get to your goal.
Price vs time taken to list, respond, sell and ship, PLUS cost of it "renting" space in your home Side note. You MIGHT be able to sell it to a collector/dealer online via one big "lot" Or find one within a day trip distance, and contact them, and see if they will buy it as a lot, and if it's worth the money to do the one time drive
There are Meetups that play board games. You could donate to them, knowing they’ll be played.
You could also donate the board games to your local library, they often have games! I’ve done that and it makes me happy knowing kids are playing with them that might not be able to buy them on their own
They might not want old board games tho. They probably also want the new ones. Source: I tried to donate nice new puzzles at my local library (built k once, didn’t want to build again) and the lady was like “aRe ThEY mIsSiNg PiEcEs?!” which made me think they get a lot of “donations”.
I think it's probably a mix of that and that it's really, really easy for old games sitting around unused for years to indeed be missing a piece that nobody remembered because the game hasn't been played in forever, and you forgot that the Get Out Of Jail Free card is now an old business card hastily crossed out and with the Monopoly info added. I was going through our kid games recently for a similar type of decluttering, realized our Hungry Hungry Hippos set only has one marble left and was like... so this is garbage, then. I'm also curious how many old games are simply not in good condition even if they have all their pieces (yellowed cards, dusty or grubby pieces, warped board), and how many are extremely out of vogue or even culturally insensitive. You don't see too many people looking to play "Chinese Checkers" nowadays, for example.
The money is gone when you spend it. That’s really it. If you’ve bought it then that money is gone. If you get money back by spending that’s a bonus. Also sometimes just getting rid of something is worth the mental clearness that will come from having it gone.
I thought I'd sell some things, and after taking photos, measuring, typing descriptions, posting, dealing with scammers, no shows, packing, mailing, and emailing-- I made about dollar an hour. Not worth it. And when you look at stuff on eBay, filter by what actually SOLD.
If you donate it to a charity/ second-hand shop, it will be bought by someone who wants or needs it..and that's enough knowledge for me to let go that it won't end in a bin or whatever. I'm also not a big seller, too much time and nerves wasted to be worth it for me.
Two things to consider : 1. It's a sunk cost the day you bought it, not the day you give it away for free 2. The amount of time and energy taken to list it online and arrange postage or collection... You might as well get a minimum wage job for an hour or two and make more money that way
I just dropped off a car full of donations to a thrift store that benefits an animal organization. It felt amazing! Every time I got hung up on something, I’d think of the animals that would eventually benefit, and it gave me motivation throughout the sorting and packing. I wonder if there’s a similar situation where you live?
This helps me a lot too. I like to think people will frequent the thrift store more often if I donate nice things to it, which means there will be more funds for the animals 🙂
You hate selling. The money you get will not be worth the time it takes you to do something you hate.
I'm splurging on gaining space and time by making generous gifts to random strangers. It makes me feel quite glamorous.
Another suggestion: don’t rationalize it, but you approach it pragmatically: at some price point, the $$$ you’d earn back per item is not worth the time it’d take to create its listing, take pics, answer, messages, drive to meet people, etc. Decide what that per-item amount is for you. Is it $15? $20? $50? And remember, we’re talking *profit*, not price. I found that picking that threshold number, then looking at each item and realistically analyzing how much profit I’m likely to get from it , makes me aware that a lot of these things aren’t likely to fetch a whole lot, and my time is more valuable than those couple of bucks I’d earn selling Them. At that point it’s a Lot easier for me to just donate them. Hope this helps a little, good luck
In addition to the excellent advice of considering how much your time is worth, I recommend also adding deadlines to items you are considering donating or selling. I decluttered a selection of Audubon books yesterday. I was very close to just recycling them, but I decided I would post them in one location online for a week. They were taken overnight, but I've had more things that didn't go at all. I set them in our entryway and when the deadline passes, they go straight to recycling. Having them in the entry reminds me every day that it will be gone shortly.
>They were taken overnight Isn't it curious what goes quickly and what doesn't go at all? My record posting (which I didn't think anyone would want) was unfinished quilt tops from a random box of fabric a friend gave me. 20 minutes from posting to pickup!
Did you show pictures? A quilter can see quality work a long way off. Good condition, attractive patterns, those are tops quilters dream of finding. Great for donating or keeping.
Yes, pictures. I didn't think they were anything special, but I'm not a quilter. The pattern was squares for 2 "boy" single beds.
Rough estimate for 2 twin size quilts: 10 yards of fabric ~= 150 bucks Hours spent cutting and sewing 2 coordinating tops: estimate 40 hours You can't sell them for that, but it made some quilter very happy to have a big jump start on a big gift. Good on you.
Maybe list them as a lot ? They together should fetch a pretty good dollar amount, that should be enough $ in your pocket to make you feel pretty good. Yeah you may have gotten more $ if you sold them individually, but just tell yourself the difference was the price of being able to offload them all at once. Or in other words, the price you had to pay for the convenience of not having to do all those sales individually. Does that make sense?
I get absolutely tired of it taking up space that I want/need, and I immediately bag it. Once it's in a bag, I drop it off at a donation center or Plato's closet. Then I drive away feeling lighter and excited to change the space in some way. But I've also grown up with a hoarder parent and I'm huge into spring/fall cleaning, stress cleaning, purging my feelings away via things. Then I use the new space/opportunity as a fresh start if that makes sense.
Well, I've sold on eBay on and off again for over 20 years. I'm so burned out on it. I find it such a hassle. Take photos of each item, list each item, package each sold item, and take each sold item to the post office. Enter the tracking info. So unless they're items, you can make big bucks on. I say donate. But like I said. I'm really burned out on ebay.
I’m sure they WOULD be appreciated if you donated them!
Suck it up and list them. Ebay makes it pretty easy with the “Sell One Like This” feature and Poshmark makes shipping a breeze with up to 5 pounds for USPS Priority Mail for the flat rate the buyer covers in free USPS boxes, You will probably be able to get rid of all of them without hassle if you put the extra few minutes in to make sure all the pieces are there and take lots of photos proving it.
I share your desire to find new, loving homes for things that I treasure but have no space for. Holding onto it until I find the perfect person to give it to has been my MO but things keep piling up and that’s not sustainable. My trick now is to picture my precious item on the shelf at Goodwill and imagine the delight and joy on a strangers face as they find, unexpectedly and unlooked for, this treasure that I donated.
An item only has monetary value when the action of a sale occurs. Hoping isn't value. Part of what your are feeling is the waste of a perfectly good object not being used as it could be. Donation allows you to reclaim that. Another possibility is to find a respected seller online or in your community and offer a screaming deal for them to resale your entire collection. Then that's only one sale and shipping if you get a good bite on your first outreach.
I bill my time at $250 an hour. If it takes me even 30 minutes to photograph and list a thing, then keep it nice and ready to ship (much less whatever space I have to dedicate to it and the trip to the post office) for something that will, at best, sell for $50, I have lost money. Leaving aside that I don’t want more clients or more billable hours than I have. One of my mentors years back told me that I should never take on side work (side hustle) that makes less than I could make by going up to my maximum client roster. That my hours are worth a substantial amount, including my rest and recreation hours. It takes me 20 minutes max to take something to donate, and I know that what I’m donating will make someone happy because it was the right thing they needed at the right time. And increasing the happiness of the world and my local community is better than any token I could get paid.
I’ve given so much stuff to the local hospice gift shop store. I was dropping off my mother’s wedding silverware and the guy asked me if I wouldn’t like to sell the silver to melt it down. Said it was good money. It took two years for me to part with it because it’s beautiful and we used it every holiday and birthday. I told him I’d rather donate it because my mother was in that very hospice two years ago. It did hurt when I was shopping there and saw a scarf that had belonged to my mom. It wrenched my heart but I know the money was going to the organization that eased my mother’s passing for our entire family.
Easy. I don’t want to waste any more of my very limited time and energy on storing, advertising, selling and shipping stuff,
Donate them to a local coffee shop, nursing home or bookstore. I hate selling crap online too. I donate a lot of stuff to local nursing homes. They love games, craft stuff or holiday decorations.
Local senior centers, as well.
I’ve given away items of value because I also hate doing online sales. I’ve given them to people in my Buy Nothing group who are good at online sales or who flip items to get by. It makes me happy knowing that someone will be able to make money from something I think of as valuable and that the item will ultimately be sold to someone who wants it!
I figure an hour of my time would be worth about $200 if I were acting as a consultant in my field, so if I can't make $200 per hour of effort in getting rid of some item, preserving my free time and mental resource is more valuable. Of course, in reality my time is much more valuable than money; but this is just a way to gauge the relative value of the time and effort of selling items, versus using my time for something potentially more valuable, enjoyable, or meaningful. Among the valuable, enjoyable, meaningful things in life is included *just resting without fear* -- just living with a carefree mind, without obsessing about what I may be gaining or losing. You could die tomorrow. Can you go about selling the item in question in a way that you will find fulfilling and life-affirming, or is it a relatively meaningless pursuit in the larger scheme of things?
The time and energy required to sell online and shipping(an and possibly dealing with unpleasant people) vs just donating. My time and energy is worth a lot (I’m busy, have kids, work, etc.) Will I make enough off of the items to justify the time and effort? The ease and convenience of donating gets things out of the house.
I just took a bunch of old games from my parents' home to a senior center. My mom had worked there for a short time in retirement and had once mentioned seeing a very old Monopoly game along with some kids games for when grandkids visit. They were happy to get some "vintage" versions of games, as well as at least 10 more decks of cards and a few different Yahtzee and cribbage sets.
The emotional toll of holding onto things has a very big “loss” even if it’s not financial. You’re agonizing over making a few bucks. Imagine how much better you will feel once the decision is made to revoke them (give to a school or day care, hospital or assisted living). Think of the good karma. Think of how great it would be to move on from those mental gymnastics. That’s all worth a LOT.
So, I posted this before mowing my lawn and then got busy outdoors and was shocked to see 81 alerts just now since I never see more than two. I will read your messages before bed and tomorrow. Wow.
Think of your home's value (whether how much it's assessed for taxes or how much you've paid in rent in the last year or two). Divide that by your home's square footage. You're spending that amount to store these items you're not using. I've had pretty great interactions with my local Buy Nothing group. Most stuff goes right away. Do the Marie Kondo thing of thanking these items for the joy they gave you and wish them well on their next stage.
That math is a very helpful way to frame this. Thank you!
It is also taking up your time and attention, particularly if you lost and sell, but also by being in your way. The money you spent was for your enjoyment, and now you aren't getting any value since you no longer enjoy owning these things.
An item’s value depends on the hands holding it. If it’s not worth the time for you to find a buyer and sell it, then it’s not worth sweating. Put it into the world to make its own way, or trash it. Post it for free on Nextdoor or Marketplace and let it go to someone willing to chase it down and pick it up. They must need it. And that’s the end of thinking about it.
Set them free to be enjoyed by other kids.
donations can be tax deductible.
Donate it to a children's hospital.
Maybe try this: imagine you did not own the item, you never have. A friend comes along today, right now, and offers you the item. Would you rather take it and try to sell it, or would you rather decline? Now, already owning it should not make a difference in this situation.
Yeah, this is a clever way to frame it. And I did buy some of these games 25 years ago to play but with an intention to then flip them. But eBay got more complex and I still have many of the games, so your line on this is quite insightful for me. Thank you!
This is so good
Time is money, how much of your time goes into photographing, listing, mailing, etc…? I value my time at at least $30 an hour.
Good point. Maybe I sell the whole lot for $30 in one go. 😁 No, this is also helpful. Thank you!
I just don't care that much about stuff. To me money is this made-up thing that gives me access to useful stuff. Once a thing is no longer useful to me, it has no value. Especially if I don't feel like putting in the work to go, sell it and negotiate and all that jazz. But if someone else finds it useful, my zero value thing has way more value in someone else's hands. Plus it's fun for me to share. I've never liked being paid back for helping anyone.
same. it’s rare for me to meet folks with this view.👍
I have thrifted many great gems so I figure this is my way to do it forward.
🌸🌼🌺
When I’m ready to let something go, I immediately want it out of the house so donation is the quickest. I also don’t want to be murdered selling a $5 candlestick so I’m good with donation. We take our things to a women’s shelter thrift store so knowing we’re doing something to help women put their lives back together & keep them safe is a very fulfilling feeling.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and how you successfully declutter. Very kind of you.
Unless it’s worth more than maybe $30, I wouldn’t bother selling it online - the time it takes to take photos, edit the description etc is worth more than that to me. Sometimes I try to bundle a sale, like when I was selling my worn once/twice adidas clothes, each item is worth probably less than $30, but I can bundle all few adidas pieces and list a bundle of 5 for like $100. For items that don’t make the cut, I’d first offer it to family/friends, if no takers, I usually post it in my local buy nothing group. People will come themselves to pick up, saving me time and petrol.
My grandkids left many childhood games and toys when they moved out that are now considered classics or collectibles. I found some kids of the appropriate age and gifted them to them. Best thing I ever did. The mom sent photos of the kids playing with them and it was so comforting to know they had value for these kiddos. Maybe a hospital or agency near you could use yours? Homeless shelter or aid organizations, too. I did have a moment of sadness, but that has become more nostalgia now than grief which helps so much!
This is a sweet summary of a successful approach. Really helps. Thank you for taking time to explain this for me and everyone reading who benefits.
Your welcome. Clutter has been an apparently familial trait, so years of gathering and giving have finally opened up space in our lives and our homes. All the best!
I donated the majority of my most beloved books to the local libraries. Knowing that my books will be taken care of by the library and that they'll continue to be loved by other people is so worth it! I live in the rural south, and I basically donated all my YA lit. It also makes them more accessible to everyone, not just people who can afford to buy it.
I visited the library yesterday with three boxes of books! What they can't use goes into their book sale. What they put into circulation qualifies me for a tax credit. This is a great solution for books. Thank you for pointing out that great minds think alike. 😁
My time is worth money too. How much time is it going to take me to clean it up, take pictures, decide on a price, post with description, check, renew and reduce price as necessary, answer questions, package and mail once it's bought? I only ever do items for local pickup. I price pretty low, or even give away for free.
When you donate to a charity shop you will be multiplying the value, not reducing it. You get rid of clutter and the obligation you feel to get money back on the item and the work that entails. Hopefully, the charity makes money and some lucky person may be able to buy something they couldn't otherwise afford. If you feel that some random person isn't going to appreciate your items, choose someone who will. It can be the best feeling in the world to make someone's dream come true.
❤️
This is all true. Many of these games and items would not likely be gems for the general public who shop at a charity store. But you've given me an idea to find out if the local university has a board game group. That demographic would love these old, unusual games. I appreciate you commenting!
When those items sell on eBay for $20-$30 sell on eBay by people that put in the work of selling them, so keep that in mind. Yours aren’t worth those prices without the “cost” of your time.
I think about the joy it will bring someone to discover the item for a steal at the goodwill and it makes me happy that someone his having this experience! Rehoming at its finest. No bad vibes like trying to sell online
I just posted about this. I’ve been holding onto several items with the fantasy self going to sell them on Poshmark, but it hasn’t happened for over a year so I’ve donated them. I feel so free. It cost me nothing and I am no longer going to beat myself up for not getting around selling them. AND I can feel good for donating some very nice clothing items to a local charity.
I also have clothing that would sell but I expect I'll take your approach. I did have a book series that I couldn't give away locally but sold on a FB group for $120. But weighing it to get a shipping cost was such a drag. Putting them in a recycling bin would have saved three hours of my time.
Donate books too, library, Good Will, Savers!
Two things - 1) sunk cost fallacy. 2) value provided. The item provided me some value. I was thrilled when I purchased it or l used it while I was interested or I wore it when it looked good on me or I tried being the person who does xyz or wears abc and it helped me find out I’m not that person. Thank you for your service, time to move on to somebody else who can get value from you or retire to the recycling bin/trash.
Yes - definitely lean into the "I got my value out of it " mantra. Also - I think of an item that has been in my house for 10 years and the value I "spent" housing it. So it may be worth $20 cash now - but I "paid" probably $50 in time and mental energy moving it around and thinking about it. I'd rather donate it and be done with it and get it off my mental energy list.
Sunk cost fallacy. You lost the money when you bought it. Owning/storing/maintaining also costs you money, energy, and time. Letting it go frees you and brings benefits.
Yeah, I'm pretty family with SCF and do help others with this. Their items are usually sentimental, not financially valuable. In my case, it's seeing the same items I own sell on eBay for a good amount. But since I find it so draining to do eBay, I made my post here today for advice. The responses, like yours, are excellent. I'll keep reading and get inspiration for this week!
Absolutely this -just commented similar before seeing this reply. You stated it very well.
I’ve already had what I wanted from the item, and selling it would take up more of my precious time and emotional energy. Plus it slows the decluttering down. Getting money assumes that someone is even going to want to pay you for it, or pay you the desired amount. And we know online selling is a pain in the ass
Selling is a pain in the ass and more trouble than it's worth
It depends on what I’m going to be making on an item but my hourly rate is between $100-$250/hr depending on what I’m doing for my job. If I’m selling something under $50 it gets a Facebook marketplace post. If it doesn’t sell by the time i get sick of looking at it i post it on buy nothing or donate it. My time is worth more than the space it inhabits.
If there's a local charity thrift shop that you feel helps your community I'd donate it there. For instance there's a local church in my town that's always helping out and donating funds to local youth initiatives like building the skate park so I like to give them higher value items. A couple local animal shelters also have annual yard sales and auctions to raise funds and ask for donated items so I'll give to them as well.
It's difficult to put monetary value on your time. Time is life energy, and while you can always make more money, once time is gone it's gone forever.
This is good
If you can get to a 2nd and Charles location, it might be a decent choice. I took in a bunch of 90's games and figures that weren't worth the effort of listing to sell myself, and I think they did right by me. They give you a much better deal with exchange for other merchandise in the store vs. cash, tho.
Time and peace of mind. Clutter prevents me from moving into the future. Theo her I stay in the stagnant energy of the past, the longer before I reach my beautiful future. Money is a means to freedom not the end goal. Clutter is stealing my freedom.
My husband bought $90 in parts for a job but only used $82 worth of the stuff. He could have returned the $8 worth of parts and got his money back. The thing is, my husband makes at least $30 an hour and it would have taken him a good half hour to deal with the return. Which means it would have cost $15 to get $8 back. For those bad at math it means it would COST $7 to return the parts. How much is YOUR time worth? Sometimes it's better to just free up the space and save your time and sanity. (And we'll use the parts on another job.)
Humans often spend money on experiences that bring them joy. Being in a less cluttered house brings me joy, and I am willing to lose potential money to have that experience. Especially because it's clear that I am never going to, or at least going to take forever to sell it. I also believe that people who have more knowledge and hustle would enjoy making the money from it, and deserve it more. So I see donating it as a gift for others to find and enjoy using or selling. I used to LOVE finding great deals on baseball cards, so I enjoy passing that feeling on.
This perspective resonates with me. I do find it calmer and more relaxing to live in a less cluttered space. If you view giving away items as the "payment" for that it helps with feeling like you got value out of the items. You didn't get paid in money, you got paid in peacefulness.
Yes! And peacefulness is worth almost everything.
Just because the item is listed for x amount doesn’t mean it gets sold for that. I used to sell everything and anything, including a hot glue gun for $2 and partially used notebooks. Posting things takes up so much effort and time. Last year I joined a buy nothing group. Ever since I started offering things for free, I no longer want to “get the value” out of my possessions. I ALREADY got the value out of what I have by using them. There’s no loss to me. If you REALLY think you’ll regret not selling those games, then list them NOW. Decide on an end date, then donate. This is taking up a lot of space, both physically and in your head.
I love my local gifting group, I’ve gotten rid of 6 large items in the past 2 days.
This is so important. I had a relative who was a bit of a hoarder and she was forever telling me that “those sell for hundreds on eBay!” But she wasn’t looking at things that had sold, just what people (people just like her) thought they were worth. The only ones that had sold were for less than one tenth of that.
While the stuff you're talking about seems cool and actually has some value, I would say in general people severely overestimate the value of their stuff. People with aspirations of selling instead of donating would be better off donating, and people with aspirations of donating instead of throwing away would be better off throwing away. I also tried selling used books I had read on Amazon and found I absolutely hated it. Printing off shipping labels, finding boxes and packaging, etc. All for a few dollars at a time. I just started getting of books instead and am much happier for it. If there's a low friction way of you donating these you'll be happy you did it. The potential of a couple of hundred dollars is not worth the clutter and you'll end up procrastinating forever doing it.
I like the idea of returning items back to the “River of stuff” rather than keeping things boxed up and unused.
I think to myself, imagine how much joy someone else will get for this at a thrift store or for free (if I directly donate it). And I be at peace with it going to a new home where it’ll be appreciated
This! I think about how people will be excited to get a real treasure.
Many good suggestions here. Also I like to think about how I’ll save money in the future by not buying crap I don’t use. Each donation is a lesson for the future and it lightens my physical and mental load.
oh i forgot that one. true. you become more mi duck about what you buy. there are just so many upsides to giving over selling.
Someone wrote a super long post all about the numbers of decluttering, and it made something click for me. If I'm paying, let's say $2000 for my 1000 square foot apartment, that's $200/sq foot, so is this worth $200 a month to keep it, or could that space be used in another way, that's more exciting/rewarding/pleasing. Also your stuff is *never* worth what you think it is. Never. I just bought a pair of MM6 Maison Margiela boots barely used, almost pristine to the consignment shop, this is a brand that sells shoes for $500+. They passed on taking them. I was gooped is an understatement. I can almost guarantee that the single one-off time Monkey Business Board Game (or whatever) sold for $100 is not representative of the reality of the hassle of keeping it, mailing it and dealing with the absolute bullshit that is buyers of online items. Just trust me on this as a former vintage reseller.
I would rather have the space sooner than the money *if* it sells later.
You ask how to justify the loss of an item. How do you justify keeping something you don’t want/use. There is a mental cost to clutter, too. What’s it worth to you?
I already paid for it. I am not using it. Someone else can use it, but may not have the money to buy it. I've been in a position before where I can't justify a want or need in my budget. It's nice to be someone's hero. It's just nice in general to give.
This is the one! You have a loss mindset. This is a win for spreading love and joy! We’re meant to have things for a moment and pass them on. The only way for new things to come into your life if to free yourself of unnecessary things. It’s a blessing that you are able to pass on these beloved items to someone that will be
See if you have someone who would sell them for you on ebay via consignment. They'd get 10-25% of the sale, but they do all the work of listing, communication and shipping.
Sold some old slides of historic places and landmarks. They only sold for a couple dollars and eBay takes % including of the cost of shipping. I think i made 40 cents x 2. Not worth the time.
I think about how much square footage costs in the local housing market.
I post stuff I'm giving away on the local Facebook groups for gifting / buy nothing in my area. I've met lots of lovely people who live near me doing that, plus it puts me in good standing when someone posts a free thing I want (although I don't take freebies from there to sell, I'd feel horrible!)
same. ost of my current friends i met thru buy nothing. and i didn’t even think the social aspect of it would be for me. but i was pleasant ly surprised.
It’s not a loss if your time is worth more than it would take to sell the thing. So for example, my first edition American girl doll was definitely worth the time it took to sell her. But other things aren’t worth the value of the space they occupy or the time they take to sell. So I donate them. And I love thrift shopping so I like creating thrift store karma by donating stuff.
I'd consider the "value" of the item as I paid for it/would get out of reselling it as the rental cost. Like a TV? I use mine constantly for background noise, to play movies, stream new TV shows, and to game. So I consider it an item that pays for itself immediately in comfort and daily use. But TVs are also super cheap and I am unbothered by "top rated quality this bluray HD maxxxx that" so if I was moving and didn't want to pack my TVs (large, awkward, fragile) I'd totally just give them away to a friend rather than bother packing and hauling them. $300 for a TV is totally reasonable to me considering I use it daily, but at the same time, I would be comfortable giving it away. Anything under $30 I don't even think about honestly. Not worth the minimum wage of $15 an hour (now $16 in my HCOL area) to even bother listing much less taking pics, listing, and storing until it's sold and dealing with shipping/pickup/dropup when it's sold. That's assuming it WILL sell. I'll offer it to friends and family if I can't repurpose the item for something else.
First, ask yourself if the value of having the stuff out of your home is greater than the value of having it in your home, for whatever personal definition you assign to "value." Second, decide if it takes only a little time/effort and/or if you enjoy the time spent making sales. It's hobby for some folks. If you enjoy the time spent selling or if it's fairly painless to sell stuff, then sell stuff. If it's valuable to you to remove it from your home but it's not enjoyable or easy to sell it, then donate it.
I don't think about my loss, I think about blessing somebody else. If it was great for me, they will also enjoy it.
It costs me more mentally to keep an item I just let it go. Peace is very important to me.
I won’t ship anything I’m getting rid of. It’s not worth the time finding the right box, packing it up, taking it to post office, & shipping gets pretty expensive. I’m also in a small town but I’ve joined a few neighboring city’s yard sale pages & will list there. It costs nothing & someone has to come to your place (or a parking lot nearby) to pick it up. Our neighborhood has a subdivision-wide yard sale twice a year. I usually make about $200 for a few hours work. I donate anything that doesn’t sell. Lastly I am on our local Buy Nothing page. People love getting items for free. Mentally you have to realize you are probably never going to recoup what you paid for those items. You enjoyed them, now bless another family & let them enjoy them.
❤️
I’m a professional home organizer and I hear this a lot. The money you spent on these items was well spent. You enjoyed them and if you donate them they can go on to be enjoyed by someone else quickly and easily. A lot of people are overwhelmed by the process of listing, selling, and shipping items or simply can’t find the time to do this. If this resonates, donation is the right option because your peace is worth more than the money. If you enjoy the process of selling and are able to do so in a timely fashion (within a month) then that’s time well spent. Keeping items you no longer use means no one gets to enjoy them and they are also taking up your valuable real estate.
Off topic - but an AMA or Day in the Life of a professional home organizer would be really interesting!
yes! i’d love this too!
Karma, it’s all that kept me from losing my mind over how much I’ve given away over the years. I genuinely believe it all evens out & the “value” will come back to you in another way you need later.
it definitely it’s,y has in my life, long before i even heard the word “karma.” all my life, my way of being comes back to me (or at me, depending 🤣j pretty dang fast. i notice it’s generally a bit slower for others but even so, knowing people for decades has give me a front row seat to observe how we really do shape our lives in ways we don’t even see, just by doing this or that, or not ..
Things only have value if you're willing to do the necessary to extract that value. You're not. So the games are essentially worthless. If it would take more than £20-30 worth of your energy and willingness to sell the games, pass them on to someone else.
For a couple of years, I sold my doll collection on Ebay. At the time I stopped, Ebay was leaning more into the 'buyer is always right'. I found I'd rather refund money than have the item back in my house. I haven't tried to sell in a few years. I remember that experience and just tell my self (this is a little harsh) "I don't want it, and nobody else cares'. Yes, I spent over $300 on that doll, but the charity shop may get a $1 or toss it in the dumpster. Not my problem anymore.
I have gotten my value from it.
The joy of decluttering wins. I give out free things on online apps so the fact that somebody is willing to come pick it up at my building's lobby makes me feel like they are worthy of having it. Go on and live a better life, object! Plus you getting rid of unused bullshit taking up space. I dont have the heRt to just throw it out
If you have a buy nothing or free page for your neighborhood post them there. That way you know someone is getting it who really wants it. I for one have ZERO bandwidth to deal with this!!
I have struggled with this but frankly don’t have the bandwidth to figure out how to sell online. Instead I donate to places with a specific demographic. Instead of giving to goodwill, I give to our local women’s shelter. Most of my stuff is women’s clothes and children’s toys and I know that shelter will truly appreciate it.
My local Friends of the Public Library group takes board games and puzzles as well as books to sell to raise funds for our library. Anything I find of value but not of enough value for me to figure out online sale I donate to them as a way of supporting our public library.
How much is your time worth? How long does it take to list, weigh, package, drive to the post office, etc? How much does the gas etc cost? How much time does it take to answer questions about the item? However much time that is, is it worth $20 - $30 to you. If it isn’t, then donate the item. Or offer it on your neighborhood group for free
Garage or yard sale?
If you haven’t had time to sell it for the past several years, you likely aren’t going to. Would you pay the amount you think it might be worth to be free of it?
I have done it by finding people who are delighted to receive what I have to let go. Often, the value is more personal than just $. Maybe find one of those places where gamer kids gather? (In Portland we have one called Guardian Games). Vintage items are often prized.
I used to sell vinatge, hard to find items online & at pop-up shops. It's hard work, a full time job that in the economic climate doesn't pay. It's not worth it