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Making Money Selling Second Hand Stuff

making money selling second hand stuff. garage sale

We’re in the process of decluttering, losing our possessions, ready to hit the world for a few years. But here’s a thought, minimalism is great, I’m loving owning less, but should we all be so hung up on making money selling second hand stuff?

Selling our stuff was part of our scheme to raise money for long term travel,we had the garage sale, raised about $2000 and I’m slowly selling the stuff that the garage sale pickers didn’t buy, via the internet.

My garage has been stuffed to the gills with second hand stuff for the last month and the car has been languishing in the sun and rain on the driveway.

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I’ve Had Enough of Selling Stuff!

Yesterday I cracked, couldn’t take it any more. I started boxing things up to take to a charity shop. Luckily, I ran into a friend, she is a single Mum with four young children and can always do with a few bits and pieces, so I dragged her into my shop garage to take her pick. we managed to find enough to fill the back of her truck. Clothes for her and the children, books to read or pass on, a few toys and my best shoes.

I loved those shoes, glorious wooden heeled leather platforms of a sort not often found in Far North Queensland, but the reality is, they don’t fit me any more. Five years of daily flip flop wearing in tropical Port Douglas has spread my feet to the size of barges and I really can’t wear them. They were in brilliant condition, worn only a few times as they were always “best” ( and fairly impractical). I’ve been trying to sell them for weeks. No joy. But this is my point.

Should we Really Expect to be Making Money Selling Second Hand Stuff?

Would you want my second hand shoes? Or clothes the kids have grown out of? I was so desperate to make a few dollars selling off our old stuff that I had mountains of pre loved garments hanging around in the garage.

A few years ago, pre Ebay, we threw out our old stuff or donated it to a charity shop, these days we all want to turn our junk into money. Is it worth the stress?

I’ve been worrying about how to sell this stuff for months, lying awake at night, working out plans, squirreling it all away in boxes and suitcases ready for  The Big Garage Sale.

I think I could have saved myself a lot of stress by just giving it away to start with.

As I said, my friend took a truck load, a second truck load was quickly dispatched to the charity shop.

We can use our garage again!

Giving Stuff Away Feels Good

I”m not saying we should have given away our bed, dive gear, or kayaks, those were valuable, in demand and still almost new. That’s the sort of stuff we made the $2000 on. But really, the clothes? I was living in a dream world.

So it’s gone to a lady I love and her adorable children. Maybe she’ll use them, maybe she won’t. But at least I waved goodbye to my shoes with a smile on my face and a hope that she’ll be out on the town extremely well shod and funky.

The stuff that went to the charity shop was really no good to anyone. Sure, there were a few very expensive items in there, my Karen Millen wedding trousers that I rode an elephant in were hard to see go, but they were too small and stained by tropical storage . Goodbye, you’re gone, I don’t have to worry about you ( or fitting into you) any more!

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So, no, I don’t think it’s worth it, a few dollars for weeks, if not months, of stressing over this. I really wonder why we all hold on to so much stuff, the things aren’t the memories, the memories are in our heads. If you’re really struggling with getting rid of stuff, take a photo, like I did with my best trekking pack ever. Things only drag us down, give us extra housework and make us worry over their well being.

It’s all very Buddhist. I wish I’d taken a photo of those shoes.

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KaseyM

Tuesday 12th of November 2013

We have been selling our used stuff and some of it I am wondering if ti is worth it. If ti will ever sale though we had a lot of success early on. It really takes a lot of time to manage. Good luck

Kirsty Bartholomew

Monday 25th of February 2013

Oh I completely agree with you - best to just get rid of it! It does feel hard though and I hated parting with stuff I know if I tried harder I'd have got a little bit of money from, but that feeling disappears once you can no longer see the said item!

Nate

Monday 25th of February 2013

We too had the same dilemma but found an answer,

Karma sale!

No prices marked, just a box that folks can leave their money in

No hassles and no worry about how much you got for items :)

Jill

Monday 25th of February 2013

Oh I agree, its better to get rid of it, and be done! Its EVEN better to not have bought stuff in the first place! We've learnt our lesson the hard way!

alyson@worldtravelfamily

Monday 25th of February 2013

It's feeling great at our house now Jill, almost every cupboard is empty. I LOVE this new minimalism. Thanks for reading, loved your Goa post :)

Bron

Saturday 23rd of February 2013

I am new to your blog and hooked! I loved reading how you met your husband and look forward to reading your travel adventures. Bron

alyson@worldtravelfamily

Sunday 24th of February 2013

Thanks Bron! I have news, we're booked, we have a leaving date, first stop Malaysia, in July.