Sometimes changes, big or small, are all you need. It's a matter of choice and reponsibility. We can truly be whatever we want to be, it's just a matter of saying that you want to be that and take the responsibility to go after it. I enjoyed your post, because it takes courage to stand out there and say that you are not operating at your best level and that you are responsible for that. Thank you for this post.
1) Give it away.
2) Donate it to a local resale shop.
3) Recycle it.
4) If all else fails, trash it!
That's my standard procedure for getting rid of stuff, but I'm contemplating having a "pay what you want" yard sale, where any price is accepted. My kids and I are trying to raise money for World Vision's Water Fund and for a family vacation, so this seems like a good way to do it -- 1/2 for World Vision, 1/2 for us!
Wow, a two year rut? Sorry to hear that--that's a long time!
I do things that are totally out of character. Walk by a tanning salon and never been inside one? Go in, get a tan. Driving by the library but haven't been in years? Stop and go in. See a sign for a community picnic but don't know anybody who's going? Go alone. Buy your neighbour a plant and leave it on their doorstep. Doing random things is a) Hilarious, b) Life-expanding/educational, and c) You always get to meet new people outside of your regular wolfpack comfort zone. (Your regular friends probably have personalities similar to your own, so what's new to do from them anyway? Find new people!)
Doing random, screwy things has led to some amazing long-term things in my life:
1. I spontaneously booked a trip to an Arizona dude ranch to learn how to horseback ride. At the time, I shook my head and thought, "God, I've really gone insane now! I don't know the first thing about horses." ...I found out it was not only an activity that I loved, but I'm also naturally good at!
2. Went to a science-fiction convention with my best friend. At the time I though, "Let's do this--why not?" It took a little while to convince him, but we went and had such a great time we now make it an annual event (6 years running). We can't wait to see our nerd friends every year in July at the con. (And yes, we have spacesuits and costumes and all that now.)
Living like this can be exciting. It doesn't always cost money and you'll get out of bed and think to yourself, "Wow, I wonder what sort of craziness I'll get up to today?"
In addition to Craigslist, selling on Amazon, and garage sales, I've given things away via Twitternand Facebook...and sometimes just by putting an object out to the curb with a "free" sign on it. I've done that to recycle aluminum awnings, bedsteads, and old pool equipment.
However, when momentum isn't coming of its own accord...
I break tasks down into mentally manageable chunks of time. Whether it's working out or cleaning a bedroom. I can physically tear myself off the couch for a quick 20-minute DVD workout. I can go into the bedroom and vacuum for only 10 minutes. I can bring myself to rearrange a cupboard for 15 minutes. I can work on a painting project for 10 minutes. Every time a TV commerical comes on, I go in and scrub the bathtub just a little bit. It's amazing how if you even do the tinest bit of anything every day, massive tasks can get done with very little effort. ...Especially those things that suck to do. It's when people think, "Man, if I start this now, it's going to take hours!!," that they really get stuck. "Be like the drop of water against the stone, Daniel-san."
DVDs and books go to the local library - newspapers, magazines and recyclables go to a local foundation for developmentally disabled adults - clothing and food, we check with our Air Force base to see if they have families that could use them first: if they're not taking any at that time, we post in our local Freecycle and arrange for pick-up.
I usually donate somethings to charity but some of the good stuff I'll sell online It just depends on what I have and the size of what I'm getting rid of
In the past we've had yard sales, when we had enough stuff to make that worthwhile. I've also used consignment shops for some items. Recently, I've been donating things to Goodwill, passing down some items to my nephews, and selling a few things on craigslist. I don't want to hold on to enough stuff to have a yard sale, though we may have just one more when we're ready to move.
It usually depends on the value of the item. If it's clothing or books, I usually just donate it to Goodwill. Something like a fridge or a working computer, I'll try to sell on Craigslist.
If I think I can get money from it it, I will use craigslist. I sold a working lawnmower this spring. I tried using freecycle before, but got tired of women begging for maternity/baby clothes. If it is an item I do not think has any value, I just throw it in the garbage. Large items I take to the dump or a scrap recycler.
Every six months or my friends and I have a big clothing swap. We take our unwanted clothes, accessories and shoes to one person's house. We also bring wine or appetizers and enjoy refreshments while we chat and lay out all of our goods. At some point, we all agree to start picking out what we want. We try on each other's clothes and set aside any of the stuff we want to keep.
This is such an elegant solution to the problem of getting rid of "stuff." We've even gradually started including books or home goods in the swap. You always have some impulse buy that was a really GOOD DEAL on clearance and you convinced yourself you'd wear (but never did). You may have gained or lost weight over the year and now have a lot of clothing that doesn't fit. This way, we get to have a great girls' night, get rid of stuff without feeling like the money you initially spent just went down the drain, and satisfy the urge to shop without spending any money. The last go-around I got a dress that would retail for $400 and a sharp Banana Republic jacket!
At the end of the night whatever isn't taken gets packed into garbage bags or boxes and a designated person takes it to a thrift store. Everyone wins!
A local consignment shop takes home goods and women's clothing. The money I make is invested back into an updated wardrobe and home. Recently, I took the money I earned and used it toward our vacation. My husband's clothing we donated to Goodwill and took a receipt for the tax deduction!
It might have to do with the kind of stale taste that can come from using a machine for years. We clean ours out with vinegar once a month or so, but we have a pretty high-end coffeemaker, and my husband is super-fussy about how we grind the beans. That said, the pour-over coffee that I have had seemed to lack the bitterness that my homemade coffee always seems to have. I haven't tried a side-by-side taste test.
I don't think it's really re-inventing anything, so much as using a slightly more intense method. Everyone has different priorities - if yours (like mine) is to be caffeinated as quickly as possible, then pour-over coffee might not be the best option.
While I like the advice to start a budget, I wish the article did more to address specifically what kinds of debt people should focus on getting rid of and how to do so. I'm not necessarily sure I like the reference to mortgages as if they're one of the "bad" debts because the amount is large. Who can afford to buy a house in cash? Not only that, but there's no reason to pay off your mortgage early from a purely economic perspective unless your interest rate is 6% or more. You can get a better return from investing that extra money in the stock market. Especially at the interest rates right now, since you're NOT getting any sort of return from bonds or other dividend-heavy investments, you might as well at least invest in stocks since those always give a long term average of 9-11% return. Home loans are around 4% right now...why slice your possible return in half?
There are several steps to getting rid of unwanted stuff afte my once a year clean out the clutter campaign:
1) Family - I always check with family if they need anything first. Several furnture items and kitchen gadgets have made the rounds as people have gone to college, gotten married, were widowed, etc. So family comes first.
2) Ebay - Anything that may have potential value I try to use Ebay in order to get top dollar. It can be a pain to research, price, list, ship, etc. but especially after a big clean out I generally have a few things which make it worthwile.
3) Craigslist - This is where everything that is big and/or heavy and/or bulky gets listed. My rule of thumb is to arrange for several people (either family or friends) to be around when a person from Craiglist comes to check out or pickup an item. Sometimes the items are freebies - others are sales.
By the time I've gotten this far I generally don't have enough quantity for a yard sale so I donate any books to the library and the remainder to Goodwill. Of course, I create lists of everything so I can deduct from taxes my yard sale values :)
I never could seem to get a good cup of coffee out of a French press, even with good instructions. I don't know if it was perfecting the grind or the types of beans I was using, or if I waited to long or what.
I like the idea of wasting less. It seems like I can never get just the right amount of coffee for two people, so I'm always having to brew more or throw away half a pot.
Sometimes changes, big or small, are all you need. It's a matter of choice and reponsibility. We can truly be whatever we want to be, it's just a matter of saying that you want to be that and take the responsibility to go after it. I enjoyed your post, because it takes courage to stand out there and say that you are not operating at your best level and that you are responsible for that. Thank you for this post.
Oh, commented and liked on Facebook as well! :)
1) Give it away.
2) Donate it to a local resale shop.
3) Recycle it.
4) If all else fails, trash it!
That's my standard procedure for getting rid of stuff, but I'm contemplating having a "pay what you want" yard sale, where any price is accepted. My kids and I are trying to raise money for World Vision's Water Fund and for a family vacation, so this seems like a good way to do it -- 1/2 for World Vision, 1/2 for us!
I've never felt like I have to keep up with the Joneses... I am the Joneses!
Wow, a two year rut? Sorry to hear that--that's a long time!
I do things that are totally out of character. Walk by a tanning salon and never been inside one? Go in, get a tan. Driving by the library but haven't been in years? Stop and go in. See a sign for a community picnic but don't know anybody who's going? Go alone. Buy your neighbour a plant and leave it on their doorstep. Doing random things is a) Hilarious, b) Life-expanding/educational, and c) You always get to meet new people outside of your regular wolfpack comfort zone. (Your regular friends probably have personalities similar to your own, so what's new to do from them anyway? Find new people!)
Doing random, screwy things has led to some amazing long-term things in my life:
1. I spontaneously booked a trip to an Arizona dude ranch to learn how to horseback ride. At the time, I shook my head and thought, "God, I've really gone insane now! I don't know the first thing about horses." ...I found out it was not only an activity that I loved, but I'm also naturally good at!
2. Went to a science-fiction convention with my best friend. At the time I though, "Let's do this--why not?" It took a little while to convince him, but we went and had such a great time we now make it an annual event (6 years running). We can't wait to see our nerd friends every year in July at the con. (And yes, we have spacesuits and costumes and all that now.)
Living like this can be exciting. It doesn't always cost money and you'll get out of bed and think to yourself, "Wow, I wonder what sort of craziness I'll get up to today?"
Duly tweeted 1:28 PM - 17 Jul 12 via web by @susandra
I "liked" you on Facebook
In addition to Craigslist, selling on Amazon, and garage sales, I've given things away via Twitternand Facebook...and sometimes just by putting an object out to the curb with a "free" sign on it. I've done that to recycle aluminum awnings, bedsteads, and old pool equipment.
Good article! Momentum is a great thing.
However, when momentum isn't coming of its own accord...
I break tasks down into mentally manageable chunks of time. Whether it's working out or cleaning a bedroom. I can physically tear myself off the couch for a quick 20-minute DVD workout. I can go into the bedroom and vacuum for only 10 minutes. I can bring myself to rearrange a cupboard for 15 minutes. I can work on a painting project for 10 minutes. Every time a TV commerical comes on, I go in and scrub the bathtub just a little bit. It's amazing how if you even do the tinest bit of anything every day, massive tasks can get done with very little effort. ...Especially those things that suck to do. It's when people think, "Man, if I start this now, it's going to take hours!!," that they really get stuck. "Be like the drop of water against the stone, Daniel-san."
DVDs and books go to the local library - newspapers, magazines and recyclables go to a local foundation for developmentally disabled adults - clothing and food, we check with our Air Force base to see if they have families that could use them first: if they're not taking any at that time, we post in our local Freecycle and arrange for pick-up.
I usually donate somethings to charity but some of the good stuff I'll sell online It just depends on what I have and the size of what I'm getting rid of
I like Wisebread on fb!
In the past we've had yard sales, when we had enough stuff to make that worthwhile. I've also used consignment shops for some items. Recently, I've been donating things to Goodwill, passing down some items to my nephews, and selling a few things on craigslist. I don't want to hold on to enough stuff to have a yard sale, though we may have just one more when we're ready to move.
We have a Salvation Army to donate clothes to. Recycle what we can and ask around to see if anybody can use what we are looking to get rid of.
It usually depends on the value of the item. If it's clothing or books, I usually just donate it to Goodwill. Something like a fridge or a working computer, I'll try to sell on Craigslist.
If I think I can get money from it it, I will use craigslist. I sold a working lawnmower this spring. I tried using freecycle before, but got tired of women begging for maternity/baby clothes. If it is an item I do not think has any value, I just throw it in the garbage. Large items I take to the dump or a scrap recycler.
Every six months or my friends and I have a big clothing swap. We take our unwanted clothes, accessories and shoes to one person's house. We also bring wine or appetizers and enjoy refreshments while we chat and lay out all of our goods. At some point, we all agree to start picking out what we want. We try on each other's clothes and set aside any of the stuff we want to keep.
This is such an elegant solution to the problem of getting rid of "stuff." We've even gradually started including books or home goods in the swap. You always have some impulse buy that was a really GOOD DEAL on clearance and you convinced yourself you'd wear (but never did). You may have gained or lost weight over the year and now have a lot of clothing that doesn't fit. This way, we get to have a great girls' night, get rid of stuff without feeling like the money you initially spent just went down the drain, and satisfy the urge to shop without spending any money. The last go-around I got a dress that would retail for $400 and a sharp Banana Republic jacket!
At the end of the night whatever isn't taken gets packed into garbage bags or boxes and a designated person takes it to a thrift store. Everyone wins!
A local consignment shop takes home goods and women's clothing. The money I make is invested back into an updated wardrobe and home. Recently, I took the money I earned and used it toward our vacation. My husband's clothing we donated to Goodwill and took a receipt for the tax deduction!
Thanks for the mention, Ashley! Some good links here.
It might have to do with the kind of stale taste that can come from using a machine for years. We clean ours out with vinegar once a month or so, but we have a pretty high-end coffeemaker, and my husband is super-fussy about how we grind the beans. That said, the pour-over coffee that I have had seemed to lack the bitterness that my homemade coffee always seems to have. I haven't tried a side-by-side taste test.
I don't think it's really re-inventing anything, so much as using a slightly more intense method. Everyone has different priorities - if yours (like mine) is to be caffeinated as quickly as possible, then pour-over coffee might not be the best option.
Craiglist for quality items, through my husband's work for even higher quality items and donate or freecycle the rest.
I get rid of old clothes by donating to Goodwill.
While I like the advice to start a budget, I wish the article did more to address specifically what kinds of debt people should focus on getting rid of and how to do so. I'm not necessarily sure I like the reference to mortgages as if they're one of the "bad" debts because the amount is large. Who can afford to buy a house in cash? Not only that, but there's no reason to pay off your mortgage early from a purely economic perspective unless your interest rate is 6% or more. You can get a better return from investing that extra money in the stock market. Especially at the interest rates right now, since you're NOT getting any sort of return from bonds or other dividend-heavy investments, you might as well at least invest in stocks since those always give a long term average of 9-11% return. Home loans are around 4% right now...why slice your possible return in half?
There are several steps to getting rid of unwanted stuff afte my once a year clean out the clutter campaign:
1) Family - I always check with family if they need anything first. Several furnture items and kitchen gadgets have made the rounds as people have gone to college, gotten married, were widowed, etc. So family comes first.
2) Ebay - Anything that may have potential value I try to use Ebay in order to get top dollar. It can be a pain to research, price, list, ship, etc. but especially after a big clean out I generally have a few things which make it worthwile.
3) Craigslist - This is where everything that is big and/or heavy and/or bulky gets listed. My rule of thumb is to arrange for several people (either family or friends) to be around when a person from Craiglist comes to check out or pickup an item. Sometimes the items are freebies - others are sales.
By the time I've gotten this far I generally don't have enough quantity for a yard sale so I donate any books to the library and the remainder to Goodwill. Of course, I create lists of everything so I can deduct from taxes my yard sale values :)
I never could seem to get a good cup of coffee out of a French press, even with good instructions. I don't know if it was perfecting the grind or the types of beans I was using, or if I waited to long or what.
I like the idea of wasting less. It seems like I can never get just the right amount of coffee for two people, so I'm always having to brew more or throw away half a pot.