As we are faced with the down-down-down-sizing most of you have already gone through, we're dealing with the "does it stay or does it go" question....and the "just letting go...." issue.
We saw this article yesterday that puts it in perspective:
In part, it says, "I look at every item I own as a burden and if I am going to keep an item the happiness it gives me must be worth the burden. The burdens include: cleaning, maintaining, moving, insuring, or just worrying about an item. These all seem like small things, but they add up."
We're looking forward to the freedom of full-time travel, but I think, just as much, the freedom from all that "stuff" and its burden.
I think I'm going to paste that quote on our frig!
Deb
GENECOP said
08:21 AM May 14, 2010
Nice reminder, thanks and welcome to RVD, Gene
DorisandDave said
06:29 AM May 15, 2010
Welcome to the "Dream".
While we were downsizing we looked at it like....as each thing went out the door, we were closer to what we REALLY wanted and then we couldn't get rid of our "stuff" fast enough.
Good luck. This is a great place for info and advice. Come back soon.
Doris
K & E said
08:40 AM May 15, 2010
We are in the final stages of getting rid of our stuff. I can't agree more that it has been a burden. After selling on Ebay and Craigslist, giving some to the kids (they wanted very little) and having an estate sale, we are left with a 2 car garage full of stuff to donate. It kills me to think of all the money we spent on stuff we are now giving away. I have to remember much of it was old and we got many years of enjoyment out of it. Also, we are donating to the Veteran's Assn. and I'm sure it will be put to good use. The lesson learned is don't buy into our society's hype that more is better. I wish I had saved more of the money we spent on that stuff.
One thing I have learned from all of this purging is that I will not buy stuff just to have a gift for someone. If it's a specific item they want, fine. If not, I will use gift cards or consumable items as gifts. No one should be burdened with too much stuff/junk!!
We've been fulltimers for 2 weeks now, and I am already finding I brought too much stuff into the RV. More purging will be done!!!
azrving said
12:48 PM May 15, 2010
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kirsten-dirksen/how-to-be-happy-the-burde_b_569884.html
Great article! Now if I could just get my wife (and myself) to let go. LOL
I have a garage, 2 outdoor sheds, 2 (large) rented storage units, etc. full of tools, tool boxes, and shop equipment from my previous life. I was a certified Ford Motor Company line tech/shop foreman and then I left Ford to open my own shop, which I ran for 10 years before getting burned out. We didn't include this equipment with our living estate auction in 2006 and after seeing what our yard, house, and misc items went for @ auction, I'm glad we didn't. Most of my tools & equip. are Snap-On and I couldn't let them go for pennies on the dollar. I have over 300,000 invested in the boxes and hand tools alone. I hope my two boys will want some of the tools and the rest I will probably donate to the local vocational school for the tax write off; I'll keep a few items so I can still do my own maintenance.
My wife will not even consider selling certain items for fear she will be disowned by her family. Her mother recently sold their SC Plantation Home that was built by and had been in the family since 1825. The land was actually granted to the family and has been owned by them since that area was settled. My mother in law offered the house to my wife and her brother but neither was interested due to the cost of maintenance and restrictions on making modifications/improvements/etc. The house is on the National Historic Register and if you try to bring the house up to code or make it more modern, you can be booted off of the registry and you loose your tax breaks also.
Anyway, the house was sold in 2007 and the contents of the 6500 sq. foot house were given to my wife and her brother. That doesn't include all of the stuff we hauled out of the old Post Office (the original Post Office for the town was on the family property) and barn. Now our home (and storage buildings) in AZ is full of antique furniture and other items that we can't just take to a garage sale or post on Craigslist. We don't want to burden our children with this stuff either! We can become a slave to our possessions and I have yet to see a hearse with a U-Haul behind it, so I hope we will be able to make the transition when the time comes. It's just stuff! Right??
Luvglass said
01:40 PM May 15, 2010
Mark & Nancy,
Yup! It's just stuff.
Rockinmotion said
01:59 PM May 15, 2010
I thought I'd start with something non-emotional: my sock drawerS. Uh-oh, this is easy in theory but I had an excuse for why each and every set of socks was worthwhile to keep. (We'd moved from AZ to FL the year prior so had weeded out most of the junk in our lives.) Sigh.
Then I decided to move on to cookbooks and craft books. I'm going through them and looking for recipes and designs I'll actually use, scanning them into computer files, and slowly amassing a pile of books for a garage sale. Well, that's better. Guess I'll revisit the socks later!
I feel your pain on all your acquisitions, planned or gifted, and figuring out what's best to do with them....
Deb
Ken & Sarah said
02:24 PM May 15, 2010
We still have STUFF, but we are three boxes lighter after today. I have pruned down my books to those I am going to read over the summer. I bought a Nook and plan on utilizing it to read all other books. I just wish more magazines and newspapers were available for it. I will have to do more research. If anyone who has a Nook knows of other sources than Barnes & Noble for material I would appreciate a heads up.
I haven't checked but maybe a new area for discussion eBook readers.
TxYellowRose said
05:32 PM May 15, 2010
Today was the first day of our moving sale. Little tougher to do here since we live at the business. Did put a notice in the newspaper, craigslist and word of mouth. Had some folks come in a get stuff, so our takings are not really too bad for the area in which we live. It is easier when one lives in an actual neighborhood.
If nothing else goes, I can see me pulling up to Goodwill asking for a tax receipt for "$500, please."
A couple is coming to look at the bedroom set this evening and hopefully will purchase it. That would be a major thing, as it is the last pieces of big/nice furniture, the rest having gone off craigslist.
Sure am looking forward to having only what we really need, lightening our load, travelin' easy.
Anybody need an elegant vintage wedding dress from Scotland????
Cheers, all!
dream reachers said
01:08 AM May 16, 2010
That was a good quote. My wife said it was such a relief to get rid of all that "stuff." It is hard to really imagine what you can accumulate over the years. We gave heirlooms and antiques to the kids and what they did't want we sold to antique dealers. We still have just a few boxes at our daughters house that we go through when we are in the area(scanning pictures mostly) Our kids are happy that we are doing the purging so they won't have to later. We gave several boxes of goods to a lady that is selling for us on ebay for a cut. We got rid of several sets of fine china and silver and are happy to eat on our Melmac and stainless. What we can't carry with us we don't need and we keep the trailer within the weight limits.
NWP said
03:01 AM May 16, 2010
Geena and I recently sold our home and packed up all of our "JUNK" it is now stored in a very large unit. We now live in our 27' travel trailer with the dog, cat and 3 teenage girls. We too are looking at purging everything and getting a larger 5th wheel to full time in.
It is amazing how many people are doing this. Funny my parents think we are idiots and Geena's don't really care either way as long as we are happy. Most of our friends think we are doing the right thing and wish they had the courage to do the same.
Should be an interesting summer of garage, craigslist and ebay sales for us!
Look forward to seeing you on the road...
Neil
heyduke said
07:31 PM May 17, 2010
Rockinmotion mentioned the sock drawer and it is funny but it is a microcosm of all the stuff in your life... if you are like me you have a pair of socks in there that are at least 20 years old... you have at least 5 pairs of socks you can't remember wearing in the last 10 years ... and worse you have at least on pair of socks you wouldn't be caught dead wearing but somehow they are in your drawer... it is just stuff so get rid of it... :)
janieD said
07:46 AM May 18, 2010
We have just finished getting rid of "stuff" and I have to say the burden theory for me holds true. The process was difficult but when we finished it was like a burden had been lifted. I know there will still be stuff in our lives but I like the way she looks at it and will keep that in mind as we travel along. Thanks for sharing that.
-- Edited by janieD on Tuesday 18th of May 2010 07:48:32 AM
Happytrails said
08:22 AM May 18, 2010
We started full-timing in August and I have already found I need to purge the motorhome some more. You really don't know what you will need until you begin to live the lifestyle. I found I kept way too many clothes - especially shoes. I wear three kinds, tennis, hiking and sandals. Same for Mike. I thought I had done so well with my purging just to find out I need to do more....its a learning curve.
We did keep a few family keepsakes (furniture and other stuff) in a climate controlled locker.
Our son is single so I wanted to wait and see if he might want anything down the road. There are times I wish I had just gone ahead and done the deed there as well. We THINK they want our valuable stuff, LOL but later find out they really don't. I might just get a wild hair and keep purging the storage locker as well.
It is freeing.....really freeing but emotional. Good luck on your purging!!
Luvglass said
08:33 AM May 18, 2010
Us too, we kept a storage locker for almost 3 years before we finally bit the bullet and got rid of everything. It can be tough, but we've never looked back with any regret.
tallan said
08:43 AM May 18, 2010
High K and E,
We too have been full timing for two weeks now and have found that it was indeed a lightening of a burden from our stuff. Like you I wonder do we really need this much stuff in the RV. I would guess in another month we will be sending another load to the thrift store. We are a very young family. (I am 36, my wife is 36 and my son is 4.) I was amazed at the stuff we had gathered in our short 15 years of marriage. The more stuff we got rid of the closer we got to each other. My 4 year old had a difficult time getting rid of some of his stuff, but what he discovered was that "I just don't play with that anymore. I would rather go on a bike ride with you Daddy." Our family has learned so much over this past year and are looking forward in learning more and mroe of the the years. Blessings, Chaplain Troy
heyduke said
07:56 PM May 18, 2010
We are not on the road yet but have decided not to store stuff...as was mentioned We THINK they want our valuable stuff, but they really don't want any of it (or very little of it)...
TXRVr said
09:56 AM May 25, 2010
You can bet that 5 minutes after you get rid of some of that "stuff" you will need it again. Murphy's Law.
But now that we no longer FT, I'm finding some of those give aways at great bargains in the Thrift Store and at Goodwill. So keep getting rid of the stuff.
Racerguy said
10:41 AM May 25, 2010
We started purging "stuff" two years before I retired.I made a couple of mistakes and sold tools that I later had to replace but for the most part it got easier as we purged.We started out needing a 12 x 20 storage locker but ended up with a 5x9 one and have already just 3 weeks into our full time travels decided that when we go back to our "former" home town for Dr.appts in September we will also sell that stuff and be done with it. We also have been rearranging stuff in the trailer and have already left many travel books in the book exchanges we packed but discovered we would not use. Linda has also decided some of the kitchen appliances she brought were unnecessary and have offered them to other campers( usually the permanent residents each park seems to have). I now see that I can downsize my toolbox further as some of the larger wrenches I brought will NOT be used. It's amazing how quick you realize you do not need all those "gadgets"
Dave Buck said
08:05 PM May 25, 2010
We had another garage sale this past weekend. Didn’t sell a lot but after it was over another truck load went to Good Will. We have a rule that once it goes out of the house it doesn’t come back in. Still have a lot of stuff to get rid of. I’ve got to start selling some of the bigger things on Craig’s list. We have over a year to go but I know that time will fly by.
cabingramma said
09:36 PM Aug 26, 2010
We're in the process of doing the GROSS project = Get Rid Of Stuff Soon or Get Rid of Stupid Stuff, whichever you prefer!
We came up with that several years ago, however, I did choose to ignore that saying numerous times and since we are trying to sell our home, am paying for it as we purge via yard sales, ebay, craigslist, etsy; give away to our kids (try to) or family/friends, donate to church, charities, etc.
Another saying I've found that has helped me with moving some stuff out of my life is: CLUTTER: If you don't LOVE it or USE it, LOSE IT!
I'm having a hard time with the sentimental things from my parents, grandparents and before. One way to still keep some special things that I hold dear or have a story, is to take a picture and journal about it. But photos (and scrapbooking) are another of my problems... Well, one thing at a time, I say.
I must share a funny story with you, told to me by my dear grandfather, Ora. ~~ My grandparents used to RV to Quartzsite when the rv parks were free and as my grandma loved to collect rocks in the desert, and rocks being rocks, the trailer would get heavier and heavier and harder to pull. So sometimes when they'd stop by the side of the road and grandma was busy, he would toss what she hadn't hidden real well back out and she never knew the difference. So the moral of the story is: If you're going to collect something, make it feathers! Easier to hide and a lot lighter! ~~
Oh, Oh! DH just reminded me that I like rocks, too, and still have some of those very same rocks Grandma collected and want to take with me when we move! But that was BEFORE I really wanted to move into an RV. Okay, this will be harder than I thought. Prayers, please!!
Cindy and Scott in MN RV wannabe
-- Edited by cabingramma on Thursday 26th of August 2010 09:37:05 PM
-- Edited by cabingramma on Thursday 26th of August 2010 09:38:32 PM
RVKevi said
10:05 PM Aug 26, 2010
I can relate!! We've been getting rid of things for over a year as we got our house ready to sell. Every couple of weeks I'd take a load to donate to the thrift store. Since we've realized that we want to live in an RV it has gotten easier, but I still have quite a few things that I probably won't get rid of until Kev has retired! And some things that will go into storage - at least at first.
LOL, but at least I've never collected rocks!!
cabingramma said
09:56 AM Aug 27, 2010
My 2 cents: SELLING STUFF or WANTING TO SELL HANDMADE? Try www.etsy.com.
It's an online avenue like ebay. It's solely for 3 categories: Vintage (20 years+), Handmade and Supplies.
It works a little differently than ebay. You decide on the price you want for your item (shipping is always extra). Listing period is 6 months and you have the option of renewing it, deleting it or let it expire and do nothing. The fees are minimal! Only $.20 per listing and 3.5% when it sells. Your fees are paid monthly. Easy to set up and use. Answers are easy to find on the website. Here is my etsy site so you can see how it's done. I'm not trying to sell you anything, just for reference to help you.(my main focus has been on getting my house ready to sell so there's not much there at the moment but you'll get the idea.) http://www.cabingramma.etsy.com
You can also use it as a benchmark for the worth of an item, like ebay. Research is important if it's a true antique. Use the search box in top right to find an item. If you want to sell something quickly, this might not be the right method but if you've got time to maybe let it sit for awhile, it pays off. GREAT for selling handmade/handcrafted items, OOAK (one of a kind).
NOTE: When you set up an account, the USERNAME you pick will be permanent. You cannot change it in the future. I might have to start a new account once I'm on the road... cabingramma won't be at the cabin anymore!
If you have anything that fits into these categories, give it a whirl. If you have a question, I'll try to answer it.
Hope this helps! It's just another avenue for purging the stuff!
Cindy and Scott in MN RV wannabe
-- Edited by cabingramma on Friday 27th of August 2010 11:30:30 AM
Jake62 said
12:04 PM Aug 27, 2010
We have been in the process of getting rid of "stuff" to our local Gospel Rescue Women's Center this past summer. Although we haven't decided to full-time vs. part-time, my question to you full-time RVers (should we choose this route), what "tools" or "yard equipment" do you carry with you.
Yes, I know you don't have a yard, but: 1. Did you get rid of all your rakes, shovels, hoses, wheelbarrel, etc.? 2. What tools do you consider essential on the road? 3. Small hand tools (hammer, screw drivers, pliers, rachet set, wrenches) are easy enough to bring, but what about power tools?
-- Edited by Jake62 on Friday 27th of August 2010 12:05:29 PM
Sailbad said
03:50 PM Aug 27, 2010
Your question sort of encompasses the "what if". If you are going just to part time then you will need those yard tools to maintain the yard. OR you can get rid of all of them and hire the work done.
My choice was easy. I first decided that I would full time. Then I parked the 5er in the driveway and started to move in. I started with the bedroom. I made the bed and stored 2 changes of linen. The rest went out.
Then I moved to the living area. I moved in a blue ray, movies, cds, computer and printer, ect. I kept one small portable radio, the rest went out.
I emptied the pantry into the trailer. I put in the pots and pans I needed. The rest went out.
I put a selection of clothes in the closets and drawers. The rest went out.
I kept a couple of water hoses and assorted hand tools that could be used on the trailer. The rest went out.
All of those "rest went out" including furniture, lamps, kitchen appliances, extra TVs, linen, clothes, heavy tools and most of anything else you can think of went to the Salvation Army.
End result was I was in my fully equipped trailer, the house and out buildings were empty and I hit the road.
I guess if you miss stuff, you could always take a picture of it, and carry the picture with you.
Jake62 said
05:03 PM Aug 27, 2010
Very methodical! And, most likely, the best way to determine what you need to take with you. If it doesn't fit ... toss it.
Necro said
09:48 AM Aug 28, 2010
We'll be fulltiming by the beginning of October. We just FILLED a tenxten storage shed with good stuff, after getting rid of almost anything we considered unessential.
It's an 80 dollar a month bill I don't need, but we want to keep it for at least the winter and see how the plan goes. I expect that we'll love it, and have no desire to return to "regular" life. If not... at least we have the essential furniture that's already paid for, in the event I have to go back to working in my career again.
If after the winter, we return to Pa. and it all looks good, we'll ebay or craig's list the rest of it. Don't really want to give anything else away. Already gave the office furniture and our bedroom set to our kids, so would hate to give away any more of this stuff that took a few years to pay off, y'know? But if need be... so be it.
I'd love to get down to the smallest storage bin around, for memory type stuff and things I just can't ever see getting rid of.
snowman8 said
09:05 PM Nov 9, 2010
We too have storage units...yes plural...two storage units in town and an 8 x 10 metal shed at base camp. We are living in our 5'er for now I would consider FT, as the housing market is in the dump, so we still have the house that was supposed to be sold by the time we did all of this. We rent out the house, and it's cheaper to have a storage payment, than the mortgage (expensive storage unit) payment, if that puts your $80.00 a mo. into prospective...
Eventually, we want to again have land and a home, so until that situation changes, we're going to keep the "stuff"....one thing we are finding out as limited space FT'ers...every time we end up needing an item, we realize it's in the back of the storage unit......that presents the question......"do we need it bad enough to either tear apart the storage unit, or buy another one..."
Most of the time........we do without.......however, we do have a yard, and we both enjoy having the opportunity to do our own landscaping......
hope this helps........
ahoweth said
07:32 AM Nov 12, 2010
There is a finite process to go through when purging all of the "stuff." First you establish 3 distinct piles. the 1st is for stuff that definitely goes, the 2nd it for stuff that maybe goes and the 3rd is for stuff that definitely stays. Go through everything, no exceptions and catagorize them into one of the 3 catagories. Then 2 weeks to a month later, do it again with the stuff from the 2nd and 3rd catagories. Then do it for a 3rd time in another 2 weeks to a month. by then your stuff will be much more manageable. If you keep on doing this process, eventually everything will be gone.
It works too!!!
Elaine NB said
11:56 AM Nov 12, 2010
We are in the process of getting ready to go ft....we do already have our rig...we have 3200 sq ft of stix and bricks...and I cannot believe the "stuff" we have gathered over the years....Plus we have a cottage and a big barn up country-full..anyway I've turned it into an 'enjoyable' game...listing sales online etc...every day its like a game..humm what will sell today..I take the $$ and put it aside in an envelope...and we will do something special with it when we're done....its great to see that envelope get thicker as each day passes....like the rest of you we have 5 kids..and theres not much they want...am hoping they will at least take the antiques...they are all in the process of gathering their 'own stuff'....in their homes etc....good luck with your downsizing...I know we can't wait....
Hdrider said
08:14 AM Nov 20, 2010
Craigs list has become my friend over the last few months. Even though the house has not sold,, us getting rid of STUFF is helping to keep us focused on our final goal...... full timing. Each time a little something get sold I feel just a little closer.
janni said
10:14 AM Nov 20, 2010
yes, Craig's List, EBay, Garage sale was our "life" for about 6 months. I have NEVER felt soo FREE!
nwtraveler said
08:08 AM Nov 21, 2010
You need to do some serious soul searching to determine
what you absolutely can't live without or else you end up
spending a small fortune on storage rental. In the end
you will end up paying more to store it than it is worth..
Luvglass said
08:58 AM Nov 21, 2010
Boy, you are so right Kim. we had a storage locker for 3 years to keep the stuff we just couldn't part with when we went out. and after spending almost $4000 in rental fees, gave every bit of it away anyway, when I finally said "no more"!
If there are some things that you just need to hold onto because your not sure if the lifestyle is definitely for you, then put a short time limit, say one year, on storing, and then get rid of it, or come off the road.
Nah!
Hdrider said
09:15 AM Nov 21, 2010
When we sold our last house (should have gone full time then) we put everything in 2 storage units. It stayed in there over a year while we built the house we are in. We have been in this house 2 years now and are selling off stuff we had in storage and have not used since we brought it to this house. It's unreal what we THINK is important. That wil NOT happen again. We have already decided what pieces we will keep in storage (knowing we will only be on the road for a couple years without a home base). And those items are only the highest priced and most loved items that we figure we will not afford again after I retire. And those things will only be kept if they fit in a SMALL storage unit. In fact I just sold a Denon reciever and a Klipsch sub-woofer that I bought in 03 because I HAD to have them,,, roughly $900 worth,,, never used them,, then put them in storage as mentioned above,,,, brought them to this house and have never used them,,, just sold them last night for $300. But.. I feel one step closer to our goal just the same. I just need a couple big things to sell,,, like the house. Anyone need a financial investor??? I will work for cheap
Racerguy said
11:03 AM Nov 21, 2010
One thing to remember when you start purging and selling.Take what ever you paid for something and FORGET it.Do some research, find out what the average selling price is NOW and go a little lower.We all have a tendency to think our " stuff" is worth more than the same stuff somebody else has. The more you sell the easier it gets.
-- Edited by Racerguy on Sunday 21st of November 2010 12:33:42 PM
Sandra said
03:40 PM Nov 21, 2010
On the other side of things, we sold everything when we started fulltiming. Due to circumstances after fulltiming for five years we had to give up the lifestyle, then had to buy a house and proceed to refurnish and re-stuff the house.
You just never know!
Racerguy said
04:38 PM Nov 21, 2010
For us, even when we come off the road we are so over having "stuff" it will not be a problem.We will want a simple small home with just enough furnishings to get by.
SkyJean said
05:12 PM Nov 21, 2010
I got rid of everything when I did my road trip to Alaska in 1984. I ended up living there1984-88. When I returned to the lower 48 in 1988 I had to buy everything again for my apartment , later a house. I'd do it all again. My style changed as well as color. So it was fun getting new things.
Hdrider said
08:03 AM Apr 10, 2011
Racerguy wrote:
One thing to remember when you start purging and selling.Take what ever you paid for something and FORGET it.Do some research, find out what the average selling price is NOW and go a little lower.We all have a tendency to think our " stuff" is worth more than the same stuff somebody else has. The more you sell the easier it gets.
-- Edited by Racerguy on Sunday 21st of November 2010 12:33:42 PM
Ya got that right!!! I'm almost glad the big things are selling of slowly,,, I might have a heart attack if they all went at one time at the prices I'm getting for stuff LOL!!!
Just sold the Harley last weekend!!! A sandail and a house and we are on the road!! But that could still take some time.
BruceandTrisha said
06:49 AM Apr 13, 2011
When we started getting rid of the stuff, it created the space for our dream lifestyle. Started out in a 3 bedroom house with full basement, downsized to a duplex with a garage, then sold everything and moved to a tent for the most incredible summer camping experience. Then we got our Big Foot camper and settled in as full timers - working as camp hosts until we hit the road in November.
Funny I should log in to the forum today and find this subject - I'm spending the day getting rid of more stuff from our camper. It gets easier and easier to decide what is absolutely necessary and what is just taking up space. We've come a long way, but there's more purging to do! Spring Purging!!
I love how this lifestyle has created a more organized me . . . with limited space, everything has its place and must be put back in that spot, or you soon have chaos! Quite a different lifestyle from being able to fill every nook and cranny in a house.
I am lovin' this life!
TheParkers said
09:37 AM Nov 9, 2011
We close on the house on the Monday after Thanksgiving. That's a little over 2 weeks away. We've already been through the agony of getting rid of the "important" things. It's interesting that our kids didn't really see "family heirlooms" the same way we did. We've got family coming over the next couple of weekends to pick up furnishings that will almost empty the house. Then a couple of days before Thanksgiving, we'll call for the Salvation Army truck to pick up the rest. Another couple of trips to the dump for some odds & ends in the garage, another purging of clothes, and we should be ready. We're going to live in the RV here in town through the winter until DW retires, so that will give us a chance to add or subtract to what we need to some extent before we finally hit the road. Most of the "burdens" are gone. I'm an artist, so I'll still have to lighten up a bit on the art supplies, but we'll get there.
-- Edited by TheParkers on Wednesday 9th of November 2011 09:38:27 AM
BruceandTrisha said
10:04 AM Nov 9, 2011
Don't it feel great?
Congratulations on downsizing! My kids seemed pretty indifferent about the heirlooms, too, but maybe in time they will grow to appreciate and treasure what we gave them. You'll for sure go through another round of downsizing after living in the RV for a few months. What you thought was necessary isn't always as important as the space it creates if you get rid of it.
Anyway - just wanted to say WAY TO GO! Yay!!!
Parrish said
09:58 AM Jan 20, 2012
My wifes illness, MS is getting worse and I'm over stressed with my job. We have made the decision and are working on trying to assemble a yard sale so we can place the house on the market and escape in our fifth wheel. I am overwhelmed with how to set up such a yard sale, getting rid of everything.
Should I just invite people in the house/garage/barn and say make an offer? Pennies on the dollar of investment, lots of tools. What about the antiques? This is a stress beyond my imagination and we need to get it done fast. Already quite the job to care for my wife and need to get out of the mortgage.
GENECOP said
02:21 PM Jan 20, 2012
Parrish wrote:
My wifes illness, MS is getting worse and I'm over stressed with my job. We have made the decision and are working on trying to assemble a yard sale so we can place the house on the market and escape in our fifth wheel. I am overwhelmed with how to set up such a yard sale, getting rid of everything.
Should I just invite people in the house/garage/barn and say make an offer? Pennies on the dollar of investment, lots of tools. What about the antiques? This is a stress beyond my imagination and we need to get it done fast. Already quite the job to care for my wife and need to get out of the mortgage.
There are companies that will set up, Price, and handle the whole garage sale. If you are having that much stress, pay the commition and let others do the dirty work......good luck
BruceandTrisha said
02:24 PM Jan 20, 2012
Parrish: I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's MS. It sure seems like sometimes life just dumps on you, doesn't it? Just hold on to the light at the end of this tunnel - it's there . . . and all the work you do to get on the road will keep that light burning bright.
We had a ton of stuff and had several garage sales. What was a huge selling point at these was opening up the house for people to come in and shop instead of trying to move everything out into the garage. That way, weather was never a problem and I could more easily and quickly stick prices on things.
If you have a bunch of junkie stuff - box it up and put one price on it - to get rid of it all in one swoop.
Pricing is the hardest thing because sometimes you just can't let go of how much you paid for an item. Try to look at it from the other side - if you were at a garage sale - what would you pay for that item? People will always try to negotiate to a lower price, so add $ to a big ticket item to give you wiggle room.
Craigs List is a great resource for selling anything. One important piece of advice is to upload pictures of the items - it helps them sell better. I loved selling on Craigs List because most of the buyers are local - they will come pick up the stuff and you don't have to worry about shipping it. If the need to ship it comes up - add the costs to your selling price.
In the end, we still had stuff left over - that's when we called the Disable American Veterans - they came with their truck and hauled it all away.
Hope this helps. Take a deep breath . . . it's a wild ride, but so worth it!
Delaine and Lindy said
04:29 PM Jan 20, 2012
We determined that Stuff is just Stuff. There is one thing about full timing and thats you get rid of Stuff you don't use or need... We now each year give away or sell things we aren't using.. Again its just Stuff. Happy Trails....
Neil and Connie said
11:41 PM Jan 20, 2012
Parrish wrote:
Should I just invite people in the house/garage/barn and say make an offer? Pennies on the dollar of investment, lots of tools. What about the antiques?
Our son picked out a few things she wants . . .and we will get a small storage unit for the stuff my wife "needs" to keep . . .although I would imagine that in a few years we'll do what others have done and sell it all. Other than that . . .I'm craigslisting some stuff and goodwilling some stuff but the majority of it will go via an estate sale. Local companies charge 25 or 30% commission but they price everything, negotiate with the buyers, pack up the donatables and deliver to charity with a receipt back to us, and have a liquidator come in and take everythng remaining for a fixed price.
I hate to pay the commission . . .but then they're doing the work and all I want to do is be rid of the stuff. We'll be on the road before the summer is out.
Parrish said
01:06 AM Jan 21, 2012
I couldn't agree more. I'm inclined to just haul it all the dump instead of organize all that stuff for a yard sale.
lindy said
01:39 AM Jan 21, 2012
We just finished helping move my DW's parents from a trailer they'd lived in for 35 years. It took my DW and her sister 4 weekends to help just pack-up things. One weekend my DW's mom spent the whole day just sorting thru thread spools. It took a whole morning with 4 men to load everything in the truck, and then the whole afternoon to unload it at the new house. After spending the whole weekend there moving and setting things up, the DW came home and the first thing she said was that effective immediatly for every thing brought into the house 4 things had to leave in getting ready to go fulltime in 5 years when she retires. When we went to Tampa for the RV show last week we took a full p/u truck load of stuff to her boys who live in Tampa. She figured as long as we were going there give them the stuff we have in our will for them now that way it's less we have to deal with later.
We saw this article yesterday that puts it in perspective:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kirsten-dirksen/how-to-be-happy-the-burde_b_569884.html
In part, it says, "I look at every item I own as a burden and if I am going to keep an item the happiness it gives me must be worth the burden. The burdens include: cleaning, maintaining, moving, insuring, or just worrying about an item. These all seem like small things, but they add up."
We're looking forward to the freedom of full-time travel, but I think, just as much, the freedom from all that "stuff" and its burden.
I think I'm going to paste that quote on our frig!
Deb
While we were downsizing we looked at it like....as each thing went out the door, we were closer to what we REALLY wanted and then we couldn't get rid of our "stuff" fast enough.
Good luck. This is a great place for info and advice. Come back soon.
Doris
One thing I have learned from all of this purging is that I will not buy stuff just to have a gift for someone. If it's a specific item they want, fine. If not, I will use gift cards or consumable items as gifts. No one should be burdened with too much stuff/junk!!
We've been fulltimers for 2 weeks now, and I am already finding I brought too much stuff into the RV. More purging will be done!!!
Then I decided to move on to cookbooks and craft books. I'm going through them and looking for recipes and designs I'll actually use, scanning them into computer files, and slowly amassing a pile of books for a garage sale. Well, that's better. Guess I'll revisit the socks later!
I feel your pain on all your acquisitions, planned or gifted, and figuring out what's best to do with them....
Deb
Today was the first day of our moving sale. Little tougher to do here since we live at the business. Did put a notice in the newspaper, craigslist and word of mouth. Had some folks come in a get stuff, so our takings are not really too bad for the area in which we live. It is easier when one lives in an actual neighborhood.
If nothing else goes, I can see me pulling up to Goodwill asking for a tax receipt for "$500, please."
A couple is coming to look at the bedroom set this evening and hopefully will purchase it. That would be a major thing, as it is the last pieces of big/nice furniture, the rest having gone off craigslist.
Sure am looking forward to having only what we really need, lightening our load, travelin' easy.
Anybody need an elegant vintage wedding dress from Scotland????
Cheers, all!
-- Edited by janieD on Tuesday 18th of May 2010 07:48:32 AM
You can bet that 5 minutes after you get rid of some of that "stuff" you will need it again. Murphy's Law.
But now that we no longer FT, I'm finding some of those give aways at great bargains in the Thrift Store and at Goodwill. So keep getting rid of the stuff.
We came up with that several years ago, however, I did choose to ignore that saying numerous times and since we are trying to sell our home, am paying for it as we purge via yard sales, ebay, craigslist, etsy; give away to our kids (try to) or family/friends, donate to church, charities, etc.
Another saying I've found that has helped me with moving some stuff out of my life is: CLUTTER: If you don't LOVE it or USE it, LOSE IT!
I'm having a hard time with the sentimental things from my parents, grandparents and before. One way to still keep some special things that I hold dear or have a story, is to take a picture and journal about it. But photos (and scrapbooking) are another of my problems... Well, one thing at a time, I say.
I must share a funny story with you, told to me by my dear grandfather, Ora.
~~ My grandparents used to RV to Quartzsite when the rv parks were free and as my grandma loved to collect rocks in the desert, and rocks being rocks, the trailer would get heavier and heavier and harder to pull. So sometimes when they'd stop by the side of the road and grandma was busy, he would toss what she hadn't hidden real well back out and she never knew the difference.
So the moral of the story is: If you're going to collect something, make it feathers! Easier to hide and a lot lighter! ~~
Oh, Oh! DH just reminded me that I like rocks, too, and still have some of those very same rocks Grandma collected and want to take with me when we move! But that was BEFORE I really wanted to move into an RV. Okay, this will be harder than I thought.
Prayers, please!!
Cindy and Scott in MN
RV wannabe
-- Edited by cabingramma on Thursday 26th of August 2010 09:37:05 PM
-- Edited by cabingramma on Thursday 26th of August 2010 09:38:32 PM
LOL, but at least I've never collected rocks!!
SELLING STUFF or WANTING TO SELL HANDMADE?
Try www.etsy.com.
It's an online avenue like ebay. It's solely for 3 categories: Vintage (20 years+), Handmade and Supplies.
It works a little differently than ebay. You decide on the price you want for your item (shipping is always extra). Listing period is 6 months and you have the option of renewing it, deleting it or let it expire and do nothing. The fees are minimal! Only $.20 per listing and 3.5% when it sells. Your fees are paid monthly. Easy to set up and use. Answers are easy to find on the website.
Here is my etsy site so you can see how it's done. I'm not trying to sell you anything, just for reference to help you. (my main focus has been on getting my house ready to sell so there's not much there at the moment but you'll get the idea.) http://www.cabingramma.etsy.com
You can also use it as a benchmark for the worth of an item, like ebay. Research is important if it's a true antique. Use the search box in top right to find an item. If you want to sell something quickly, this might not be the right method but if you've got time to maybe let it sit for awhile, it pays off. GREAT for selling handmade/handcrafted items, OOAK (one of a kind).
NOTE: When you set up an account, the USERNAME you pick will be permanent. You cannot change it in the future.
I might have to start a new account once I'm on the road... cabingramma won't be at the cabin anymore!
If you have anything that fits into these categories, give it a whirl. If you have a question, I'll try to answer it.
Hope this helps! It's just another avenue for purging the stuff!
Cindy and Scott in MN
RV wannabe
-- Edited by cabingramma on Friday 27th of August 2010 11:30:30 AM
Yes, I know you don't have a yard, but:
1. Did you get rid of all your rakes, shovels, hoses, wheelbarrel, etc.?
2. What tools do you consider essential on the road?
3. Small hand tools (hammer, screw drivers, pliers, rachet set, wrenches) are easy enough to bring, but what about power tools?
-- Edited by Jake62 on Friday 27th of August 2010 12:05:29 PM
Eventually, we want to again have land and a home, so until that situation changes, we're going to keep the "stuff"....one thing we are finding out as limited space FT'ers...every time we end up needing an item, we realize it's in the back of the storage unit......that presents the question......"do we need it bad enough to either tear apart the storage unit, or buy another one..."
Most of the time........we do without.......however, we do have a yard, and we both enjoy having the opportunity to do our own landscaping......
hope this helps........
Each time a little something get sold I feel just a little closer.
In fact I just sold a Denon reciever and a Klipsch sub-woofer that I bought in 03 because I HAD to have them,,, roughly $900 worth,,, never used them,, then put them in storage as mentioned above,,,, brought them to this house and have never used them,,, just sold them last night for $300.
Anyone need a financial investor??? I will work for cheap
-- Edited by Racerguy on Sunday 21st of November 2010 12:33:42 PM
Ya got that right!!! I'm almost glad the big things are selling of slowly,,, I might have a heart attack if they all went at one time at the prices I'm getting for stuff LOL!!!
Just sold the Harley last weekend!!! A sandail and a house and we are on the road!! But that could still take some time.
When we started getting rid of the stuff, it created the space for our dream lifestyle. Started out in a 3 bedroom house with full basement, downsized to a duplex with a garage, then sold everything and moved to a tent for the most incredible summer camping experience. Then we got our Big Foot camper and settled in as full timers - working as camp hosts until we hit the road in November.
Funny I should log in to the forum today and find this subject - I'm spending the day getting rid of more stuff from our camper. It gets easier and easier to decide what is absolutely necessary and what is just taking up space. We've come a long way, but there's more purging to do! Spring Purging!!
I love how this lifestyle has created a more organized me . . . with limited space, everything has its place and must be put back in that spot, or you soon have chaos! Quite a different lifestyle from being able to fill every nook and cranny in a house.
I am lovin' this life!
We close on the house on the Monday after Thanksgiving. That's a little over 2 weeks away. We've already been through the agony of getting rid of the "important" things. It's interesting that our kids didn't really see "family heirlooms" the same way we did. We've got family coming over the next couple of weekends to pick up furnishings that will almost empty the house. Then a couple of days before Thanksgiving, we'll call for the Salvation Army truck to pick up the rest. Another couple of trips to the dump for some odds & ends in the garage, another purging of clothes, and we should be ready. We're going to live in the RV here in town through the winter until DW retires, so that will give us a chance to add or subtract to what we need to some extent before we finally hit the road. Most of the "burdens" are gone. I'm an artist, so I'll still have to lighten up a bit on the art supplies, but we'll get there.
-- Edited by TheParkers on Wednesday 9th of November 2011 09:38:27 AM
Don't it feel great?
Congratulations on downsizing! My kids seemed pretty indifferent about the heirlooms, too, but maybe in time they will grow to appreciate and treasure what we gave them. You'll for sure go through another round of downsizing after living in the RV for a few months. What you thought was necessary isn't always as important as the space it creates if you get rid of it.
Anyway - just wanted to say WAY TO GO! Yay!!!
My wifes illness, MS is getting worse and I'm over stressed with my job. We have made the decision and are working on trying to assemble a yard sale so we can place the house on the market and escape in our fifth wheel. I am overwhelmed with how to set up such a yard sale, getting rid of everything.
Should I just invite people in the house/garage/barn and say make an offer? Pennies on the dollar of investment, lots of tools. What about the antiques? This is a stress beyond my imagination and we need to get it done fast. Already quite the job to care for my wife and need to get out of the mortgage.
Parrish: I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's MS. It sure seems like sometimes life just dumps on you, doesn't it? Just hold on to the light at the end of this tunnel - it's there . . . and all the work you do to get on the road will keep that light burning bright.
We had a ton of stuff and had several garage sales. What was a huge selling point at these was opening up the house for people to come in and shop instead of trying to move everything out into the garage. That way, weather was never a problem and I could more easily and quickly stick prices on things.
If you have a bunch of junkie stuff - box it up and put one price on it - to get rid of it all in one swoop.
Pricing is the hardest thing because sometimes you just can't let go of how much you paid for an item. Try to look at it from the other side - if you were at a garage sale - what would you pay for that item? People will always try to negotiate to a lower price, so add $ to a big ticket item to give you wiggle room.
Craigs List is a great resource for selling anything. One important piece of advice is to upload pictures of the items - it helps them sell better. I loved selling on Craigs List because most of the buyers are local - they will come pick up the stuff and you don't have to worry about shipping it. If the need to ship it comes up - add the costs to your selling price.
In the end, we still had stuff left over - that's when we called the Disable American Veterans - they came with their truck and hauled it all away.
Hope this helps. Take a deep breath . . . it's a wild ride, but so worth it!
We determined that Stuff is just Stuff. There is one thing about full timing and thats you get rid of Stuff you don't use or need... We now each year give away or sell things we aren't using.. Again its just Stuff. Happy Trails....
Our son picked out a few things she wants . . .and we will get a small storage unit for the stuff my wife "needs" to keep . . .although I would imagine that in a few years we'll do what others have done and sell it all. Other than that . . .I'm craigslisting some stuff and goodwilling some stuff but the majority of it will go via an estate sale. Local companies charge 25 or 30% commission but they price everything, negotiate with the buyers, pack up the donatables and deliver to charity with a receipt back to us, and have a liquidator come in and take everythng remaining for a fixed price.
I hate to pay the commission . . .but then they're doing the work and all I want to do is be rid of the stuff. We'll be on the road before the summer is out.
I couldn't agree more. I'm inclined to just haul it all the dump instead of organize all that stuff for a yard sale.