We already have the house up for sale, but I just sold my first household item by advertising on a local swap/buy FB page. Whoo-hooo! $25 toward the RV fund! (Hey it's a start). It is a small step, but it feels so good to make that step! What have you sold to make your dreams come true?
cherylbrv said
04:51 PM Sep 20, 2013
Hehe, I know the feeling well. We started about a year ago, first putting any and everything up for sale. Then decided it was too much of a hassle, so either listed on Freecycle or donated stuff to the Salvation Army, while only selling things that we thought we could get more than $25 for. So far we've made about $200 ($900 if you count the pool). When the house is ready to go on the market, we'll be doing our major downsizing and will have a lot more big ticket items to sell (such as a motorcycle we've never used, lawn mower, snow blower -- can't wait never to have to use those again!!!). Our furniture isn't worth anything; we'll probably need to have a junk company pick it all up.
Congratulations, by the way!
el Rojo and Pam said
04:53 PM Sep 20, 2013
I started clearing out the extra toys like the 2nd boat, 4 wheeler, trailer. I counted the rv/car batteries I had in stuff and came up with 18. O crap! I guess I'm only down 4.
I'm right there with you Dcrum I guess I have a long way to go too!
Keep up the good work.
Dcrum said
04:58 PM Sep 20, 2013
Have taken 4 boxes to Goodwill and shipped a desk to my DSS (dear stepson). Two other items should go in the next couple of days when folks pick them up. $50 more! We should have a big yard sale but I so HATE lugging all the stuff into the yard. I like this deal where people come get it. It is a closed local group with 5000 members, so a pretty safe option. I wasn't comfortable with Craigslist though I am on it all the time looking at RV's! LOL
NWescapee said
07:34 PM Sep 20, 2013
Our first sale was an online auction, we needed to clear some of the stuff out of the house to "stage" the house, we were lucky with the first sale, sold 1/3 of our furniture, household decor/art, our grill, old camping "stuff", etc. Then we sold our tandem bicycle and that was a sad day but there was really no way to take that on the road. It took us about 3 months to sell, store, donate or throw everything out. Left some stuff behind in a consignment furniture store and just got another check from them this week:)
For us selling/donating stuff didn't end when we left on the road, we've sold some furniture out of the RV and replaced it with the furniture we wanted, and this past week we just sold my car!! The down sizing continues for us. We've made at least 3 trips to donation centers in just the 2 months we've been on the road, plus thrown more items away and even gave some things away to other campers.
DebbieM said
01:35 AM Sep 21, 2013
Our Coleman pop-up was our first (and only thing so far) we've sold this summer. Painfully working on some of the other things as well as debating on trying to get one garage sale in before the weather turns. But the "trailer fund" has money in it!
--Debbie
Lucky Mike said
02:16 AM Sep 21, 2013
I sometimes wonder what the last thing we all sell.........I still go into the side box or open a storage closet and find alot of things I've decided long ago that I couldnt live without....6 coaches later there still packed away waiting for me to remember I have them!!!!
We all tote these around........the dreaded "permanent STUFF" it really has no use, yet we refuse to give it up!!
Hdrider said
11:44 AM Sep 21, 2013
I think the first thing was a sandrail,, then a motorcycle, then a cargo trailer ect. Tried to get the bigger more expensive things gone first. When it came time for the garage sale we promoted it in Craigslist and a lady wanted to come out early and buy a hutch,, of course we said ok. But long story short she had a couple store fronts and ended up buying EVERYTHING!!
We had a 40x50 shop and half of it plus a huge RV turn around area was filled with stuff. Everything from Harley parts, Jeep parts, TV's and right down to the every day household stuff. She bought it all,,, took it all the next day and even took a box of junk I had sitting in the corner for the dump.
After that happened we said,,, this is just meant to be!!!
CJSX2fromCT said
05:46 PM Sep 21, 2013
Hdrider... SEND THAT LADY OVER HERE PLEASE.
Grams said
12:07 AM Sep 22, 2013
I've sold all our furniture and larger accessories on Facebook...was wonderful. I did a garage sale in April...not great and lots of work! The second garage sale was by invitation on Facebook, I sat tables up in my great room with my goodies, offered beverages of choice and sold everything! The more they drank the more I sold!
el Rojo and Pam said
01:18 AM Sep 22, 2013
Sounds like you did good grams. Congrats.
LibertyLinda said
11:22 AM Sep 22, 2013
I think our Kayaks sold first on Craigslist, then we had our yard sale & can not remember the first item sold there. We still have stuff on Craigslist. I will save the "staging" furniture for house sale in the spring, then out it goes as moving sale. The proceeds are definitely a help. The process itself is a freeing process.
Best of luck Dreamers!
-- Edited by Ann4now on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 05:28:56 PM
French Bikers said
03:24 PM Sep 22, 2013
We Havn't sold anything yet but even if our target date is sept-oct 2015 for becoming full timer we have already started to throw away and give some stuff to family. We are putting aside things that we will try to sell next spring in a garage sale. I decided to start it right away because we have a two story house, double garage and after being living in a house for more than 30 years we have gathered a lot. Reading at fulltimer's stories I think it is better to start doing the exercise early in the process.
I'm looking forward to put the house for sale that will means that we will be very close of hitting the road.
Good luck for your sale
Laura and Bunk said
05:57 PM Sep 22, 2013
My old 96 S-10 went first, that was hard letting my pick up go. Harder was selling my baby, the Miata, at least a friend bought her so I can check on her. Thank goodness for having a big load of kids, they took a lot of the stuff I didn't want to sell. Goodwill took a WHOLE LOT!
Just have a "few" (right) things that I don't need.
Every few months I drag it all out and decide what I don't really need. So we are still contributing to Goodwill.
el Rojo and Pam said
06:33 PM Sep 22, 2013
Sold a trailer axle I bought for a future welding project on Sat. Got the Realtor coming early next week to see where we stand. Looks like we're committed.
Red
Dcrum said
02:52 PM Sep 25, 2013
Two months on the market and not one showing. Discouraging. Maybe the time of year or maybe the price is too high? House is in excellent condition, good location, and already priced below what we paid. Just a little "whine" with my cheese!
One reason we began this quest is because my husband is passionate about doing disaster relief work, and with an RV we can be ready to go anytime, and still be together. I do not do well sleeping on a cot in a Sunday school room for weeks on end (lol) so an RV seemed a perfect solution. Now he's going to Colorado to help after the floods and be gone 3-4 weeks. House not sold= no RV = I can't go. Oh well - I guess when it is supposed to happen, it will!
Dcrum said
02:54 PM Sep 25, 2013
Meanwhile, the good news is that my FB sales and giveaways are jumping! $270 so far, and three pieces of furniture given away. Numerous items claimed by family for later delivery, so we are s.l.o.w.l.y. moving forward!
tobyjack said
08:08 PM Oct 17, 2013
We just bought our used 36 foot Airex a month ago and have been remodeling inside. During that period we have had two garage sales. Someone at the first sale asked about our old pickup that was sitting in the front yard. We were planning on selling it at a later date, so were more than happy to accept their offer. During that same sale we sold a kiln I have had for twenty years and lots of clothes, small appliances and household items as well as our washer and dryer. The second sale was not as fruitful, so we still have a lot to get rid of. I also was lucky enough to sell one of my dual sport motorcycles. I am giving away most of my stained glass tools and a few hundred dollars worth of glass to a friend who has recently gotten the stained glass bug. We still have an antique upright piano that we will miss dearly but have had no nibbles on and a 36" analog color tv that weighs a couple of tons. It looks like freecycle will have a lot of posts soon. All that money is going into our remodel and gas fund. We hope to hit the road the first of March next year, but plan on moving into our new "home" at the end of November to spend a chilly Colorado winter boondocking at a friends property and or Walmart near where I still work. At first the idea of getting rid of 30 plus years worth of possessions was frightening, but as things disappear and the time grows nearer, it gets more and more exciting.
Dog Folks said
08:47 PM Oct 17, 2013
I couldn't remember but my wife says it was at our yard sale and it was a box of spare Harley parts. She claims it was at least $500.00 worth and I sold it for $50.00. Maybe but I still don't have any regrets.
sologal said
03:55 AM Oct 18, 2013
I sold the old [but still fantastic] camper van, I will try and get rid of some other items but I HATE-HATE doing garage sales so I am going to let the house go at a real deal [it's a small little house out in the boonies] with everything left behind. I have a lot of great stuff [big ticket items] that most will want even at the expense of them selling all the stuff I do not want to. I will certainly lose cash but I just will not have the will to do all that work and I am leaving in spring regardless of what goes or does not go.
Bill and Jodee said
05:06 AM Oct 18, 2013
Thanks Donna, for this great topic! How fun to see what others are doing to downsize - and the common thread that it's mostly just stuff to get out of the way of the dream!
First thing we sold was old gold and silver jewelry and a coin collection I inherited from my godfather. I retired in January and now wear maybe 5 pieces of jewelry.......I don't miss anything I sold . Even with prices going down, you are usually better off selling jewelry for the value of the metal and not selling by the piece.
I'm that weird person that likes to do yard sales. I don't make a lot of money usually but it all goes to paying down a few remaining bills and feeding the motorhome fund. It seems like every week I'm hauling more stuff out to the garage for the next sale. Where did all that stuff come from???????
Finally getting rid of the Seadoos and trailer at the end of the month - more in the fund, including saving monthly storage fee.
Best of luck to everyone!
Jodee
Dog Folks said
01:37 PM Oct 18, 2013
Bill and Jodee wrote:
Thanks Donna, for this great topic! How fun to see what others are doing to downsize - and the common thread that it's mostly just stuff to get out of the way of the dream!
First thing we sold was old gold and silver jewelry and a coin collection I inherited from my godfather. I retired in January and now wear maybe 5 pieces of jewelry.......I don't miss anything I sold . Even with prices going down, you are usually better off selling jewelry for the value of the metal and not selling by the piece.
I'm that weird person that likes to do yard sales. I don't make a lot of money usually but it all goes to paying down a few remaining bills and feeding the motorhome fund. It seems like every week I'm hauling more stuff out to the garage for the next sale. Where did all that stuff come from???????
Finally getting rid of the Seadoos and trailer at the end of the month - more in the fund, including saving monthly storage fee.
Best of luck to everyone!
Jodee
Don't take a watch. You won't need it. Haven't worn one since I retired 7 years ago.
Bill and Jodee said
03:23 PM Oct 18, 2013
Good advice! Since retiring 10 months ago I never know what day it is anyway.....
Dcrum said
08:14 PM Nov 8, 2013
Love to see everyone's responses - thank you for sharing! Now we are over $1000 earned from selling, and have just begun to look at the attic and garage (gold mines). It is fun meeting people from my local area (using local FB yard sale pages), blessing them with things they want or need at a steal and making a little money too. Best of all, being FREE of the responsibility and burden of all that stuff! I agree: where DOES it all come from?? Amazing. FREE!!!!! What a great word!
Dcrum said
08:17 PM Nov 8, 2013
HA HA Dog Folks - no watch! Well I guess that means we should sell the watches too! But how will my husband know when it's tee time? LOL Thanks so much.
Mikeco said
03:58 AM Nov 9, 2013
I just sold a freezer because I knew I couldn't use it in the camper. The camper that I won't buy for another four years. (that's funny and sad at the same time). I can't wait!
Dog Folks said
10:08 PM Nov 9, 2013
Dcrum wrote:
HA HA Dog Folks - no watch! Well I guess that means we should sell the watches too! But how will my husband know when it's tee time? LOL Thanks so much.
Now that he is retired, tee time is ANYTIME!!!!! LOL
RonC said
10:18 PM Jun 26, 2016
I know this is an old thread, but we're "right there" ... first sold the ridiculously fast boat, then the airplane, these paid for the 5th wheel. Jeep SRT8 traded in on Ford F-350 tow vehicle. We're now "full timer equipped" and paid for. The house and stuff is all for sale. As soon as it's all gone, we're outta here!!! Anybody want a custom built 3,000 sq ft house on a 2 acre heavily wooded lot and circular driveway w 2 new high efficiency heat pumps and a pool and 10KW solar system w 900 sq ft 3 car garage w attic and 1,700 sq ft deck?
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 26th of June 2016 10:38:59 PM
We already have the house up for sale, but I just sold my first household item by advertising on a local swap/buy FB page. Whoo-hooo! $25 toward the RV fund! (Hey it's a start). It is a small step, but it feels so good to make that step! What have you sold to make your dreams come true?
Congratulations, by the way!
I'm right there with you Dcrum I guess I have a long way to go too!
Keep up the good work.
Have taken 4 boxes to Goodwill and shipped a desk to my DSS (dear stepson). Two other items should go in the next couple of days when folks pick them up. $50 more! We should have a big yard sale but I so HATE lugging all the stuff into the yard. I like this deal where people come get it. It is a closed local group with 5000 members, so a pretty safe option. I wasn't comfortable with Craigslist though I am on it all the time looking at RV's! LOL
For us selling/donating stuff didn't end when we left on the road, we've sold some furniture out of the RV and replaced it with the furniture we wanted, and this past week we just sold my car!! The down sizing continues for us. We've made at least 3 trips to donation centers in just the 2 months we've been on the road, plus thrown more items away and even gave some things away to other campers.
Our Coleman pop-up was our first (and only thing so far) we've sold this summer. Painfully working on some of the other things as well as debating on trying to get one garage sale in before the weather turns. But the "trailer fund" has money in it!
--Debbie
We all tote these around........the dreaded "permanent STUFF" it really has no use, yet we refuse to give it up!!
We had a 40x50 shop and half of it plus a huge RV turn around area was filled with stuff. Everything from Harley parts, Jeep parts, TV's and right down to the every day household stuff. She bought it all,,, took it all the next day and even took a box of junk I had sitting in the corner for the dump.
After that happened we said,,, this is just meant to be!!!
I think our Kayaks sold first on Craigslist, then we had our yard sale & can not remember the first item sold there. We still have stuff on Craigslist. I will save the "staging" furniture for house sale in the spring, then out it goes as moving sale. The proceeds are definitely a help. The process itself is a freeing process.
Best of luck Dreamers!
-- Edited by Ann4now on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 05:28:56 PM
We Havn't sold anything yet but even if our target date is sept-oct 2015 for becoming full timer we have already started to throw away and give some stuff to family. We are putting aside things that we will try to sell next spring in a garage sale. I decided to start it right away because we have a two story house, double garage and after being living in a house for more than 30 years we have gathered a lot. Reading at fulltimer's stories I think it is better to start doing the exercise early in the process.
I'm looking forward to put the house for sale that will means that we will be very close of hitting the road.
Good luck for your sale
Just have a "few" (right) things that I don't need.
Every few months I drag it all out and decide what I don't really need. So we are still contributing to Goodwill.
Red
One reason we began this quest is because my husband is passionate about doing disaster relief work, and with an RV we can be ready to go anytime, and still be together. I do not do well sleeping on a cot in a Sunday school room for weeks on end (lol) so an RV seemed a perfect solution. Now he's going to Colorado to help after the floods and be gone 3-4 weeks. House not sold= no RV = I can't go. Oh well - I guess when it is supposed to happen, it will!
We just bought our used 36 foot Airex a month ago and have been remodeling inside. During that period we have had two garage sales. Someone at the first sale asked about our old pickup that was sitting in the front yard. We were planning on selling it at a later date, so were more than happy to accept their offer. During that same sale we sold a kiln I have had for twenty years and lots of clothes, small appliances and household items as well as our washer and dryer. The second sale was not as fruitful, so we still have a lot to get rid of. I also was lucky enough to sell one of my dual sport motorcycles. I am giving away most of my stained glass tools and a few hundred dollars worth of glass to a friend who has recently gotten the stained glass bug. We still have an antique upright piano that we will miss dearly but have had no nibbles on and a 36" analog color tv that weighs a couple of tons. It looks like freecycle will have a lot of posts soon. All that money is going into our remodel and gas fund. We hope to hit the road the first of March next year, but plan on moving into our new "home" at the end of November to spend a chilly Colorado winter boondocking at a friends property and or Walmart near where I still work. At first the idea of getting rid of 30 plus years worth of possessions was frightening, but as things disappear and the time grows nearer, it gets more and more exciting.
First thing we sold was old gold and silver jewelry and a coin collection I inherited from my godfather. I retired in January and now wear maybe 5 pieces of jewelry.......I don't miss anything I sold
I'm that weird person that likes to do yard sales. I don't make a lot of money usually but it all goes to paying down a few remaining bills and feeding the motorhome fund. It seems like every week I'm hauling more stuff out to the garage for the next sale. Where did all that stuff come from???????
Finally getting rid of the Seadoos and trailer at the end of the month - more in the fund, including saving monthly storage fee.
Best of luck to everyone!
Jodee
Love to see everyone's responses - thank you for sharing! Now we are over $1000 earned from selling, and have just begun to look at the attic and garage (gold mines). It is fun meeting people from my local area (using local FB yard sale pages), blessing them with things they want or need at a steal and making a little money too. Best of all, being FREE of the responsibility and burden of all that stuff! I agree: where DOES it all come from?? Amazing. FREE!!!!! What a great word!
HA HA Dog Folks - no watch! Well I guess that means we should sell the watches too! But how will my husband know when it's tee time? LOL Thanks so much.
Now that he is retired, tee time is ANYTIME!!!!! LOL
I know this is an old thread, but we're "right there" ... first sold the ridiculously fast boat, then the airplane, these paid for the 5th wheel. Jeep SRT8 traded in on Ford F-350 tow vehicle. We're now "full timer equipped" and paid for. The house and stuff is all for sale. As soon as it's all gone, we're outta here!!! Anybody want a custom built 3,000 sq ft house on a 2 acre heavily wooded lot and circular driveway w 2 new high efficiency heat pumps and a pool and 10KW solar system w 900 sq ft 3 car garage w attic and 1,700 sq ft deck?
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 26th of June 2016 10:38:59 PM