The journey to become minimalist can be hard work. It requires significant physical effort, personal reflection, and unexpected emotional obstacles.
Several times along the way, in fact, I wanted to quit. But then, inspiration would strike: a work appointment was scheduled near Goodwill, an inspiring article or blog post provided motivation, family would announce plans to visit, even the garbageman’s arrival in the morning could send me into a ten-minute decluttering spree to fill one more bag. Each, at different times, provided motivation for us to continue downsizing.
But maybe, more than any other, the most significant and recurring motivation to minimize our possessions came from the opportunity that our possessions represented.
Our excess could become a blessing to somebody else.
At first, however, this was not the case. Instead, our goal was to get as much financial return as possible from the things we were discarding. My thinking was, I paid good money to buy this stuff. I should get something in return.
I opened an account on eBay (at one point, even placing my entire junk drawer on auction—surprisingly, no bids). We scheduled a garage sale. We placed items on Craigslist. We took clothes to the consignment shop.
My wife and I began conversing and planning how we might spend the extra money we were about to receive: savings, dining, vacations, or maybe new carpet for the living room? It seemed, the possibilities were endless… until we opened the doors for our first garage sale.
On that summer Saturday morning, both our garage and driveway were filled with things we had decided to discard: old clothes, toys, dish ware, decorations, electronics, books, CDs, DVDs, just to name a few. Each with a handwritten sticker to signify the price.
We got up early and rushed through breakfast. We arranged the tables neatly. We put up balloons by the street. We played soft music—just like they do in department stores. And then we opened the doors.
Customers came. And then customers went. They’d pick up items and put them down. We chatted with each of them hoping to appear like a nice, sweet, trustworthy couple. We haggled and made deals. We marked down prices. We worked every angle to make more sales.
By the end of the day, we had earned $135… and we promptly spent half of it going out for dinner because we were both too exhausted to cook.
We were tired, frustrated, and discouraged. There are few experiences in life that make you question your taste in home furnishings more than watching some of your favorite decorations not sell despite being marked down to 25 cents.
We packed up the remaining belongings in the back of our minivan to deliver to Goodwill. But before we did, my wife made a phone call.
We had boxes of baby supplies left over from my wife’s most recent pregnancy—my youngest was two years old at the time. Kim called Care Net—a local organization in Burlington, VT that routinely supplied expectant mothers with maternity and baby wear to see if they had any need. To which they responded, “Yes, yes we do. We always have a need.”
Based on their enthusiastic response, we made another phone call. This time, we reached out to the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program which helps refugees and immigrants gain personal independence and economic self-sufficiency. They explained to us their desperate need for towels, linens, and cookware.
Our hearts were softened as we began to comprehend the number of men, women, children, and expecting mothers in our own community who could benefit from the items we had stashed in the back of our closet.
We found more joy in delivering items to those local charities than we could have ever found in money earned from selling our clutter.
This experience changed my view of minimizing and forever changed my advice to others embarking on the journey.
If you need the money, make the effort to sell your excess—especially when it comes to big, expensive items.
But if you do not need the money, just give your things away.
Reselling your clutter adds time and energy, anxiety and frustration to the minimizing journey. But giving things away, especially to local charities whose values align with yours, brings a joy and fulfillment to your soul that money can never buy. You will be reminded why you embarked on this journey in the first place.
Valerie says
I’d consider 135 for day quite good, but not worth the effort. Garage sale patrons have same mentality as flea market folks: They Don’t Need it Want Everything For Nothing. They are there for entertainment and idle talk. I don’t give such the time of day anymore. Donate, throw out, or leave out on curb.
Pat says
As I write this, I have my car packed to go to Hidden Treasures, a local thrift shop run by volunteers from 3 local churches. It’s a bit of a drive, but worth it not to spend time with garage sales. Many of the items go to needy families. I totally agree with the article.
gary fagg says
at 72 i have learned the one of life greatest lessons. less is more!
Lisa B says
Love this article!
It really does take up time and creates stress to hold garage sales.
Elizabeth says
I love this article as well as all the comments. I would recommend rethinking Goodwill though. The percentage of good will versus donations is one of the smallest. The expense ratio (salary burden) is high.
Lauren says
I think the most important part of de-cluttering are the lessons you take away from it about not buying similar items in the future. If you are getting rid of a lot of shoes / dinnerware / tools / books / whatever you may still be buying a lot of them and/or thinking about buying more, newer versions. Learn not just to de-clutter your things but also your thinking. Why did you buy them originally, and why are you getting rid of them now? There’s things to be learned from both sides of that same equation.
I agree that donating often brings far larger rewards than trying to sell them. A friend I have often will post things for sale repeatedly on CraigsList (CL) until she finds the right home. She usually does but it can take months. I, on the other hand, want it gone yesterday. I might post something on CL but if it doesn’t sell it goes to my favorite high-end thrift store. I am careful to only take them things that I believe will sell. I also use a local HomeDecor swap site.
But as often as not, and probably more, I donate. I use CL, NextDoor, and a local BuyNothing group. But those donations are definitely dwindling down to almost nothing now. I do have two gorgeous table lamps that I could give away but because of their cost I am keeping them for now. (A friend or family member could have them if they ask but I won’t give them to anyone else. Maybe the Assistance League thrift store in future.)
Erin says
Also, to add to this…If you do want to get rid of a large number of small things that aren’t donation worthy, hold a free yard “sale”. We lay everything out on beach towels, stab a “free” sign into the tree lawn, and 3/4 will be gone by days end. I do this with gift wrap, miscellaneous arts and crafts, toys that are missing a piece here and there, banged up but usable gardening supplies, etc. A lot of people end up giving small donations out of thanks and I let my kids split the money as a thank you for helping. We’ve done it three years running and my kids actually ask to give stuff away now. They were the only grandkids/youngsters in a large family for about 10 years and they would receive gifts for just about any holiday. Once they got gift bags for Flag Day ?
Eileen Malay says
I was in charge of decluttering our home of 44 years having raised three sons who had moved away. Originally it was a daunting challenge, but it truly became creative and life giving to donate and share and gift. There was endless joy in gifting the personal and non personal items. And that joy energized me for the process!
Howard F Pierpont says
We just celebrated 29 years of marriage. My wife has items still boxed before the move from Colorado, to Connecticut, to Wyoming and then California the Oregon and back to Colorado. I hit 70 this year and know that many things are not needed/wanted by the family. Thanks for the donate don’t sell article. Satisfaction has a higher value than the potential for minimal cash.
Eileen says
I agree 100% ~ I volunteer at our local thrift shop; it’s so great to see people buy the items I’ve brought in and sometimes hear their uses for these donated items.