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.
Great article. My way of thinking. I’ve done the “yard sales” before. Eh !!! You’ve already spent the money which you’ll never get back so why not help the moves less fortunate than you & help them out. I have one more “downsize” in me before our move next summer. I’m hoping by my example my partner will “let go” of done things also 😁. Thanks again for inspiration.
Since I joined our local buy nothing group on Facebook, my perspective has changed to this view also. I am a person who’s always had a hard time letting go of things because I see potential value in them. Somehow a trip to Goodwill did not always feel right, especially once I heard that they discard 75% of the donations they receive! Hubs is all for my uncluttering, but used to prefer to try to sell things or just throw them away. Now we find great joy in releasing our unused items to better homes, for free! It is amazing the things that people will come to pick up if you offer them at no price! Sometimes their stories have brought us to tears! There is nothing like the joy you can get from giving those things to people who will truly appreciate them! And the group has saved us from a few shopping trips, as well. Sometimes, before hitting the stores, I will check the site to see if anyone is wishing to unload an item that I am looking for and, whalla! My wish is granted! The more I give, the easier it becomes to let go, and the more I desire to do it… for them and for me! Thanks, Joshua, for helping me find greater peace in my life and my home!
Well i Have shared our journey many times on Your posts.. I will keep sharing because I want others to be inspired.. Five or six years ago my husband I decluttered our home.. We’re probably got rid of about Fifty percent of our stuff… And I love it now so much.. It is so freeing.. We We had several. Costumes that my husband made when we were going to medieval fares… We gave them to a local charity that raises money for kids in our area… And people buy their items and that money goes towards the kids.. Well the School of the Deaf They’re dramatic Bought all the costumes! So it was a win win.. We helped two groups of people.. We have given furniture to our local haven care in town.. They help pregnant mothers… We have so many stories.. And we were truly truly blessed by each donation. More than any money could have given us..
I’ve always gave to people who in need instead of selling my stuff they get more use of it and I’m blessed by giving it to them.
My husband spent a lot of time and money acquiring things he intended to use some day. Our garage and attic were packed full as was a large shed in our backyard. When he died unexpectedly I did not have the ability to think about how to sell all that stuff so we started giving it away. We used Buy Nothing and our neighborhood Facebook page. We gave away hundreds of things from clothing to yard equipment and everything in between. All those things he intended to use would get a new life with someone else. It’s no small thing to know you filled a need someone else had. That thing that was in my way was the answer to someone else’s prayer. There is joy in that.
We love our local Buy Nothing Facebook Page! It’s so fun to hear what the recipients plan on doing with the items we no longer need/want.
Excellent reminder.
I am planning to sort through some boxes I had in storage for over a decade.
This essay has motivated me to look forward to this task verses putting it off – because I don’t want to let go of “good stuff”.
I do have a few collectible item in excellent shape that I may try to sell.
I have no idea how to do that on the internet and am not very tech savvy.
I think doing this with a few items that could potentially sell would be a good learning experience.
Thank you Joshua.
Your perspective on minimalism is by far my favorite of those I have learned from on the internet.
I know this is because your values align very well with my own.
Your writing inspires me.
I love that you are rock solid in your Christian values – but you let them speak for themselves – rather than pushing them on your readers.
I really respect that about you.
Thanks again.
Me and my kids have worked hard to sell most of our stuff. We have also donated and given away alot, but it was nice to get some money for it. Heaven knows we need it.
Laughing, laughing, laughing over “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”!! This is what it all comes down to.
I enjoy seeing things-either in a magazine, store, someone else’s house, on resale sites, etc-and being able to say, nope no desire to have it. Its very empowering….