Keep it, Sell it or Throw it Away?

The holidays are behind us and the New Year is here. And while looking over all the wonderful “gifts” my family and I received, it troubled me that I have so much “stuff” that some of the beautiful new things have not yet found their own place among all the other things we own.

And it occurred to me that its time to purge. And since January is Get Organized Month, it is the PERFECT month to do it and be an example to others in my life.

So I am going through the house room by room sorting things out and deciding what stays and what goes. I want to update the look of my home to make room for new things.

The next question is what to do with all the things I no longer, want, need or am no longer attracted to? That’s right. sometimes we buy things on an impulse that we think we will keep for life and then one day, we tire of it or wonder whatever possessed us to buy that in the first place.

What about you? Do you have things you no longer want or need? Have your children outgrown their clothes and toys? Did you buy something you thought you would make use of but never did? Maybe you are moving and prefer to sell rather than pack. That too has crossed my mind. Going through every drawer, closet, cupboard and toy chest is an almost liberating experience. Once you do that then you have to decide what to donate, what to sell and what to toss. You can donate those things that are in good condition (such as dishes, clothing and linens) to a local shelter and in most cases get a tax credit for doing so.

The rest can either be sold in a yard sale or tossed out.

Having a yard sale can be a great way to “let go” of those things because you can see joy in they eyes of those who buy your “stuff” knowing they have found something they want and/or need. Once you pick the date for your yard sale its time to inventory the things you want to sell. Regardless of the time it takes to sort through all your items, stick with it and remind yourself on a continual basis the monetary profit and emotional relief you’ll feel once your clutter has been cleared from your home.

Put a price tag on items that are more than $5 and put the lesser priced items in bags or baskets. On the day of the sale, put a sign on the table with the prices of those items under $5. For example you could have a $1, $2 and $5 table. It makes it so much easier for you and for your customers. Be sure to check for any local regulations or restrictions with yard sales. You may have to pay a small fee to hold yours.

Once the sale is over, make another commitment to yourself not to bring the unsold items back into your home. Make arrangements with your local rescue mission or charity thrift store to donate the items. Most will be happy to pick up large donations as well as provide you with a tax receipt reflecting your generous donation.

Once it’s all said and done, you’ll have some extra pocket change, and can breathe an emotional sigh of relief that the clutter that’s been weighing you down for so long has been purged from your home. You’ll reap both financial and emotional rewards from it.

Now all you have to do is stay organized and clutter free!

Note: if getting organized is not your forte, call a local professional organizer. They are trained to do the job and are more than worth their fee to have the emotional peace of mind that comes from clearing out the clutter.