I will feel better if I can track my divestiture progress. What have I actually sold, what did I give away and to whom, and what have I just chucked? I’ve been downsizing my stuff for a couple of months, but I’m starting the list this last week of April, 2009.
Already the take-away lesson is shockingly clear: the value of a purchase plunges steeply the minute you take it out of its wrapper at home — and if you need to sell it, expect little or nothing in return.
Buying something new makes NO sense any more unless you plan to use the thing to death. It’s much much smarter to buy used if you must have it, or to rent, borrow or share if you need it only briefly.
As of today I’ve pocketed about $700 for merchandise that probably cost $7,000 new:
| Date | Item description | Outcome | Who got it |
| 04/24/09 | Oak printer cart | 20 | Craigslist |
| 04/28/09 | Nordic track Walkfit treadmill | 50 | Craigslist |
| 04/29/09 | 20 books | 74 | Powells |
| 04/29/09 | Epson Perfection scanner | Gift | Friend |
| 04/30/09 | Box of sheet music | Donate | Arts School |
| 04/30/09 | 2 Boxes of books rejected by Powells | Donate | Friends of Library |
| 04/30/09 | 1 box of music too tattered to donate | Recycle | Recycle place |
| 05/20/09 | 2 bags of clothes, picture frame, TV tray | Donate | Goodwill |
| 05/20/09 | Christmas tree stand, wicker basket | Donate | Goodwill |
| 05/24/09 | Zinc florist buckets | 15 | Craigslist |
| 05/22/09 | 20 books | 54 | Powells |
| 05/25/09 | 4 PVC pipes and elbows | Gift | Landscaper |
| 06/13/09 | Garden Way Cart | 35 | Craigslist |
| 06/19/09 | Tall antique oak dresser | 35 | Craigslist |
| 06/19/09 | Antique oak dresser | 35 | Craigslist |
| 06/19/09 | Antique oak side table | 35 | Craigslist |
| 06/19/09 | Pine dresser | 30 | Craigslist |
| 06/19/09 | Pair of 20-lb dumbbells | 15 | Craigslist |
| 07/15/09 | Duck weathervane | 75 | Craigslist |
| 07/15/09 | Oak curio cabinet | 95 | Craigslist |
| 07/15/09 | Wood crib | 50 | Craigslist |
| 07/20/09 | 2 boxes of books to Unitarian Church | Donate | UU Church of Vancouver |
| 07/20/09 | Fish poacher | 20 | Craigslist |
| 07/20/09 | McGuire Desk | 0 | Craigslist |
| 08/02/09 | Books | 65 | Powells |
| 08/02/09 | 3 boxes books | Donate | Friends of Library |
4 Comments
May 2, 2009 at 2:01 am
Honeybun, you are, quite likely, in for a loooonnnng haul to Value Village, Divine Consign, Powells and other bookstores, etc. etc. Idea: Have a free day. Set aside a bunch of nicer stuff to clear out. Invite friends over to take what they want. (Don’t invite me; I won’t be hurt.)
I’ve been downsizing in big and small steps for 9 or 10 years. Made the mistake of buying this place which is too big for us, but I still like to get rid of stuff. I love your commitment to never buying anything new again–oops you just bought a lovely teal wrap. But I get your drift.
The real spiritual challenge is simply letting go just for the satisfaction of clarity and freedom–not relying on receiving anything for it. Ahhhh. Often in my downsize journey I’ve arrived at that place simply out of desperation!! Only the occasional twinge of regret.
Plod on dear friend.
May 2, 2009 at 2:45 am
Gretchen, what a super idea to have a give-away party! And I loved this thought, which deserves a whole post:
“The real spiritual challenge is simply letting go just for the satisfaction of clarity and freedom–not relying on receiving anything for it.”
It’s all a big exercise of vairagya (non-attachment), which I wish I’d learned BEFORE I attached myself to so much STUFF.
June 20, 2009 at 3:32 pm
[...] Selling on Craigslist is time-consuming and not terribly profitable. So far I’ve netted $398. Better than a stick in the eye, but at some point I will consider my friend Gretchen’s [...]
August 4, 2009 at 3:33 pm
[...] outflow is offset by a little income from Craigslist sales. A grand total of $703, so far. (For goods probably worth ten times that, in earlier times). For example someone bought this [...]