So this moving thing…

has been good in a way.  In our current situation, another move could be imminent, but perhaps not.  The story is complicated, but long story short, we are again renting a home and sincerely hoping to buy something in the near future.  Finding something we really love, that we are willing to shell out the big bucks for is a whole other story.  I am pretty sure we have commitment issues.

So we wait…

In the meantime, I am seizing this opportunity to purge in a big way, and score a little extra cash in the process.  (And who isn’t trying to find an extra buck these days???)

I should preface this by saying I do not do garage sales.  (As in having them.  I have been know to peruse a good sale once in awhile.)  In my experience, they are simply too much work for too little return.  Seriously, my time is worth so much more than sticking little neon price stickers on a hundred boxes of junk.  

So.  Not.  Worth.  It.

Four Piles.  That’s what I call it.  It’s my system.  And it works. 

All the good stuff (meaning anything worth a little something) goes into the pile that will inevitably end up on Ebay.  (I go on a listing frenzy once my pile is big enough to warrant it.) 

Little treasures that would go for pennies at a sale (or not at all!) can often be golden to a global Ebay audience.  Old stuff is vintage.  And that is a good thing.  Everyone is looking for something.

It can seem intimidating at first, but the process is really quite simple (and monetarily rewarding!).  I’ve unloaded all kinds of things for quick cash including speakers, unopened cosmetics, handbags, a guitar, a violin, books, old cell phones, bracelet charms, video games, etc.  

There is a minimal listing fee and a Final Value Fee assessed once the transaction is complete.  At the end of the day, the extra cash far outweighs what you’d make at a garage sale.

And always check the vintage stuff.  I recently discovered some of my childhood toys are going for insane amounts of cash!  (Like my old Charmkin accessories!  Or my Rainbow Brite!  Mom, I’ll be calling you later to see if these are still in your basement…)

Some stuff is just too big.  I know people do it all the time, but selling the big stuff on Ebay is a hassle.  Shipping can be a bear.  (I once sold a large vintage amp on Ebay and beside the fact that I could barely wrangle my then 18-month-old and the beastly machine into the UPS store, I completely underestimated on shipping costs.  Lesson learned.)

Anything of value that is too big gets listed on Craigslist.  Or more recently my local area swap page on facebook.  I prefer this because it easier, simple and completely local.  Check facebook to see if your area has a swap page.  It is basically a free newspaper ad that reaches a heck of lot more potential customers.  They are popping up all over facebook and are entirely convenient.

Pile #3:  The Okay Stuff

The okay stuff gets donated.  Plain and simple.  For me, this means mostly clothes and shoes.  Unless you are dealing with high-end designer labels, old prom dresses, or a good men’s suit, clothing doesn’t usually bring in much cash.  Our family has been continually blessed with hand-me-downs from good friends that I feel compelled to give back that way.

Anything no longer of any value to anyone goes here, destined for the landfill, the recycling bin or repurposing.  This includes anything broken beyond repair.  Clothes that are not in good enough condition to donate are cut up for cleaning rags

So I’ve got my work cut out for me.  After continually moving around the same unpacked boxes the last 9 years of my life, I am looking forward to Great Purge of 2012 (and a couple extra dollars in my pocket).  Its going to be awesome.

Firing up the coffee machine…  All systems go.