Last Sunday I shared that I’m on a mission called Project Downsize and the purpose is to get rid as much stuff as possible in my home – to remove clutter, to simplify our lives.
I’m doing this for two reasons:
- We have plans to move this summer and instead of upgrading to a bigger, better house, we plan to dramatically reduce our square footage. We aren’t being forced to do this – it’s a choice. We want to spend less on our next “home” so that we can focus more on things we love and value – like travel.
- I want to own my stuff and not have it own me. Ultimately I only want to keep the items that a.) serve a purpose and b.) that bring me joy.
I set a very LOFTY February goal is to earn $2,000 in February selling items in my home on Amazon, eBay and Craigslist. It’s been exactly one week and I’m excited for my progress!
PROGRESS THIS WEEK:
- Listed about 40 used books on Amazon
- SOLD 21 used books on Amazon earning about $208.16
- Listed about 15 items from around my house on Craigslist and local FB Buy, Sell, Trade group
- SOLD 11 items from around my house, earning about $340
TOTAL earned this week by downsizing = $548.16
MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS WEEK:
1.) Setting a monthly monetary goal – After I set the goal of $2,000 last week I started having second thoughts. Had I set the goal too high? Was I really going to be able to do this? But I think that number motivated me to ask more for my items than I would have if I didn’t have a monetary goal in mind. I think setting a monetary goal gives you purpose besides getting rid of items – which means you’ll think about about the VALUE of your items and try to earn a more fair value for them.
2.) Craigslist was a BUST, Facebook was a HIT – I listed about five items on Craigslist last Sunday and it was nothing but CRICKETS. Hello, anyone there?! But after lots of recommendations from readers, I listed those same items, and the same prices, in my local Facebook Buy, Sell, Trade group. Holy Guacamole did we get some action – within literally minutes of posting! I sold everything through the FB group and Craigslist turned up to be a deserted island of stuff.
3.) I started with the big stuff – With so many options for downsizing, I decided the first week I’d pick off the low hanging fruit. The things that were the biggest space-wise – that would make the biggest difference in space and clutter. If you’re finding yourself overwhelmed – this might be a good place to start.
4.) I LOVE how much cleaner my house feels – I still have a long way to go, but even the initial purge this week made a difference in the way my house feels. Even my kids and husband noticed the cleaner spaces and everyone seemed pleased with the progress! It’s definitely motivating me to keep going.
SOME OF THE ITEMS I SOLD:
To give you an idea of the things I’m selling and how much I’m earning from each item, I thought I’d share a few of the items I sold this week.
Green vintage desk – $35
IKEA Poang Chair – $25
IKEA Corner Bathroom Shelf – $30
NEW Princess Dolls and Barbies (LOT) – $50
Selling my gift closet! These I bought last holiday season to stock up my gift closet, but I’m cleaning that out – so they had to go.
IKEA shelf and wicker basket – $40
Entryway Bench – $35
ECR4Kids Storage Cart – $35
Blue chairs, set of four – $20
I had bought these last spring at Goodwill – with plans to recover them. It never happened. They’ve been hanging out in my garage this whole time.
Melissa & Doug Shopping cart – $25
This is a great example of selling items online versus at a garage sale. I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t have gotten more than $5 for this shopping cart at a garage sale – but by selling online I was able to get $25. It goes for $60 new, so this is a fair price and people know that (especially when you link to new item online for comparison)
Princess wagon, new – $15
Blank cards and photo squares – $10
I have a bunch of other items to list, but my brother came into town Thursday – so I only listed items Monday thru Wednesday. I’ll get started listing more items tonight and tomorrow to kick off this next week right.
Earlier this week I shared a tutorial on How to Sell Used Books on Amazon – I heard from a few of you that listed books within minutes of reading the post and some of you even SOLD items already. Great job!
Here are some of the books I sold and how much I made (before shipping and envelope cost):
Into the Vietnamese Kitchen: Treasured Foodways, Modern Flavors
The Blue Chair Jam Cookbook
Momofuku
Salad of the Day (Williams-Sonoma): 365 Recipes for Every Day of the Year
Home Made
The Paleo Slow Cooker: Healthy, Gluten-free Meals the Easy Way
Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi
– $12.90Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust
The Dehydrator Bible: Includes over 400 Recipes
The River Cottage Preserves Handbook
The Chinese Takeout Cookbook: Quick and Easy Dishes to Prepare at Home
Screen Doors and Sweet Tea: Recipes and Tales from a Southern Cook
The Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook: Recipes for the Best Pan in Your Kitchen
– $13.04The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed
The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World’s Great Drinks
Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters
The Nesting Place: It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Beautiful
Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity
You might be wondering where I got all these cookbooks – most all of these I acquired for FREE. When I refer readers to sites like Rue La La or Zulily, I get referral credits – or credit to spend on these sites. Since I could care less about fashion (the primary products offered on these sites), I would almost always use my credits on cookbooks – my guilty pleasure. I also love to buy used books from Goodwill – so my initial investment in these books is minimal.
This next week I hope to continue this progress and hopefully make another $500 by selling items from my home and garage! This week I also hope to provide you with a tutorial for selling items through Facebook or Craigslist.
I’ll provide another downsizing update next Sunday.
If you’re joining me for Project Downsize – I’d love to hear what you got rid of this week! Pick a goal for this week and share it here, please!
Hi Heather,
Your posts are great! I really appreciate the information and tips on getting great deals!! Thank you. How did you go about finding a FB buy/sell group? I’m apart of one in the South Sound area but we’ve since moved to Seattle. And, I haven’t been able to find one. I miss it so much. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Heather! I wanted to ask… Did you post all of your items for sale at the same time? And was your meeting place set up w/in 24 he’s or longer. This is an excellent post, the so much for the info.
I post items in the morning – for meet-ups that night. I don’t like delaying pick-up for days – gives buyers a chance to flake out.
I noticed your smart move too, regarding meeting people in a public place of YOUR choosing. Great idea! It’s also more efficient than setting up multiple meets at multiple times and locations. Great lesson for all of us!
Loving this series!! Thank you for all the great advice about selling stuff online. I have started listing all our textbooks and reference books we don’t use. We are excited to use the extra money to pay off some debt!!
Hey Kait – That’s so awesome! Good for you. I’m so tickled that you’re using the extra money to pay off debt – it’s a win-win even more then. 🙂 Keep me posted! I’d love to encourage you!
Awesome! Glad to see the local Facebook for sale groups are working for you! I love books too, maybe too much, I need to look into selling them on Amazon. I’ve not had much luck in the past though, what is your secret? Are most of your books relatively new?
Kate – They should be newer or specialty books. Hope that helps.
Hi there, just another amazing way to get rid of your stuff locally is offerup. Check that out its so easy, quick and honestly there aren’t the weird emails or phone calls you get from craigslist. I have bought quite a few things right here in my hometown.
You have inspired me to sell all that I don’t need or use and keep what is useful and necessary! Besides we are trying to pay off as many bills as possible after doing Dave Ramsey’s plan.
Good Luck !
Friends in Milton
Oh I love this. Gives you a real “view” of what you sold, and what it sold for… that’s encouraging to me …to get some things and sell them too. We have way too much jammed in our closets too!
Johannah – So glad it was helpful! Get those closets cleaned out – you’ll feel better after you do. 🙂
Hi! I’m curious about the buy/sell/trade groups…can anyone answer my questions? There are a few of them in my area…should I join them ALL and then post my stuff in ALL of them? If they are ‘closed groups’ does that just mean you have to ‘apply’ to get in? Can everyone in the group see all your personal posts/information? Thanks!
My experience with my local FB buy/sell group has been great! You request to be added to the group, but nobody sees any of your personal posts, just what you post in the group. I personally only belong to one group, but it has a fairly large audience so I almost always sell whatever I post on there. You may just have to join a few and see what you have the most luck with.
i would also recommend offer up, its fast and easy to post things to sell and its local
Great post Heather! I would have loved to buy your bench, lol!
Any suggestions on how to price furniture items? I’m always worried I’ll ask too much or too little.
Are there FaceBook buy and sell groups in lots of areas?
Hope you will share an ebay tutorial later too?
Thanks!!!
Hi Vickie – With furniture the price is going to depend greatly on the condition. There are buy/sell FB groups for most communities – and watch what items go for. This might give you an idea of how to price your items.
I’m not sure I’ll do an eBay tutorial – I’m still a newbie with that. Just created my account last week. 🙂
Hi I would like to buy your Ikea shelf with basket is it still for sale?
Hi Tina – The items included in this post have already been sold. Sorry!
Thank you for the encouragement on downsizing. I badly need to do this, but cannot at this time, due to caring for my ill parents right now. But, I’ve decided I can start making a list of things that need to go, so I will be ready with ideas when I do have the time and energy.
You go girl!!!! 😉
Hi Judith! Being a caregiver is such hard work – give yourself some grace on selling items. Making a list is a fantastic idea! Keep it up. 🙂 I
Thanks for sharing, Heather! I’m not part of the downsizing project, but always looking for new and creative ways to make some extra $. I teach classes through my local Parks and Recreation Dept. on how to sell successfully on ebay, etc. and I may incorporate some of your ideas and techniques. Not sure you remember, but you are the one who got me up and running on ebay many years ago in my little apt. in Tacoma (even though you were so allergic to my two cats!). You are truly and inspiration and your generous spirit is a blessing to all who know you!
Hi Margaret – I do remember that!! How awesome that you’re now teaching classes on it. I haven’t sold anything on eBay in many years – in fact, I just created a new account because it’s been so long. I have a lot of learning to do. 🙂 Miss you Margaret and hope you’re doing well!
The facebook groups are great. I think it becomes a competition for buyers as typically they go the first person who responds. In addition it is nice to have folks sort of take up the marketing for you by tagging other folks of interest. Still, there are flakes anywhere.
Bevel – i think you’re right! There is probably something urgent about FB groups that you don’t find on Craigslist. I love it when people tag others – it’s been a great avenue for selling items.
Thank you so much for sharing! This is really getting me motivated to do the same!
Hi Rosalind – Thanks for commenting. I’m so glad it’s motivating for others. That’s my hope. 🙂 I’m sure finding it’s worth the effort and I’m happy my house feels less cluttered. Keep me posted if you make any progress downsizing – I’d love to encourage you, too!