We just wrapped up week 5 of downsizing the items in our house. As I announced last Sunday – my goal this month will be on DONATING and giving items away.
If you missed it earlier, here is why we are downsizing:
- 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.
Downsizing progress to date – February was an amazing month and we earned $2,564 by selling items around our house. You can see those updates here:
Week 1 update here – earned $548.16
Week 2 update here – earned $1,283.47
Week 3 update here – earned $432.40
Week 4 update here – earned $300
Week 5 update – earned $395
Year-to-date – $2959.03
MARCH progress
My March downsizing goal is to GIVE away items to those who could use them – at least one load/gift/donation a week. This week just didn’t go as planned. I had planned to take a couple loads to the local shelter – and I even have the items piled up ready to go – but mid-week we found out that our furnace is leaking water and so I spent many days at home this week waiting for repair companies to come to the house and give us quotes for a new furnace.
Because the donation/drop-off times are limited (and during the day) for many of the non-profits I plan to donate to, I missed them this week due to coordinating all these furnace appointments. Ugh. Totally frustrating on all levels.
I did successfully give away a lot of items to friends and family members – so this felt really great. Most notably I gave our big ole fake Christmas tree, my beloved bread maker and a bunch of storage baskets and containers to my Mother-in-Law. We also donated about 12 tubes of toothpaste to my daughter’s school for making up personal care kits – bags filled with personal care necessities and handed out to those in need.
I continue to add to my donation piles and I hope this next week is less busy with repair appointments, so that I can deliver items during the limited daytime drop-off times – then it will be officially donated and out of my home and into the hands of someone who can use it! 🙂
And this last week wasn’t a complete loss – remember I jump started this last week with some blanket donations to the local Emergency Shelter.
I am continuing to sell items in my local Facebook Buy, Sell, Trade group and was actually very successful this week selling items through the group. Because I can set the meet-up times in the evening – it has proven easier to juggle this week with the repair appointments keeping me busy during the day. In fact, this week I sold $395 worth of items, bringing my total to date to $2659.03!
Some of the items I sold this week ::
My favorite food dehydrator in the whole world, this Excalibur 2900ECB 9-Tray Economy Dehydrator, Black
Teamson Paris Dollhouse (4 ft tall) with furniture – $100
Little Tikes slide – $20
Huge lot of My Little Ponies (about 60 ponies), with storage bin – $25
Melissa & Doug mail box – $10
Crockpot and easy meal cookbooks – $15
Cuisinart food processor and immersion blender – $75 for both
Big lot of party supplies – $35
It feels good to keep moving items out of my house and now that we found out that we need to buy a new furnace (right before listing our home for sale!), I am so grateful for the extra funds.
Check back next Sunday for my next update – hopefully I’ll be able to donate and sell more items this week!
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!
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