Project Downsize :: Week 8 progress, earned $645 by selling items

Today wraps up 8 weeks of downsizing the items in our house. As I mentioned earlier this month, my goal for March is on DONATING and giving items away.

If you missed it earlier, here is why we are downsizing:

1. 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.
2. 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 – 

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 here – earned $395
Week 6 update here – earned $160
Week 7 update here – earned zilch, nada, nothing!
Week 8 update – earned $645!!
Year-to-date – $3,756.03

MARCH progress

This week I didn’t donate as much as I would have liked – both our cars were in the shop this week – on different days, so my mobility was definitely limited during the weekday business hours (when most non-profits are open for donations). But I did donate two gallon-size bags of school supplies – mostly pencils, mechanical pencils, lead, pens, highlighters and dry erase markers to my husband’s classroom. He teaches at an alternative high school and the students there can always use school supplies! Seriously, how many writing utensils do I need!?!

After not selling ANYTHING last week I went full throttle this week to list items and sell them in my local Facebook Buy, Sell and Trade group. And the hard work and effort paid off. I earned a whopping $645 this week by selling items around my house!

And thank goodness for that – because it turns out our car needed new brakes, which just happened to be $619. Fun stuff. 🙂 That’s right. This month we had to replace a furnace at a price tag of $2700 and brakes on the car ended up costing $619. Ugh – that’s life isn’t it? But you know, I’m grateful. Grateful that we have a savings account for situations like this – grateful that even amidst unforeseen repairs and household costs that we’re able to cover these costs with an emergency fund – while also saving funds from the sale of items for our upcoming move (more on that later).

It doesn’t matter who you – life can get expensive sometimes. If you’re trying to start an emergency fund for things like a new furnace or car repairs – selling items can be a fantastic way to build that emergency fund! Even selling $1,000 worth of items can get your emergency fund started. Set a goal for yourself for April – go ahead, pick an amount and then find items around your house that you aren’t using, don’t love or no longer need – get ’em sold!! Turn the burden of stuff into a blessing of savings or wiggle room!

Here are some of the items I sold this week – 

Step2 Climber – $100

Metal rolling shelf – $50

NEW ALPS Mountaineering Queen Size Air Bed – $40

Germination Station – $35
I bought this last spring with great hopes of starting my garden early. It’s been a full year and it didn’t happen this year either. It’s outta here.

Hydro farm light for starting seeds – $35
I bought this last spring with great hopes of starting my garden early. It’s been a full year and it didn’t happen this year either. It’s outta here.

NEW King-size Ruched Stripe Duvet Cover – $35
We will be downsizing our bed to a queen in our next house. Just got this for Christmas last year – brand new, but it’s outta here!

Pantry storage containers, 15 of them – $30

All Good Things Are Wild & Free sign – $20

NEW Boys Converse – $20
I had purchased these for my son to grow into – but he’s still a bit from this size – so they are outta here. Don’t want to pack, move or store them.

NEW Twinkle Brites shoes – $20
I had purchased these for my daughter to grow into – she still has a bit to go – so these are gone, too! Don’t want to pack, move or store them.

Weight Watcher cookbooks, lot of 10 books – $15

Set of two Puddle Jumpers – $15 for both

NEW Merona wedges – $10
Who was I kidding? I would break my face and and probably a leg, too, if I actually wore these out of the house. Sigh. Shouldn’t have bought them to begin with. But alas, they are now in the hands (and on the feet) of a much more graceful woman. 😉 And I’m happy in my flats.

Women’s Kamik rain boots – $10

Glass bottles – $10

Sunbeam electric blanket, twin – $10

Melissa & Doug Horse set – $8

Box of about 80 thank you cards – $5
I don’t usually sell items for only $5 – but because I was clear in the listing that they needed to meet me at a specific time/place – some place I was already meeting with higher-value items, it worked out! 

It feels so good to see all this stuff in the hands of new, appreciative, people. If it seems like I have lots of “extra stuff” I’m not kidding when I say I’m downsizing – we are selling nearly everything. This is MY STUFF – the stuff that has filled my 2,000 square foot house. The stuff I bought on sale, for my kids to grow into (hoping to save money by buying at best price) and the stuff I bought with the best of intentions (like gardening equipment).

I hope to have the house listed for sale in three weeks – so I’m going to continue to PUSH this effort as much as I can. I know that if I sold these items at a garage sale I’d get a FRACTION of the price I’m getting by selling online – so that’s motivating me, too. Because whatever is left will be going in the Moving Sale in mid- to late April. 

So next Sunday – check back, I’ll be talking about what I’ve sold this next week and my plans for a garage sale!

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!