Any ideas on how to get rid of a lifetime of possessions!!??

whiteman · Senior Member

Any ideas on how to get rid of a lifetime of possessions!!??

neilnruth · Guru

At least buffy61 you only have 2 years worth (or did you bring many more years worth with you?) I have a friend who is trying to get rid of 40 years of accumulations. All the best and I agree with briche. Being ruthless is the only way. Once you decide to have a garage sale you must also determine that what doesn't sell does not go back into the house- it must go straight to the op shop or tip.

-- Edited by neilnruth on Wednesday 9th of January 2013 02:42:47 PM

buffy61 · Senior Member

*groan*!!!! Time to start getting rid of possessions! Have listed about 20 items on gumtree! What a tedious job! Anyone got any clever ideas on how to declutter! Family all in NZ so can't give much away! Bought all our possessions over when we came to live 2 yrs ago and now have to get rid of stuff. Plan is to hit the road in June so guess we have some time! How did you all tackle this daunting task?

briche · Guru

It's not easy but it has to be done. We went thru he process bout threes ago and you just have to be ruthless. First identify those things that are just cannot give away and find somewhere where you can store then. Then set about having garage sales and then be prepared to just give away whats left. After that the tip is where it goes. You just have to be ruthless and do what you have to do. It will be hard but you will get thought it, we did. All the best with it and hope to see you on the road one day

Brian and Cheryl

Happywanderer · The Master

Anything you think you might get good money for, list on Ebay. Garage Sales are good. I ended up selling all my furniture to neighbours, they were happy to buy and came knocking on the door.
What was left at the end went to op shops.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

The hardest part is beginning and accepting that things you paid a lot of money for are no longer worth much. We got caught with antiques, that when purchased were said (by the salesman) to be an investment... now nobody wants them.

Ole_Grizzly · Senior Member

If no person wants any of your goodies, then put it out front of your house with a "For Sale" sign.

Guarantee it will be mostly all gone by morning...no money of course.

jetj · Guru

Garage Sale!

Kingsthorpedavid · Senior Member

Did you bring any camp ovens with you?

Some good ones from Scotland found their way to NZ.

KD

jimricho · Guru

Auction Sale perhaps?

EllenajoeL · Senior Member

@buffy61 I've got about 15 years of city and rural possessions to divest in the next little while!! So I understand your dilemma.

I have had LOTs of success using the Tender Centre ( http://www.tender.net.au/ ), so if any similar thing exists near where you are, that may help. Ebay may work best for easily collected and cheaply mailed items. You may be able to organise an auction in a suitable location for a small fee (or sales percentage) and advertise accordingly. Also, (well-suited) gifts to either family/friends/neighbours or not-for-profit organisations will help too.

Remember it often costs money to take things to a tip/refuse centre, regardless of its usefulness, so dump wisely.

Anyway, good luck and +1 about being ruthless...its only 'stuff' afterall.

the rocket · Guru

We have also started doing this.have a garage sale. hope that helps.

woody · Veteran Member

Tender Centres are a good way of getting money for unwanted goods, don't know where your closest one is, but there are a couple on the gold coast. good luck

barina · Guru

This is a task I am starting to seriously think about. The packable must keeps can be sent to storage, a lot will go and this big issue I have is the plants, I mostly have pots and so many were from my mum's garden before we sold her house. I have Bromeliads that keep sprouting and each year I bring bagfuls to work for anyone to take. But I am still going to struggle with what to do with the rest as my family has plenty and so do friends.

Duh · Guru

barina wrote:
This is a task I am starting to seriously think about. The packable must keeps can be sent to storage, a lot will go and this big issue I have is the plants, I mostly have pots and so many were from my mum's garden before we sold her house. I have Bromeliads that keep sprouting and each year I bring bagfuls to work for anyone to take. But I am still going to struggle with what to do with the rest as my family has plenty and so do friends.

Would a local nursery take them off your hands? They may even give you a few bucks for them, but if not see if they will just take them anyway. When one of my neighbours moved out recently, the set up a makeshift table out the front and put them on the table for anyone to take. They all went, including the makeshift table, lol !

Gerty Dancer · Guru

barina wrote:
This is a task I am starting to seriously think about. The packable must keeps can be sent to storage, a lot will go and this big issue I have is the plants, I mostly have pots and so many were from my mum's garden before we sold her house. I have Bromeliads that keep sprouting and each year I bring bagfuls to work for anyone to take. But I am still going to struggle with what to do with the rest as my family has plenty and so do friends.

I'm still struggling over my pot-plants, gave several away when we moved house, planted some in the garden for the next people, still have a few very large old plants that have been with me for so long they are part of the family.

Now looking for somebody to look after them while we are away on our next trip, although I really meant not to!

lilly31 · Guru

I am doing same buffy .....I have sold a lot thought the local buy swap and sell pages on face book .. Then i will have a garage sale then what is left i will give to vinnes /lifeline ect
am some thing i will keep in storage at friends farm for year ot two to see if i need them or not ...

biggles · Senior Member

.. and its amazing what you find hidden away for future use .. like a 34 year old wedding gift tucked away .. one of 3 identical gifts .. one was used and another one given away ..

I don't own a juice extractor these days ..

Jon

Hylda&Jon · Guru

If you, your kids or someone in your family uses facebook then do a search for "Brisbane garage sale" and you should find a couple of sites where you can put a pic, description and price of an item for free and people will then message you if interested. I have bought & sold many things this way with the equivelent site in Grafton. It seems most towns have them now days.

Good luck

Jon

RosieW · Guru

We did a severe, and very brutal sort and toss before we moved out of a 3 bedroom house into a caravan. I cried for days over some of what I had to part with, but in the end, feeling decluttered was amazing. I kept some things, like my great-grandmother's blanket, and Nan's wedding present (cake plate and server, china and beautiful), and a book my Dad gave me, but I got it down to a 30litre storage tub.

We (or rather he) still have more to sort, once we get cupboards in the bus, it will be easier to get rolling on it.