The Great Purge - Page 13

Susan Louise · ‎03-14-2010

On 2/16/2014 mominohio said:
I have a small update. I had posted that we took a carload of stuff to our local auction house, and it was sold last night. I was careful not to take anything of great value, as this is a small house, with less than 100 people bidding on any given night. Not the kind of place to try to get your money for your Hummel collection, or high dollar hand bag clean out, but good for excess movies, books, magazines, linens, dishes, pots and pans, Christmas decor, clothing and the other general stuff you'd be dropping off at Goodwill.

After the auction house took their 20% cut, we cleared $100. That is not a ton of money, but it was no more work that it would have been to drop the stuff off at Goodwill or some other type charity. It was much easier than trying to list that basic stuff on Craigslist or Ebay, and definitely easier that a yard sale.

If any of you have the availability of this service near you, you might want to give it a try. Like all auction situations, you can't get hung up on the fact that a particular piece only got so much money. You have to look at the lump sum of what you've got, and say to yourself, "I'd be happy to get -----for this much stuff". Last night, it was amazing that some things that I didn't find much worth in went high, while other things, I thought were worth more, sold for very little. It just balances out in the end. And they tend to sell in box lots, so that box of movies, books and magazines was all lumped together and sold for one price. Don't expect to get an individual price for each item. We boxed our stuff into lots that we thought made sense and would help to sell. For instance, a set of TT dishes, with a couple of matching casseroles were grouped together to make a nice big set, and draw a bigger price.

How's everyone else doing?

Glad to hear you made a nice profit for your goods! I have been washing our walls and almost done...just 2 rooms to go! I do this about every 3-4 years and it certainly makes a difference. It's amazing how a film of dust/dirt accumulates on walls! The rooms look so much brighter as if I painted them. (FYI - neither of us smoke)

We have been in this house for 15 years and I never painted...you would never know that either!

It has been fun having the Olympics playing in the background as I go...made the chore seem not so bad and very satisfying to see each room as I finished ${#emotions_dlg.thumbup}$

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

On 2/16/2014 Susan Louise said:
On 2/16/2014 mominohio said:
I have a small update. I had posted that we took a carload of stuff to our local auction house, and it was sold last night. I was careful not to take anything of great value, as this is a small house, with less than 100 people bidding on any given night. Not the kind of place to try to get your money for your Hummel collection, or high dollar hand bag clean out, but good for excess movies, books, magazines, linens, dishes, pots and pans, Christmas decor, clothing and the other general stuff you'd be dropping off at Goodwill.

After the auction house took their 20% cut, we cleared $100. That is not a ton of money, but it was no more work that it would have been to drop the stuff off at Goodwill or some other type charity. It was much easier than trying to list that basic stuff on Craigslist or Ebay, and definitely easier that a yard sale.

If any of you have the availability of this service near you, you might want to give it a try. Like all auction situations, you can't get hung up on the fact that a particular piece only got so much money. You have to look at the lump sum of what you've got, and say to yourself, "I'd be happy to get -----for this much stuff". Last night, it was amazing that some things that I didn't find much worth in went high, while other things, I thought were worth more, sold for very little. It just balances out in the end. And they tend to sell in box lots, so that box of movies, books and magazines was all lumped together and sold for one price. Don't expect to get an individual price for each item. We boxed our stuff into lots that we thought made sense and would help to sell. For instance, a set of TT dishes, with a couple of matching casseroles were grouped together to make a nice big set, and draw a bigger price.

How's everyone else doing?

Glad to hear you made a nice profit for your goods! I have been washing our walls and almost done...just 2 rooms to go! I do this about every 3-4 years and it certainly makes a difference. It's amazing how a film of dust/dirt accumulates on walls! The rooms look so much brighter as if I painted them. (FYI - neither of us smoke)

We have been in this house for 15 years and I never painted...you would never know that either!

It has been fun having the Olympics playing in the background as I go...made the chore seem not so bad and very satisfying to see each room as I finished ${#emotions_dlg.thumbup}$

I'm envious of you! Almost done with the walls! I do that every year, usually in January or February, before the outside work gets started. I'm so behind this year, as I've been muddling through this great purge, and not seeing the results I'd hoped for. The way I figure it, I have till mid April to get it all done, as that is usually the time our mowing season begins, and during the spring I have to mow five hard acres twice a week to keep from having a hay field. After that the fruit trees, berries, and vegetable garden work start, so I'm going to have to kick it in to high gear to get the results I want by then.

Congrats on the clean walls. When I do that and wash the curtains, it seems like a whole new house!

Georgiagrama · ‎03-19-2010

I'm still amazed that so many of you are getting great cooperation from your husbands.

I enjoy purging and cleaning (at a much slower pace now than when I first retired years ago) and it does give me a feeling of accomplishment.

My problem is, and I guess always will be, my DH. He has his collectibles that immediately take a cleaned spot in our attic or garage. It doesn't bother him and he says that it will be our children's problem when we are gone. I can't change his mentality, but, I do keep trying to organize. I'm slowly loosing steam and now, with my heart problems, I'm just about ready to throw in the towel. My DH is content with the way we have things arranged I'd like to take some of our larger pieces of furniture to an auction house and just get rid of it.

I shutter to think what will happen when we can no longer maintain this home, but KUDOS for all of you who are moving along with the future in mind.

Susan Louise · ‎03-14-2010

bumping to revive this great thread

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

On 3/8/2014 Susan Louise said:
bumping to revive this great thread ${#emotions_dlg.biggrin}$

Thanks for bumping! I was thinking of doing this as well, just hadn't gotten around to doing it. I think most "normal" people may just be getting started with this, as I think lots of folks wait till spring to do so.

I have a three level (four counting the basement) house, and this past week I got the spring cleaning done in the upstairs. All walls washed, all windows washed in and out, all curtains washed, ironed and back up, all beds stripped to the bone, washed and put back together, all beds cleaned underneath, all pictures washed, all knick knacks washed etc. Totally scrubbed from ceiling to floor.

This week, I will do the main floor, and if I don't wear down, the rec room and laundry room as well, but that may have to wait another week. I can't do it as fast as I did in the past. I guess age is catching up with me!

I have another load of stuff to take to the auction house. Not a lot of money to be made, but I will be glad to get rid of it. I went through my various collections of dishes, many of which I had service for 15 or more with many extra serving pieces, and downsized them to service for 8, and nor more 5 sugar bowls in one pattern, just down to two of each serving/accessory piece. Some of that is going to the auction house, and some has been listed on ebay.

The ebay thing has been in process for about 3 weeks now, and I have mixed feelings on how that is going. I'm trying to list cheaper than most other of the same items I see on there, and I have made about 3 sales, but it seems to be moving so slowly! I have done the garage sale things in years past, and living out like we do, it just doesn't get rid of much. This feels kind of like that process for me. I'm having to keep the stuff around and wait. I'm going to give it a few more weeks, and get some more listed. If it does't pick up, I'll move it out to the auction house as well.

I still don't feel like I've purged enough, but things are much better in most areas. I think I'm going to adopt a policy where if I open a closet/drawer etc. (any time of the year) and it crosses my mind to purge an item I see, I will do so if I feel that way for a third time. Right now, for example, I have a bag of yarn and a project I started several years ago in the shelf in the coat closet. I don't really know what I'm doing with it, it isn't done well, and the reason I was making it seems not so important now. I need to just pull it down and dispose of it. I have thought about doing it numerous times, so I think that is the sign that I don't really need or want it. I hope to apply that process all year as I think that may be the truly effective way to purge deeply. It seems that may work when just doing it all at once doesn't get the full results one has hoped for, and when the decision to keep or go seems too overwhelming. I've never approached cleaning out this way, it was something I did just once a year, usually. Maybe this will net better results.

Hope everyone is still plugging along or got done and all are enjoying the freeing effect the purge gives.