How To Be Ruthless And Get Ready For A Yard Sale

There's no way around it. It's beyond time to clear the clutter, clean out your stuff and get a sale set up. The idea of having some extra cash sounds great, and the thought of reclaiming your house makes you smile. But actually making decisions and decluttering send you into a mild panic.

If you recognize yourself in this description, I'm right there with you. We're in that process right now, and it can truly be overwhelming at times. Can I just curl up in the corner and wait until the house cleans itself? Because that would be great.

Yeah, but not practical. Or useful. Honestly.

Instead, here are some simple ways to make decision-making a little easier as you sort.

* Figure out when the last time you used it was, and if it's been more than a year or two ... let it go!

* If the poor condition of an item would stop you from buying it, no one else will buy it either.

* Don't keep it just because you spent a lot of money on it, especially if you're not using it.

* If you can't explain exactly why you want to keep it, put it in the sale box.

* No excuses - fight through the temptation to stop sorting and cleaning just because it's difficult.

* It's ok to set some things aside while you think about them, but don't let that pile get very big.

* When you have multiples of an object you love, keep the ones that make your heart race and sell the ones that are older or less special.

* Tackle one space at a time instead of having a grand plan for your whole property.

* If you have vintage or antique items that are hip and trendy again, now's the time to part with them and let a new collector enjoy them.

* Pick a place, preferably out of sight, where you can stack your full, packed boxes so you're not living surrounded by cardboard until your sale.

* If you're really, truly overwhelmed, this is the time to enlist some help. No one else wants you to live in an overwhelming environment either.

What are your secret strategies for being ruthless and sorting for a yard sale?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Recovering An Old Card Table And Making It Usable Again

Image
This card table recover project has been on my to-do list for months. I've been using it as my workspace in the craft room for quite some time, and it sees a lot of abuse. Here it is now, with a neutral cover on it so I can take better pictures for my tutorials. There were dents and dings in the old blue covering from metal tools. And yes, I've used my embossing heat tool on it several times, leaving pretty good scars. The padding underneath the blue cover also made it difficult to keep paper crafts flat when adhering them together, so it was time for something new. That's where a simple vinyl tablecloth comes in handy. The process to recover the table is pretty simple, but I learned a couple of lessons the hard way. I share them with you now. First, don't do this on any surface but a carpet. I tried it on the deck int he sunshine to get better pictures, but all it did was tear up the cover. Second, get a second pair of hands to help you kee
Read more

Simple DIY Beaded Keychains

Image
We're having so much fun putting together goodie bags and door prizes for our upcoming ladies retreat at the church. So many of our ladies have donated craft supplies, decorations, time and energy to treat our visitors to an amazing time. These keychains are just one of the gifts some of the attendees will find in their bags. All you need to make them are a variety of beads, some fairly thin yet sturdy cord and a jump ring. Cut a length of cord, fold it in half and string it through the jump ring. String matching beads on both sides. And tie it off with a double knot. So simple, yet so pretty. Here's another variation: Cut a length of cord, fold it in half and thread it through a jump ring. Tie one or two beads on one side and tie it off with a knot. Make the other side longer with additional letters and beads before tying it off. Make a variety of lengths, colors, patterns and phrases so no two are alike.
Read more

Debilitating Disappontment

The things of this life tend to disappoint us. People aren't who we'd like them to be, events we'd hoped for never occur and things we'd expected to happen in a certain way never come to pass. I've tried relying on everything else in this life - relationships, career, better finances. When we look to mankind for answers or for hope, we will surely be disappointed. Our own misconceptions of life's circumstances leads us down a long, dreary path. What we plan and see inside our head doesn't always match what others see, or what may actually be reality. Looking into ourselves for "clarity" directs us straight to depression and failure. Have you ever heard yourself say, "I couldn't care less" and truly meant it? Having confidence in our own power to change our outlook means that we care more about the circumstances themselves rather than how to grow as Christian women. God is the only unchanging factor in our uncertain world. Focusing on
Read more