Yard sale or Goodwill?

[LNC]

I am decluttering so much stuff! We have decided not to have more children. I've had some ladies at church go through all my clothes and nicer toys. I still have boxes of clothes, toys, linens, lamps, some furniture, outdoor toys - all kinds of things. I'm physically limited with MS and our weekends are busy - my daugher has ballet, and one of my kids is very disabled. It just seems dumb to try to get ALL of this stuff (by myself) over to our neighborhood yard sale to try to make a $150 dollars!

Which would you choose?
1. Take all the stuff to the popular neighborhood yard sale. Requires set up, take down, and carrying to Goodwill truck when over.
2. Just call a charity to come get the huge pile of stuff by my garage. Then, get the receipt after I take pics of it all for my tax records.

[momofkhm]

Or a similar place. It's just not worth the trouble to me.

[st_claire]

You get a tax receipt for stuff like that? SWEET! We don't, it's too hard to value. I would so go for the tax receipt.


We never do yard sales. Dh's family does one every year, but it seems like such a waste of time. I'd rather donate the stuff (even without a tax receipt) and be done with it, plus help out a good cause at the same time.

[abbeyej]

Personally, it doesn't sound worth it to me. It's one of those questions though, "your time or your money?" -- sometimes one is significantly more valuable than the other.

For me, it wouldn't be worth that amount of time and effort and disruption for that amount of money. I would just donate and be done with it -- being rid of the stuff alone would be a huge blessing.

[MichelleWI]

I love the idea of a yard sale to recoup the money I've put into things.

In reality, though, it has seldom been convenient for us to hold a yard sale. It sounds like it would be nearly impossible for your family.

We just received a card from Easter Seals today announcing their next round of pick-ups in our city. There is also a Veterans charity whose name escapes me that will pick up for you. Goodwill doesn't do this in our area.

If all else fails, put it all on tables with a giant "FREE FOR THE PICKING" sign.

[Laura K (NC)]

after sorting, pricing, sitting all day. To me, it's not worth it. I had one yard sale when my kids were really little and we were really poor. I sold cookies and sodas and made more money on the food and drink than I did on our stuff. That was the last yard sale. I give it all away to friends and to Goodwill now.

Except the books. I have only given away books once, because I had been given so many that year. I'll sell books from now on.

[j.griff]

I continually have AmVets pick up large amounts of "stuff" here. We've gotten rid of lots of stuff this year, and still have more to ditch. We have had one garage sale, but I honestly can't tell you what that money was spent on (besides eating out for lunch that day, LOL). I say, get rid of it all in one fell swoop, and get on with your life. :D

[JFS in IL]

We have had two yard sales in the past - tons of work for a measly $100 bucks or so. Just ask for a receipt for taxes from whomever you donate to. I figure the value for taxes is roughly what I would sell/pay for the item used.

Keep a crib, though. our neighbors sold their's when their dd was 11....a few months later they realized, oops, shoulda kept it;)

That is why we have one crib in the basement. I am sure by the time we have grandkids for it it will be declared "unsafe"....it is really there just so WE don't need it.

[JudoMom]

Another vote for Goodwill here. Garage sales are just too much trouble if you don't really need the money. Even then, they're still too much trouble, but when you need money you need money.

[Mom2legomaniacs]

Ditto on the Goodwill. I hate yard sales too. What about Craig's list for items that might actually net you some cash?
We also have an Ecumenical Storehouse in our town. It is staffed by various churches in the area on a rotating basis. People in need are referred by reputable sources to go in and receive household items at no cost. It is great! Some folks lost everything to a fire and were able to go and get beds and other household goods to help get them going again.

Is there something of that nature in your area?

[Whisperlily]

Melissa's got a good idea. If you've got a Craigslist and any large or valuable items, list those...

Take the rest to Goodwill... the yard sale sounds like it's totally not worth your time. ;)

[abbeyej]

...
That is why we have one crib in the basement...it is really there just so WE don't need it.

Hmph. That's what Suzanne said too, so I gave mine away 2 years ago. You two *lie*. It doesn't work... Grrrr....

:P

[Whisperlily]

Hmph. That's what Suzanne said too, so I gave mine away 2 years ago. You two *lie*. It doesn't work... Grrrr....

:P

:grouphug: A lot of people say a major move away from family, a job loss or major change of careers works too. ;)

[abbeyej]

:grouphug: A lot of people say a major move away from family, a job loss or major change of careers works too. ;)

lol... let's see... I've done the major move, major change of careers, promotion, um... alcohol? crying? got rid of all the baby stuff...