Everyone seems to be talking about decluttering these days. Making space. Clearing out the old to make room for the new. And as I am moving more of my life to Catalunya it is a great opportunity to let go of some of my ‘stuff’. Using the word in the widest possible sense!
On a physical level I have been clearing out ‘stuff’ from my house in Cornwall and am still at the stage of trying to sell it rather than pay someone to take it away.
But it is harder than you would think. I have read lots of blogs which talk about selling all their extra possessions and moving into a more Zen lifestyle, making thousands of pounds/dollars along the way.
I however have discovered the Law of Joe Bloggs which states that for most ordinary people, whatever was bought at great expense is worth next to nothing when the time comes to sell.
Here are some of the avenues I have been trudging down
1. Car boot sale at Hayle – Sundays seem to be wet at the moment and people are watching their pennies.
2. Auction House – mmm, that’s not worth much! Isn’t that Arts and Crafts oak table that you bought in London for over £500 actually a 1970’s botch job?
3. Second Hand Book shop – Ist Edition? No it’s the same year but is the reprint.
4. EBay – I did manage to sell something to a lovely woman in Scotland but then my account was mysteriously suspended and I await explanations.
5. Surely someone wants my MacBook? Computer shop? No, you might sell it for £100 but not through us.
6. Newspaper – my fault this one – I keep missing the deadline.
Now all hangs on the Garage Sale – preliminary viewings have been positive and I’m now trawling the house for more things to sell. It’s addictive of course and the dream of a minimal Catalan life is beckoning me forward.
Will let you know how it goes tomorrow!
Good luck Kate…the making money part is a dream, maybe you’ll pull it off, we gave and gave and gave, viewed it as good karma…..
Dear Oreneta
Just finished the Garage Sale Part 1 and it was a great success. Of course I sold things too cheaply but in the end I want people to have a bargain and me to have some cash. so it was good. the karma creating giving part will come soon – there will be loads to give away and I agree, it is also good to do it that way. things come back in different form and what you give is always returned in some way. K x
Eeep! Yes, the thought of doing what you are doing is actually full of advice from people who aren’t doing it. Being in a different country, it’s hard for me to say how to go about it. I know garage sales are pretty big in my neck of the woods, just be prepared to sell low. If there is anything of particular value – either monetary or emotional – don’t let it go for less than you feel it deserves, otherwise move it to Catalunya.
Must go and put my head down, a crazy day here with too much fresh air (remind me what this feels like when I am griping through the winter months,….)
How old is the MacBook – and what specs?
Pearl x