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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-20-2019, 09:54 PM
I'm trying to reduce the amount of things I own, since I don't use a lot of it. The more room I clear out the better I feel. I have a tendency to collect things forget about them. Time to change that. One challenge I have run into is getting rid of things that may be worth something. In the past it was ebay, now what is a better way of doing it?
I also take a lot to donation places as well, like old clothing and random things. Books go the library and maybe soon DVDs.
How do you decide what to keep and what to get rid of?
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-20-2019, 10:24 PM
You only need a laptop & smartphone, clothes, ID and toiletries. A travelling suitcase or duffle bag. That's it.
Everything else can be kept with family or thrown out.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-20-2019, 10:57 PM
1. Take all the shit you don't want and put it in a pile and invoice it. Now go on craiglist and find something you would do want and can use, like a dslr camera or a set of Craftsman wrenches. Write the person and offer them all your stuff in exchange for that one item.
or
2. Buy some beer and have a yard sale with your friends. You might meet some hot chicks in the process.
Congrats on minimizing. When we die, all this shit we collect eventually gets sold for quarters in an estate sell anyway.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-20-2019, 11:04 PM
A girl I invited to my house a few months back came into my room and asked me, Where is all your stuff?
Traveling really helped me minimize what I needed. We don't a lot of shit we own. I have a bed, a car, clothes, phone, laptop and some random accessories like a watch.
What else do you really need that you can't borrow or share?
I do think though that you should own your own piece of property over time.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-21-2019, 09:51 AM
Carry on roller bag or a backpack?
For years I've used an Osprey 35L backpack but lately I've been thinking a roller bag might be better, especially since I stick to mostly cities now and don't leave the hotel with my stuff too often. Backpack made sense when I was doing more adventurous stuff going to small towns etc. but now I'm a hotel/AirBNB dweller.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-21-2019, 10:04 AM
Often we fall into the trap of, “oh, I should keep this because I might need this.”
In that case, I think “have I used this in the past year?” If the answer is no, it immediately gets tossed or posted on CraigsList.
I’d also advise against low balling yourself. If you’re staying in one place, you can afford to wait for people to buy. So, list items at high prices and wait for a buyer to show up. You’d be surprised what people will pay.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-21-2019, 11:05 AM
Good advice Redbeard.
CL is free and eBay has a 30 day listing. I think you can relist 3 times.
If you donate stuff you can get a tax write-off but if the value is iver $250 there are additional requirements so several small trips to a charity is better than a single negative donation
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-21-2019, 11:42 AM
It's funny, since I started traveling and working for myself full time, minimalism has happened to me organically.
I usually visit my home country about once or twice a year and stay at my parents' place when there. Every time I am back, I go through stuff I still have stored there and toss out about 90% of it.
Right now, all that is left over there is 2 sets of winter clothes, and 2 drawers full of stuff that has emotional value to me.
The drawers contain a bunch of letters and photos from past lovers and other people dear to me, such as my grandma who has passed away. The drawers also contain a ton of items that would seem completely random to a stranger, such as a particular set of playing cards, an old bong, even a clothespin. Each item reminds me of a certain good time in my life, a person, an event, or other significant period of my life.
I call these drawers my "memory drawers". The contents go back to as far as I was a little kid and every time I go through the drawer, I'm having the time of my life.
As for the rest of my belongings, they literally all fit into my suitcase and daypack. I've optimized everything over the years and tend to go for high quality items that last long. Good laptop. Good suitcase. Good camera. Good jacket. Good workout shoes and so on. Day to day clothes can be replaced anywhere.
I must add though, if I lived in one place and wouldn't travel around, I would probably own more stuff. But I do think everything I'd own would add value to my life and be useful, else I wouldn't own it.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-21-2019, 12:17 PM
I have been sleeping on an air mattress the last few months. It cost about $8 at Wal-Mart. It works just fine.
I have moved about 9 times or so over the last 10 years, and the last time I just said, "Enough" and decided I wasn't going to hire movers or rent a big truck. So I crammed as much stuff as I could into my car and got rid of a lot of furniture and stuff. I have a history of being a packrat so it was kind of a relief.
My apartment isn't the most impressive for having guests over, but I hardly ever had guests over before so it's not a big deal.
I have more mobility now. I can move anywhere, and I'm not dependent on paying someone to help me. Every item in my household can be moved by me alone.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-21-2019, 01:30 PM
By the way an interesting book is Less is More: The Art of Voluntary Poverty. The editor is Goldian Vandenbroeck. I've only read part of it though.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-21-2019, 03:10 PM
I have lost a lot of my personal items from mishaps during several moves and it's pretty much just made me want to be minimal in what i purchase as moving is such a pain. I pretty much have my personal electronics and clothing--I don't buy much for furniture etc. I'm more interesting in spending on experiences and saving.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-21-2019, 06:13 PM
I make a habit of selling stuff I don't use on eBay/Craigslist one weekend a month. It's crazy looking in my closet how much "stuff" I once thought was important and doesn't see the light of day.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-21-2019, 07:39 PM
Had to get rid of stuff for a massive relocation.
2.5 years later, I significantly regret it. Lost a significant amount of tools, nice furniture, expensive electronics, cooking accessories, and other items I am slowly clawing back.
I end up asking myself, "Oh I need X." Turns out I got rid of it years ago /facepalm
Do yourself a favor and either leave it at a family's place or in a storage locker.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-21-2019, 07:42 PM
I have a storage unit. I only keep essentials at home. Seasonal stuff, I'll pull out of storage when its time to need it (Coats in Winters, I have a box of Christmas and Haloween Costumes, etc). Even kitchen stuff. I'll probably audit whats in storage eventually but for now, its nice to have stuff out of the way.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-22-2019, 03:05 PM
I use a 6 month rule. If I haven’t touched it in 6 months it goes. Often I’ll do a big clear out if the stuff that sneaked last this rule which is surprisingly good for the soul.
Especially useful with skis. Currently only have 7 pairs but I generally give 4 or 5 sets away each year to ski clubs in Eastern Europe
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-23-2019, 03:09 AM
Are you guys being minimal for any reason in particular? Financial? Always moving? Saving the environment?
I must admit that too much excess clutter is unhealthy for the mind and I'd like to get rid of a few things but I also know that I WILL use a lot of belongings in the future, even if only once or twice a year...
An example within the last 6 months was having a forum member join me for one of my hobbies. I hardly ever do it but it's always great fun when I do!
Someone else mentioned regretting selling their tools, I can relate to that! It would suck wanting to knock something up and not having that one tool that you sold off for no reason other than not using it for a long time.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-23-2019, 01:37 PM
Buy big boxes , and put stuff you can't sell but don't use in these big boxes , hide the boxes in a little room.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-23-2019, 03:51 PM
Wow. That's stuff didn't show up on my search unfortunately. Will read them all.
I do like how the minimalist organize stuff in containers that are very defined. And I think there has been great stuff stated in this thread.
The borrowing is a great idea. I guess it would be a great way of meeting people too. I would think you would only need to borrow things like power tools and repair kits.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-23-2019, 06:38 PM
Burneremail82 has very obviously worked at a consulting firm.
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Minimalism and selling stuff you don't use
01-23-2019, 07:31 PM
Maybe consider studying Bauhaus, Ikea based their multi-billion-dollar minimalism off that school.