Are you holding onto items that you never need or use? Maybe you have a sentimental attachment to certain possessions, or maybe you think that they might be valuable. When the time comes to re-organize your possessions, you often face the difficult decision of deciding what to keep, what to get rid of, and what to sell.
What to Keep
Making this decision on each item can be difficult. A lot of people put too many items into the ‘keep’ category. Ask yourself the following questions to help you make your decisions.
When did I last use this item? If the answer is six months or more, then you probably don’t need it.
Does this item serve more than one purpose? If not, then perhaps you have something else that can do whatever this item does.
Do I love it? If you don’t really love it, why is it taking up space?
Will I ever finish this project? Be realistic about whether you enjoy working on the project and whether you have time to devote to it.
How much is it worth to me today? You might be keeping something because you paid a lot for it. But that’s no longer important.
A few years ago, I downsized my self-storage unit from 8’x14’ to 4’x6. As you can imagine, Í had to make some very difficult decisions. But guess what. I haven’t missed a single one of the things that I gave or threw away. In fact, I’d be hard-pressed to even name what I got rid of.
What downsizing meant was that I kept the items that were most important to me. At Browning Park Mini Storage in Benton, AR, we can help you choose the right size self-storage unit for your storage needs.
What to Sell
I probably could have sold many of the items that I gave away. I vaguely recall some very nice clothing. Unfortunately, I didn’t want to take the time to evaluate what should go in the ‘sell’ category so I just gave away as much as possible and threw away the items that I was too embarrassed to offer to people.
Don’t be like me. Take time to evaluate whether the items in your pile of things to get rid of could bring you a few extra dollars. Having a garage sale can actually be a lot of fun.
You don’t need to do it on your own. Instead, you can get together with some neighbors and have a joint yard sale. You might be surprised just how much money you can make for items that you would have given away or thrown away.
An alternative is an online classified site. At Craigslist, for example, you can post an item with a photo, price, and description. Interested parties will then phone or email you, and you can take it from there.
What to Give or Throw Away
Once you’ve decided what you’ll keep and what you’ll sell, you’ll have an accumulation of items to give away or throw away. Don’t be shy about giving away items that you may not think people can use. Don’t forget the old saying ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’
You’ll most likely have possessions that are too precious to let go. Visit us at Browning Park Mini Storage in Benton, AR, to discuss your storage needs.