To sell or not to sell, when you could really use the money?

[melissel]

My DH and I had a big discussions over this this morning. I have a ton of stuff in our office downstairs that I've been meaning to sell (on the TP or eBay or wherever), but it's been down there forever. I finally got a lot of it listed on the TP, but have more pics to take and things to list (wooden toys, Gymbo clothes, HSing books, etc.--stuff that people will actually want, if I can just get around to it).

Our lives are super crazy right now, and I'm often freaking out about how stressed I am and how many things there are to do. However, we also just got slammed with several major, unexpected expenses, and this month will very likely be the first time we intentionally carry over a balance on a credit card in several years.

DH thinks I need to just get rid of all the stuff--donate it, Freecycle it, whatever. He thinks I make extra stress for myself this way. And he's right, I do. But I'm also majorly stressed about the hole that we're in right now, and feel like it would be irresponsible to just sort of throw this extra money away.

WWYD? Is my mental health worth more than the $200 or so that I could probably bring in (albeit by putting in quite a bit of time and effort)?

TIA

[justmama]

Well I can't tell you what you should do since it does stress you out so much, however. . . . .. . I would do it. It's $200 or so that you could definitely use at the moment. But then agian, I'm sorta a martyr. I take on way more than I can handle and I bust my butt getting it done while I stress out like crazy and then take on more once that's finished. So you be the judge!

[blueridgewoman]

When I do this sort of thing, I do one item at a time. Yes, it takes longer (especially if I'm doing ebay- 1 7 day auction at a time....) but it cuts down on my stress a great deal.

You could also pick some items that you think will make the most, sell those, and give away the other stuff.

[birthjunkie27]

I would do it. The way I see it, if you have sell-able items and you just give them away, you're basically giving away $$$. If you truly NEED the $$$ for your unexpected expenses then sell, sell, sell! I know it's a huge pain in the rear, but if you truly need the money, you have to do what you have to do. If you do NOT truly need the money, then go ahead and donate.

[Scribe]

I agree with other here--sell. It's a hassle, but if you need the cash, you need the cash.

[root*children]

I'll have to agree with all the PP'ers SELL! Although i wouldn't do one auction every week. I ebay as a side job, and normally list around 10 items a week. Otherwise it gets too stressful for me! That way you could do a week of HS'ing curriculum, a week of girls clothes, a week of boys clothes, a week of toys, etc. I also LOVE helping out other mamas to be successful at ebay, I wish you lived near me, it's so much easier to tackle the un-tackleable with a friend!

A friend IRL just called to ask if I would mind coming out to help her get started on ebay. She has (literally) thousands of feed & flour bags to list ... individually! yikes! But it'll be fun... I'm the anal organizing and sorting type anyhow.

Once you get the hang of it and start bringing in some cash, it'll become addictive!

[phathui5]

Sell it.

[momto l&a]

If your stressing than just get rid of it the fastest way you can.

IMO $$ isnt worth the stress.

[CarrieMF]

Why don't you hold a garage sale then. Whatever you make goes towards the bills, you aren't stressing about getting pictures/descriptions/shipping. Then whatever doesn't sell you donate.

[Denvergirlie]

can you consign, less money for you in the long run but also less stress

[artemis33]

I would ebay or TP the items you feel would bring the most $ or that are sort of 'specialty' items, and have a yard sale for the rest. Then whatever is left gets donated.

That's the plan I have now for my huge mound of things I have been 'meaning to sell'. We are also potentially moving this summer so I have given myself a deadline and whatever is still sitting down there after a certain date will be donated.

Good luck!

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I'd put it on craigslist - that way you don't have to do pics and stuff, just write up short descriptions

[grniys]

I'd also do Craigslist. That way it's easier (less stressful) than ebay but likely to bring in more cash than a yard sale. I'm all for freecycling, but if you need the money for your family then I would sell it. I look at it as I give when I can, but I take care of my family first, you know what I mean?

Anyways, good luck!

[~Megan~]

Oh, you should just freecycle it to me

Do what you can do and no more. Perhaps only sell the big ticket items and then donate or pass the rest on to friends.

[root*children]

I think having a yard sale is VERY stressful! But the good thing to it, is it's over after 1 day

do you have any friends IRL who ebay? Maybe they could do it for you on consignment? I charge 25-30% (depending on how well I like the person ), so you could suggest something along those lines to someone who could ebay it for you. The fees come out of my percentage. The stores around here charge 40%, so I try and be competitive