One of my goals this year is to simplify and one of the ways I plan to do that is to sell or donate at least 1,000 ordinary items that are crowding our closets and drawers by the end of July. My goal date is set for the end of July because my neighborhood has a big community yard sale every summer and while I don’t mind dropping stuff at the thrift store, I’d like to see if I could make a few bucks at the yard sale first.
Gift bags. We all have hoards of them. But really, how many do we need? I weeded through my collection and pulled these 8 bags out for the yard sale.
2 bundles of cardstock and the {awesome} cookbook Food to Live By. I’ve jotted down all my favorite recipes and now it’s time for someone else to enjoy it.
6 binders. I never have to buy school supplies again. Wahooo!
Someone gifted the HH a giant tin of shortbread a few years ago and I saved the tin thinking I would store something in it. Well, it’s still empty so I’ll be donating it to the thrift store along with the race tee that’s too big for me and the green plastic cup I don’t remember acquiring.
2 graph paper notebooks from high school math class, an Easter basket I picked up for free at a yard sale, a tin funnel, the best ever Sherpani laptop bag {I now use a backpack} and an Irish Pub sign.
Yet another hole punch {I think we had 3!}, a dog collar that’s too tight for Lucy, a glass syrup bottle, an extra scrapbook {there as a buy BOGO sale and I only needed 1 but felt the need to get 2 since it was free} a pair of tanning bed goggles {how old are those?} a Gorillapod and a pair of sunglasses. 
More stuff I don’t need! Over the years I’ve had an on again off again obsession with glass juicers and frogs. I’ll collect them for a few years, they’ll sit around and then I’ll get rid of them only to start the whole process over again a couple of years later. It’s weird I know. But with the exception of 1 depression era green glass juicer, I never use the other juicers or the frogs. What is that about anyway? This time, I’m getting rid of them for good though. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself. 😉
Gaaaa! Why do we keep the stuff we do?
~Mavis
So far this year I’ve purged 551 items. Only 449 more items to go.
Year to Date Totals
Donated: 17 items
Gave Back: 42
Recycled: 24 items
Tossed in the Garbage: 59 items
Yard Sale Pile: 409 items
See what else I’m getting rid of this year:
- Casserole Dishes and Pie Plates
- Dessert Plates, Crock Pots, Tablecloths and More
- Cookie Cutters, Pickle Forks, Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer and More
- Used Books
- DVD’s
- Rubber Stamps, a Soldering Iron, Seashells, Smencils and More
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Karin C says
If your frogs are older they will be worth something, check eBay prices , they are sometimes hard to find .
Kara says
I have those herb scissors. I love them but I suppose a knife would do the job too! 😉
AlysonRR says
Me, too – best thing for cutting chives and green onions/scallions! (I should add that we use scallions/chives/green onions at least 3x per week…).
Vanessa C says
You’ve been such an inspiration that I, too, am purging now so when we can be “empty nesters” in 5 years, it will be easy-peasy to downsize the homestead. Quick question(s) though: Do you price your GS items as you purge, do it they night before the sale or do you not price items at all and accept offers? Thanks, Mavis!
Mavis Butterfield says
I usually price them as I box them up for the sale.
kim says
We are going through the same thing in combining all of mom’s things. Ugh! Just so much stuff. But I love the feeling the purging gives me. It is so freeing. I go from room to room and just get rid of things.
Joanna says
As an aside, BOGOs at specific grocery stores can be different. Safeway and Giant are true BOGOs, one is full price, the second is free. Harris Teeter is really 50% off, so if you buy 2 it’s like getting the second free. I always have to stop and remind myself where I’m at to be sure I get 2 at Safeway and Giant to get the sale.