eBay inventory — before
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I made the decision to go full steam with decluttering my eBay items and donated around 75% of everything. This gave me the opportunity to organize what was left and make room for things that’ll sell better. Most of what I donated was stuff I got for free or paid very little for. Mind you, it was all very organized, but there was just too much stale inventory.
I made sure to list out each donation, so I’ll be able to get the full tax credit come next April. And yes, it was very cathartic.
Organizing the eBay stuff motivated me to give attention the rest of this spare bedroom, as it had become filled with artwork from my late in-law’s estate. I was paranoid that something would get stepped on or cat damaged, so everything is now either properly displayed, (so much pottery!) or safely in the dry area of our basement. I was also worried about not being able to keep this room appropriately clean, as I’d seen a moth in there a few days ago and wanted to vacuum my wool rug before it became an all-you-can-eat buffet. So many of my in law’s valuable items were destroyed by moths and rodents. If you can’t be an inspiration, at least be a cautionary tale!
eBay inventory — after!
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I sold another Wii guitar through eBay, (this time for $40) although sadly not as local pickup this time. Kind of a pain to package, but the time would’ve passed anyway so I might as well be productive with it. I had both these guitars listed for over a year and then they sold in the same week, which was odd but welcome.
I also sold a wooden accordion style wine rack for $15 through Facebook Marketplace.
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On top of everything else, our 2005 minivan is now having problems, something to do with the ignition and how the car recognizes the key. This happened when my husband had the car crammed full of the last of his parent’s belongings and was finally on his way home from the Oregon coast and stopped at a rest stop to use the bathroom. I got a 9 P.M. phone call and drove his father’s car down to him and together we waited until 2 A.M. for the tow truck before driving home. Our insurance paid to have the car towed to the house and then towed to the mechanic this morning and we’ll pay to get this issue fixed.
Why are we spending money on a 19-year-old car? Because it’s an otherwise great car and neither of us are interested in buying a new or even a used a car, especially when used cars are selling at such high prices. Maintain what we already own instead of using this isolated issue as an excuse to buy new.
Update: $960 repair!
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• I slapped a piece of duct tape onto a torn reusable grocery bag that my son handed down to us. I had a moment of being tempted to toss it, but am glad that I didn’t.
• I listed three picture frames on Facebook Marketplace that my son no longer wanted. These were ones that I rescued from a neighbor’s garbage can earlier in the year. There were six frames originally and I sold the other three in February or so.
• I created an ugly but functional Franken-box to ship the Wii guitar using supplies I already had on hand. I protected it with second hand bubble wrap that my husband brought home from work.
• I continue to eat the chicken soup that I made over the weekend, although my husband and I did share a well deserved plate of fish and chips at a local pub last night. -
No Lear Jets, bought or chartered.
{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
Whoo, that room looks miles better! Got fingers crossed hard that your van will be okay and the in-laws’ house sells without a hitch.
We asked for a bid on extending just a bit the concrete path across our backyard and got one of those “you must be joking” style quotes. For only about $200, we can repair the damaged parts of the lawn and lay down stone slabs we already own.
I used a can of juice-packed peaches bought with a coupon and a handful of elderly strawberries to make a week’s worth of peach-berry baked oatmeal for my breakfasts. It’s packaged up in our motley collection of bowls with lids and is in the freezer.
Thoroughly cleaned my house today, hung a load of laundry on the rack to dry, inventoried the upright freezer again, mended two dog toys and took up the neckline of another blouse that was too floppy. Modern fashion seems to assume that all women want low-cut tops, but my meager assets prefer to stay covered up! 😀
The person a) did not really want the job and b) they have a minimum number of yards they’ll send out. Fixed cost is the same. Be thankful you don’t need a crane.
Our van needs a $960 repair, which is not exactly welcome, but still okay. We have the money to pay it. So sorry about your “meager assets,” good thing you’re handy with a needle and thread!
My assets aren’t so meager, but I prefer to keep them covered up anyway!
Starting almost fresh sounds like a great plan.
1. Back to Walmart to pick up yet another prescription pre surgery
2. Had an estimate on replacing buckling floors that cannot be repaired.
which we will postpone as long as possible
3. Using one of our Hello Fresh meals tonight
4. Reviewing our Medicare Advantage plan changes. Premium will go up $5/mo
5. Listed another item online
Kathy, are the buckling floors wood? If so, it’s a moisture problem and quite possibly fixable.
So smart to be reading the small print in your Medicare plan, so many people don’t think to do that.
Katy, oh man, so sorry to see the addition to your streak of bad luck. You’re bound to catch a break soon.
1. Needed to spend more money on our new roof after more leaks and rotting fascia boards were found. The roofers are working above my head as I type. A pottery bowl that was too close to the edge of a shelf broke during all the rattling. Our fault. It was lovely and we enjoyed it for many years. One less thing for our heirs to eventually clean out of our house!
2. The gutter bid came in much lower than we expected. That’s a first and we’ll take it!
3. Gave the roofing guys $200 to demolish a deck that would have cost much more if done by the new deck company.
4. Spending money to have our dog stay at the kennel while work is being done at the house. She loves it there as she can play with other dogs (for an extra fee), so we’re happy that she’s happy. We’ve been thrifty forever so we’ve got cushion to splurge.
5. Repurposed a produce net from a bag of onions as a washing machine catch thingy at the end of the tube that drains into the utility sink. You get extra points if you can follow that sentence!
#5: Couldn’t you use the whatchamacallit instead?
Think of the broken bowl as decluttering. I do get extra points, as I followed your sentence without any issues.
Your attitude about the broken pottery bowl is much like my own these days. Somehow I’ve managed to finally embrace the “it’s just a thing” mindset. I’m able to think about all the years we enjoyed whatever it was, and then let it go. And I’m completely with you about it being one less thing your heirs have to worry about.
Cathy, not to mention it’s one less thing to dust!
Katy, oof! That long wait for the tow truck had to be rough in the wee hours of the morning. Fish and chips were totally deserved, as is all the good that is bound to come your way once you’re out from under this cloud. Egads!
It was, especially as middle of the night rest stops can be a bit sketchy.
I too have franken-boxed (and bagged) many eBay sales!
I hope life calms down for you and yours soon. <3
Franken-twins!
1. I’ve reduced the price on some things I have listed to sell, just to get them out the door. I don’t have a space as big as yours for stale inventory. I bet it felt so good to let some of the stuff go.
2. I did my usual volunteer shift at the community garden. I brought home some free apples, figs, turnips and bell peppers. Also some leafy green starts for my garden. And had a free snack and good company in the fresh air. A win on so many levels.
3. I have partially painted a child’s chair that I’m listing for sale. I’ll have it done and listed today. I also listed a little side table. Made one sale on Ebay today. Sales there seems so dependent on listing regularly.
4. I potted 4 free spider plants from my buy nothing group. I received a hiking backpack that a baby rides in-for my son and his family.
5. Received a free half gallon mason jar on FB marketplace.
Here’s hoping your car issue can be solved while not using too many $$$.
1. Sweet and generous neighbor gave us a container full of cherry tomatoes. I’m not a tomato person but DH devoured them.
2. Another wonderful neighbor gave me ivy to root from her yard. I’m hoping to choke out the invasive bamboo in my yard with it.
3. Made my own iced tea using store brand tea bags and a tablespoon of dried mint. So good!
4. Finished another library book, True Gretch by Gretchen Whitmer,the Michigan governor who was almost the victim of a kidnapping and execution. She’s a very positive minded and forward looking governor. Interesting life story.
5. The Raspberry bushes in my yard are still producing like crazy so lots of free, healthy snacks
lately.
I like Gretchen (so unlike my classmate named Gretchen lol). Did not know she had a book out so on my list it goes.
I like her too. Very spunky girl. I can’t see anything that would ever slow her down. Lucky Michiganders!
$960. Sad face Katy.
Isn’t ivy also terribly invasive as well? You must be in a different climate than me as my raspberries as but a distant memory now.
New England. I’ve never heard of Raspberry bushes producing two separate crops but here we are. No complaints.
$960 sucks but still cheaper than a new or new to you vehicle.
It ended up being $1500 in total. Still better than a new to me vehicle, but ARGHH!!!
Reading your hubby’s troubles, I could hear Ray Charles “If It Wasn’t For Bad Luck” song playing woefully in the background. Such luck!
After participating in the Mudgirl run, preparing for the funeral – all the same weekend. I was rewarded with a wicked case of pleurisy. I was kindly reminded by my 20 yo niece and 39 yo daughter that I was almost a senior citizen (whaaa?Stamping feet, I’m not even 60 yet). They scolded I should probably not tackle the course like a 20 yo. I ran the course with my age group and tied my time with the 30+ age group.
Nice job on the ebay inventory.
Sorry about the pleurisy, but happy to read that you kicked ass in the run!
I think we have a Wii guitar somewhere. I will have to look. One of the kids might have taken it.
1. I do senior care and I got a new client. More money in to pay the mortgage off faster.
2. I did a $20 mystery shop. It was a phone call so I didn’t even spend gas.
3. I finished organizing my cellar pantry. It’s so nice to have the basement put back together mostly. There were a few things I knew I had but couldn’t find. Well I found them.
4. I needed pitas for dinner tonight. I went into the store on my way home and that is all I bought. I did look at the clearance wrack but there wasn’t anything I wanted or needed.
5. I made chicken noodle soup with some leftover chicken. I cooked the bones for stock for next time. We had homemade bread with it.
I applaud paying off your mortgage faster! Buying nothing beyond what’s on your shopping list is always a frugal win!
There is nothing more financially freeing than paying off one’s mortgage – be it early or on time. Part of retirement strategy in addition to not just having social security as your only source of income.
1. I work very part time as a “rabbit wrangler” at Family Pet Shows with a friend. We do rabbit and guinea pig agility. Today I drove to pick up brand new cat tunnels to sell as agility equipment. I got them off of marketplace for $2 each. I bought 30. They each come in a storage case and had a cat toy included. I’ll sell the tunnels for $5 each and the cat toys for $2. Nice profit. Also connected with my rabbit agility friend who lives in the area. My son came along and we all got 50 cent double cheeseburgers at McDonald’s for National Cheeseburger Day. We ate at a park with a lake. I brought my own beverage but I did buy fries! What a fun day!
2. Found more free items on my walk last night: Lodge cast iron skillet, a Revere Ware pan I’ll keep, another nice sauce pan, new DVD player, new unopened puzzle I’ll give to a friend, new cargo pants with tags already listed on MP, an ugly Christmas sweater I’ll list, a few books, 2 DVS for my son, 2 mugs, a quilted table runner, 2 green “velvet” curtain I may keep, and 6 IKEA curtain panels I’ll wash and list, 2 modern wall sconces. Most of the items came from someone moving out and just so happened an old friend had come to town to help him move so I got to connect with her! Crazy. I love our city. And I love that folks put things out for others to take rather than just trashing them. My Marketplace tub is full to overflowing! I now need a second tub!
3. Dinner was baked potato bar with everything on hand.
4. Currently sitting on my porch in my new to me glider rocking chair with my DS on the thrifted porch couch waiting for friends to drop by at 8:30 for a glass of wine.
I never heard of rabbit and Guinea pig agility! Off to look it up.
Wow productive walk and I love that you’re reselling cat tunnels for rabbits!
1. I’ve canned endless jars of tomato, vegetable sauce to be used this winter. My own home grown tomatoes, peppers, onions, celery. Some will be in the Christmas baskets I make up each year for gifts.
2. Made pear jam today with, yes, our home grown pears. George and I have been eating them daily but had lots of ripe ones for the jam. It smelled so good as it cooked. And another item for my Christmas baskets.
3. Freezing wax beans, lots and lots. I had four rows planted plus some in the modified square foot garden beds that make up most of the garden and had so many I put it on my local buy nothing group and had five different people over to pick. One lady offered to bring me heirloom tomato seeds for next year.
4. Digging my potatoes, washing them and putting them in the bin for another winter staple. I bought seed potatoes to plant the first two rows but the last 2 and a bit were all planted with the small potatoes left over from the previous season. Because I try different varieties each year these are a mix.
5. Making a birthday gift for my niece that called for fusable batting. Since I am trying to use up things I already have, I used fusable web on the fabric portion (a panel I purchased on clearance years ago) and cut the batting and am fusing that to the fabric. Seems to be working. The batting was also purchased on clearance.
6. Found out my favourite sewing magazine is not going to be published after the Holiday edition so am downloading all the free files, one year daily as they will no longer be accessible. These are patterns and embroidery files so worth a lot!
7. Used three overripe. bananas to make banana muffins, oat and bran. I have some steel cut oatmeal that I bought and hated, it tastes like dirt. but works fine in the muffins. The milk for the recipe was skim milk powder, only needed 1/2 cup so made a cup and half went into the milk jug. I worked out the price and skim milk power costs 50% less than regular milk.
8. Made a batch of yogurt using, yes skim milk powder and a half cup of yogurt. My husband used some of it tonight in his enchiladas along with a jar of my tomato sauce.
9. My husband took my car in for a safety inspection and they said I needed back brakes. We did not get the work done there. He got the parts and repaired it at home.
10. Got a book embosser so when I lend someone a book it will come back to me. I designed it so the I can emboss invitations, stationary, etc. One use will be gift cards for my Christmas baskets.
11. Finished knitting a Christmas stocking for my daughter’s significant other. We all have knit stockings in red and white made by my mother in law so I used some red yarn I already had, and will duplicate stitch his name in white. I have a big stock of yarn as everyone knows I knit and crochet and gives me yarn they no longer want.
#4 – to wash or not to wash. We always did but some say DON’T. Not that I’ll ever have any in storage as better half makes it a mission to use ALL up with days of digging. I’m eyeing another area to turn into a tater patch – taters that will go into storage while the others are consumed fresh. Lost one plant because better half insisted on digging it despite me saying “nope, too early”. But you cannot beat home grown potatoes.
I use big plastic milk crates to put the potatoes in and rinse them off while in the crates. Then they overnight by the outside entry to our basement and I dump them in the bin the next day. Been doing this for several years with no issues. If I want early potatoes before I’m ready to dig the plants I stick my hand under the plant and feel around for tubers. You can early harvest them this way by only taking one or two off each plant. Our soil is very sandy so it is possible here. A very old friend of mine recommended planting potatoes as one of the first crops in a new garden bed. They sure break up the soil.
My grandparents (who grew the potatoes) had sandy soil. We’ve added some sand to our garden but need to add more. For years I wanted to plant potatoes but the better half was not into it. Now he is and he is a bit on the impatient side when it comes to harvest. Yes, tomatoes will finish ripening after picking but strawberries do not!
Wow, you’ve been really productive! I can almost smell the pear jam!
Yes it’s that time of year! But I plan to be very lazy from January to spring!
Hi everyone I’m decluttering and have listed stuff on FB market place. This was Sunday. I’ve had some interest but no one has bought and it’s Wednesday. I’m thinking that come Sunday I would lowers the price on most. I would appreciate some advice on how I can drum up interest.
Are there local Facebook groups for reselling? When I list on Facebook, it’s to normal “Marketplace,” plus three extra Portland specific reselling groups.
First, Katy, I add my sympathy to others’ on the unexpected car repair. And I’m completely with you on keeping the old beater rolling, versus shelling out for a new or even a late-model used one. I ended up putting about $4K into my 2010 Honda Element last month when all was said and done (various minor issues plus replacing the entire rusted-out exhaust system). But that’s STILL cheaper than buying a new or lightly used Honda or Toyota would have been–and Nellybelle still only has 76.6K miles on her. So I too am maintaining what I already own.
Now, FFT, This and That Edition:
(1) Of the 30 households on my street, 13 have said they’re willing to host a bait/trap/euthanize site on their properties if the city council approves and funds the proposed pilot deer control program. And I’ve been talking and working my not-so-little butt off to make this happen. Frugality down the road, I hope.
(2) Given the recent car repair bills plus the upcoming JASNA national conference in Cleveland in October (where I’ll be partying like it’s 1813, since it’s the first conference I’ve attended since 2016), I’ve called a temporary halt to thrifting and other non-essential expenditures. Frankly, I’ve got enough stuff, so I’m not even feeling the urge to go thrifting.
(3) I batched errands today: the Thursday farmers’ market at the Regional Market; the cheapest gas station in the area (I paid cash to top off the tank for $3.19/gal.; the current local average, cash or credit, is $3.49); my favorite grocery outlet; and Price Chopper, where I got some of my next-door neighbor’s beloved Lean Cuisines for $2.50 each on super discount. (I’m no longer even trying to expand her horizons beyond Lean Cuisines, and she seems healthy as a horse on them at age 85.5.)
(5) And since eggplant and zucchini were still extremely cheap at the Regional Market, I’ll be making an “absolutely last appearance” ratatouille. As I said to the vendor, “I’ll be dreaming of this in February.” Homegrown cherry tomatoes and basil will also play starring roles.
(4) I continue to harvest green nasturtium seeds at home and at the Bestest Neighbors’ for homemade “capers” (I pickle these seeds in apple cider vinegar and actually prefer them to real capers).
Not sure how my (4) and (5) got reversed there. But never mind, I can still count!
My mom basically lived off Lean Cuisines and Healthy Choice meals during the early years of her dementia, when she was still living at home. She was physically quite healthy, so the nutrition in them is actually pretty good.
I hear you on the “I’ve got enough stuff” statement. I’m extremely picky about what I pick up at thrift stores these days, which took me awhile to get to. Most everything I pick up to sell has been curb find, which is easier on the wallet. When I do thrift for resale, I pretty much only pick up things that I KNOW will sell pretty quickly.
It’s interesting how regional the United States is. We don’t salt the roads here, which means our cars don’t rust and we certainly don’t have excessive deer (or any deer) in Portland.
A.Marie,
I applaud your efforts on culling the deer population!!!
As a fellow NYer,though a bit South of you( Chenango),I’m very aware of the damage they can cause both to vehicles and people…my son is a collision tech but in his younger days he swerved to avoid one, flipped the car and sustained a few minor injuries,thankful to God,it wasn’t worse.
But,you go girl!!
Wow, your bad luck seems to be refusing to leave! The worst to me would have been driving to a dodgy truck stop in the middle of the night. Although fish and chips are a great compensation.
1. I cut husband’s hair.
2. Husband cut my hair. He insisted after he saw me reading, getting annoyed by hair in my face, and just chopping it off with scissors while continuing to read. No need for a mirror, I say!
3. Listed two more things on eBay. This is a big deal for me as I hate dealing with eBay but recent sales successes spur me on.
4. Food bank was closing for the day, just as a delivery came of MANY containers of chopped fruits. The food boxes for the week are packed and delivered, so except for some drop-ins, a lot of it would go to waste. Calls went out to the soup kitchen to get it and meanwhile the volunteers were invited to take a few containers each. By the end, none of it went to waste. I took two of pineapple, which I like to freeze and eat still half frozen. In the store these would have cost me $20. For dinner last night we are fresh pineapple and carrots fresh from the garden. That was it.
5. I left three cabbages in the garden because I was out of storage room in a cool area of the garage and my crocks are in use making sauerkraut. It is supposed to snow on Saturday and will be below freezing before then so I went out to get them last night, only to find them eaten off—the offending dogs were still chewing when I found them huddled off to the side of the raised bed, enjoying their feast. They just chewed faster when they saw me coming. I am calling this frugal because they did not go to waste wilting on the kitchen counter and the dogs did not have to be fed dinner.
Lindsey, I’m much amused by your #5. The antics of Houndini and Clobber Paws continue. (However, this question: Although the dogs didn’t have to be fed dinner, what was the real cost here in canine gas passed??)
1. Bought a nice 2025 planner featuring a nice picture on the cover. It was only $1.47 and I will save it for a Christmas gift to the church secretary. (Had I waited to purchase it, chances are those planners would be sold out. Gotta buy nice/cheap stuff ASAP.)
2. Brown bagged my lunches and drinks all week.
3. Signed up for more substitute teaching days and for more hours at my night job.
4. Cut up limbs and brush so that the city would haul it off for free, thus saving landfill fees.
5. Shopped my closet and came up with new combinations of separates to wear as “new” outfits.
That’s a great price for a planner!
Nice work on the eBay clean out! And, so sorry to hear about the car troubles. That is the pits.
A few wins on my side:
1) Mailed an eBay sale also using very creative packaging that I cobbled together by cutting two large Amazon bags that were not big enough on their own.
2) Ate leftovers for breakfast & lunch.
3) Booked a Thanksgiving flight for my son using a credit & a gift card.
4) Got two free snack boxes on flights to/from college drop off. Saved everything from the second snack box, as neither of us were hungry. Now we have easy snacks for outings. Or, hungry teens. There are always hungry teens wandering around my house.
5) Remembered my Fred Meyer account number from way back when (we used to live in Washington) & remembered to apply it when buying DS18 a few dorm room items.
Also, brought what feels like just enough for college for DS18. I’ve seen some of those video clips of people who hire decorators for their kids college dorms. What in the actual world?! I also saw a lot of people hauling in a mind blowing amount of stuff. We got it moved in & unpacked in under an hour. Forgot a toothbrush charger, but that’s already in the mail. Bringing too much feels wasteful, but I’m also reminded that we have to haul it all back out in June!
Moving in? So much fun! Moving out? Less so.
1. I found .11 yesterday on the ground in the parking lot at work. And over the last few nights, my kids have found$1.25 on the football field. I don’t know who was more excited about it.
2. I sold 3 more things on ebay for a total of $34.
3. I continue to pack breakfast and lunch from home on work days and have only bought one coffee so far this month.
4. We are planning to go apple picking tomorrow if the weather is nice. Not exactly frugal, but it’s an annual fall tradition. The kids have fun and I’d much rather them have apples for snacks instead of junk food.
5. I’m continuing to try to get at least 1 thing a day listed for sale. I usually do more, but some days I can only find time for 1. Reminding myself that it’s never going to sell sitting in my spare room seems to motivate me. My town has an annual “curb day” event where everyone puts stuff out on the curb to give away. I’ll leave my stale listings posted for another few weeks, and then put anything on the curb that’s been sitting for a while.