MrsTine's post wedding Ebay challenge

MrsTinks · 22 May 2008 at 8:00PM

OK now the stress of the wedding is over I have LOADS of stuff I want to list on Ebay and I want to major declutter the house as my aim is to get a cleaner in by the end of June, but it's just too cluttered at the moment!
I know a cleaner is extravagant and I could use the money to be debt free a lot quicker, but hubby and I have discussed it to great lengths and we agree that we're happy to budget this in as we sorely need to spend more time together and doing it whilst cleaning at the weekends is just not what we want to do.
SO... The great declutter challenge starts!
There are some items too big for Ebay and next door have stuff for the carboots so we'll join forces and do one together in a month or so and split the pitch fees

Anyone is welcome to join in!

Tomorrows task: to photograph and list 2 tiara's, 1 cake stand and one underwear set that never made it out of the wrapping

skint_spice · 22 May 2008 at 8:11PM

Maybe once you've decluttered you won't need a cleaner as it's really easy to keep on top of things when you don't have to move so much stuff about to clean!
Congrats on your marriage, and I'm up for the challenge - I have so much stuff I need to either carboot or ebay, and also planning to stick some things in the local small ads next week.

MrsTinks · 22 May 2008 at 9:10PM

Welcome onboard skint_spice!
I know what you mean but I think I'd still get someone in to clean... even if only for an hour or two every 2 weeks. Next door used to have a cleaner and they are looking for a new one - but they said that not only did it encourage them to have a quick tidy blitz so she could clean, but it was really nice having someone to do the jobs that you don't like... personally I find doing the kitchen and bathrooms VERY satisfying, but dusting, floor washing and hoovering upstairs gives me a heck of a bad back and I loathe it. And I might also ask if they can do 30 mins of ironing - basically OHs shirts (he'll love not having to do them himself!) and maybe the bedding.
So not all because I don't want to do anything at all - but just the bits we end up arguing over getting done (like inside of the windows once a month lol!) that I think it's worth paying someone to do for the sake of £10 or whatever it is per hour (it's less, I'm working worst case scenario

)

MrsTinks · 26 May 2008 at 9:08PM

Right - was feeling quite exhausted as it's that time of month so didn't get round to locating my usb cable for the camera till today - but have now listed 4 items and have another couple to list tomorrow ready in my Turbo Lister so a litte ahead of myself which makes me feel good lol!
Am already starting to eye up things that have been gathering dust for a while but I will do a couple at a time to make sure I don't shoot myself in the foot with postage charges etc (like I have before!).

So 4 listed... plenty to go!!!

hypno06 · 26 May 2008 at 9:19PM

I'm with you on this one......I so so so want a cleaner, used to have a cleaner....NEEEEEEED a cleaner - but at the moment a cleaner would just walk in and run out quick!!

So, I too, am trying to declutter - either so I can get a cleaner, or that I can just have space not to need a cleaner!!

Arlen · 26 May 2008 at 9:20PM

With the postage charges I weighed the items on kitchen scales added 10% to the weight for packing materials. Then went onto the Royal Mail website and entered the weight and estimated parcel size (always over-estimate), this gave x pounds then added a quid for the padded bag.

This worked out pretty well for me I certainly did not lose on postage. I bought the value padded bags from Staples and got various sizes etc quite cheap. I have reused some bags from when people have sent me items (unpack carefully save a pound!) and I get ones from work too (i get lots of parcels and reuse the bags, bubble wrap, packing peanuts etc).

skint_spice · 26 May 2008 at 9:28PM

Arlen wrote: »

With the postage charges I weighed the items on kitchen scales added 10% to the weight for packing materials. Then went onto the Royal Mail website and entered the weight and estimated parcel size (always over-estimate), this gave x pounds then added a quid for the padded bag.

Personally I think adding a pound for a padded bag is a bit steep and ebay are trying to stop people charging over the odds for postage so I'm a bit wary as I don't want negative feedback. I weigh stuff on the kitchen scales too though! they are probably used more for ebaying than baking.:o

MrsTinks · 26 May 2008 at 9:39PM

I weigh on the kitchen scales too but I usually underestimate the size or the weight of the packaging lol!!!

I have a cheapy shop nearby so I can get packaging materials from there and I only tend to charge what it costs me as close as I can estimate - I think the main one I lost out on was under franked but it is one I am 100% sure I actually got weighed at the postoffice and franked there so I'm just extra cautious now. I do think if I over charge hugely I'd rather refund a little of the overcharged postage costs to keep it fair rather than undercharge first but little bit at a time

skint_spice · 26 May 2008 at 10:00PM

I got charged £4.50 pp for something that cost less than £1.50 to post recently and was packaged in recycled packaging! this has been the only time I've been less than complementary with the p&p stars. but I'm sure someone marked me down for charging £2 for something I posted for £1.80 in a brandnew shiny jiffy bag!

Arlen · 26 May 2008 at 10:04PM

skint_spice wrote: »

Personally I think adding a pound for a padded bag is a bit steep

I don't think it is a bad price at all the bags usually work out at about 75p and then I factor in my fuel to get them and post them.

skint_spice · 26 May 2008 at 10:14PM

The poundshops round our way do a minimum of 3 bags per pound depending on size so worth a look if you have any near you Arlen.

MrsTine's post wedding Ebay challenge

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