Decluttering fear

alicemary

Hi everyone!
I will be moving house in the next few months so I took it upon myself to do a radical declutter.

So I am now faced with a psychological problem!
Everything I could throw out is gone. Everything I need to keep is put away.
But here I have a pile of clothes, books, bits and pieces, that I don't use anymore and *could* give away...but I am crippled by the fact that this pile is worth a certain amount of money. For example - designer clothing, or beautiful books etc...
Should I sell these to ease my conscience? If so, how? Ebay seems like a huge hassle plus I can't imagine I'd get a good price for anything. Is it worth is, or should I just bite the bullet and donate all of it to charity?

Pollybear

Do you need the money you could get from selling? I know we all need money, but do you need the money? If you do then maybe you should force yourself to ebay it.

If not, then give it to a charity shop with a clear conscience. I bet after a couple of months you won't even think about it.

mrcow

Ebay is no hassle at all.

It's quick and easy. You only think it's hard because you've not done it before. Once you start, you'll be addicted!

Gigervamp

If you have a secondhand book shop nearby, you could take the books there. A lot less hassle than ebay and you'd still get some money for them.
I bet a charity shop would love the designer clothing.

mrcow

Gigervamp wrote: »

If you have a secondhand book shop nearby, you could take the books there. A lot less hassle than ebay and you'd still get some money for them.

Don't believe it!

I had a collection of 16 Charles Dickens books which a second hand book shop offered me £2 a book for.

I sold it on Ebay a week later for £160.

Taking and uploading a photo is hardly hassle. You don't even have to leave your house (other than to post the things!)

cookie_monster

Got so much stuff in the house, seems like I will need to jump on the ebay waggon.

whitewing

Have a think about using an Ebay Trading Assistant or Ebay Trading Post. This seems to be where an experienced ebay seller does your ebaying for you and takes a percentage.

Let me know how you get on. I don't know much about it but I'm interested is using a Trading assistant myself. I never got on with ebay; getting started seems such a hassle to me.

covgirl

Alicemary, I used to have the same problem. Well kind of - with me it was more a fear of needing the item one day - but sometimes it is hard to explain to people that it is a genuine fear. For me, I used to lie awake at night worrying every time I threw things out, and I still can't be near a dustcart, I used to get panic attacks just hearing them outside. It's probably not as extreme for you by the sound of things, but if it's making you 'freeze' and hold on to stuff you know you've no use for, then it is a problem. It might be worth talking to your doctor. They'll be far more sypathetic than you can imagine and if needs be can get you cognitive behavioural therapy, which can help you figure out what is at the root of your fear. It's not unusual at all, and it doesn't mean there's anything 'wrong' with you, a lot of people feel this way to a greater or lesser degree.

Then you can move on from it, and either sell your items on ebay, where you're likely to get a 'fair' price, (don't forget an item is worth no more and no less than what someone else is willing to pay you for it) or donate to a charity, in which case you'll not make any cash yourself but can be comforted in the knowledge that they'll do all they can to get a fair price and that your clutter is doing some good in the world.

skintchick

I can;t be bothered with eBay so I always just donate to charity. I don;t want to make a few quid here and a few quid there, it's too much hassle for me.

Oh was selling CDs and DVDs on Amazon but gave up for the same reason. Overall he made £120 but it was only a few quid per item and lots of hassle.

Bronnie

Do you have a clothes agency who could sell your clothes for you. They will take a cut, but not much hassle for you?

BTW, after skirting round for ages I've finally gotr to grips with ebay. It's worse thinking about it than actually doing it!! There are quite a few ladies on the Health and Beauty Board fashion threads who have made worthwhile amounts of money from ebaying their designer clothes

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1755403

blushingbride_3

If you arent deseperate for the money give them to the charity shop with the knowledge that they're going to a good cause especially as you dont need them anyway
or you could do a carboot?