Just Do It Already

Don't Let Your Money 'Dry Rot'

Some people (especially those with kids) don’t shop every year because they want to, but because they have to.  So it was no surprise when my girlfriend told me that she was not really going on vacation this year, but she did need to shop because “Most of my kids clothes are too small”.   “Sounds to me like it is time for a yard sale” I said.  She laughed in agreement knowing that I was suggesting it for my own excitement. 

What surprised me was not that the clothes were too small – the surprise was that she had stored these ‘too small’ clothes away from last year.  “Last year?  What are you waiting for”?

There are many reasons why people won’t get rid of unused stuff or wait to have a yard/patio or garage sale:

-       They couldn’t be bothered with going through the process of preparing for and having the sale (sorting, parting with sentimental items, pricing, organizing, marketing, setting up and the negotiation process)

-       They can’t find the time

-       They don’t think they have enough stuff to sell

-       They don’t think that they will make money

So why are you throwing away money like that?

Having to have to throw away unused damaged goods because you stored them for a later date is like tossing away hundreds of dollars because you put it in your wallet and buried the wallet.  Clothing like paper (and lots of other items ) rots if packed away (unsecured) for long enough. 

Nike, was aware of the fact that the pros of ‘just doing it’ far outweighed the cons.  Here are a few reasons why you should ‘just do it’ as it relates to your sale:

-       The process really doesn’t take that long once you get started and work at it continuously until it’s done.  Find a few minutes every day or every few days.

-       Clothes can ‘dry rot’ after time whether they are stored away or hanging in your closet for an extended time if not stored properly.  Elastic and thread in waistbands, sleeves and collars pretty much disintegrate and leave the garment useless.  A similar thing happens to shoes (leather and man made materials), curtains, sheets, towels and the lining of rugs - all of which are big yard sale items by the way.

Beautiful Silk Beaded Dress - Dry Rot

-       Styles change quickly.  If you don’t want to be walking around in clothes from two years ago, neither will anyone else. 

-       Batteries left in items such as toys, clocks, radios and electronic devices become corroded over time – leaving the device useless and in need of being discarded.

-       It doesn’t matter how much things you have to sell – if there are only a few items, have a sale only for two hours or arrange to have a sale with a friend or family member in order to bulk up the yard sale.

-       The binding in books is made from thread or glue which dry rot or disintegrate over time and pages are paper which becomes brittle and needs to be discarded.

Don’t wait another week to have that yard/patio or garage sale.  Start planning today – it’s really not that hard.  So – ‘Just Do It”.

Until next time...

My mantra" "I'm not cheap - I'm economical"