FlyLady chat thread!

[ECingMama]

Originally Posted by kiloyd

Me too! I often talk myself out of selling things. I'll sell something if I can sell it for $10 or more. Otherwise I donate.

---------- Post added at 03:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:14 AM ----------

I need to do more decluttering! I have an on going donation box in the corner of my pantry. Right now have 2 bags in the van to go donate.

I am pretty good at decluttering (and at acquiring clutter!), but I stink at getting it out of my house. My husband often puts it in the garage, which means I end up going through it again when we move. I have begged him to just put it in his trunk and get it out of here!

I had a 10 year old queen mattress. I listed it for free on craigs list and it was gone in 4 hours! I'm so happy someone else has a more comfortable place to sleep. I put off listing it for six MONTHS!

I don't think I'd keep anything that's going to earn me less than $20. I am not sure it's worth the effort.

I know nextdoor . com is a decent place to list things because it's all people who live within 10 minutes of you. If it's not gone in 24 hours, donate, ya know? It's not like people have to make a big effort to get to the house if it's such a small group of people.

[VaticanCameos]

I just justify donating things with some value to Bibles for Missions.

[RiverRock]

This week is the bathroom and one extra room. What does this mean for you? I am going to make sure a detailed cleaning gets done of all three bathrooms (I'll delegate this) and then I will go through the bathroom cupboards to declutter and tidy. They aren't too bad so I should easily be able to manage this. I'm not sure about the one extra room. I might instead just focus on finishing the decluttering process of the kitchen (donate or sell items), and do some maintenance tidying. Another project on my mind is two drawers of paper that I should process. I know that will involve some medical billing, photo orders and calendar updating.

I know my issue in the past was decluttering, and Flylady says that I shouldn't even think about cleaning until I have dealt with the clutter, but I find cleaning to be cathartic. It's a job that I don't really need to think about so it is equally rewarding and relaxing. I'll keep the scope of my focus small enough that I can clean without being overwhelmed...hopefully.

This week's summary:
http://www.flylady.net/d/zones/detai...eaning-zone-3/

[Taedareth]

I just finished writing my zone to-do lists! I used hers for inspiration and added my own details. Then I printed them on pretty paper with a different font (pretty ones!) for each page. Making it more fun might help!

I'm still decluttering, but I do some basic cleaning in each newly decluttered area. It feels nice.

[RiverRock]

I haven't made my new lists yet but yours sound lovely. When I made my lists years ago I put them in plastic sleeves so I could check off the items with a dry erase marker as I completed them.

[Taedareth]

My kids are actually doing their chores with less need for nagging reminders now that I put their chore list (which has been taped to the fridge for years) inside a plastic sheet protector. They actually enjoy crossing things off with brightly-colored dry-erase markers. Why didn't I do this sooner?!

[RiverRock]

I have sold quite a few things on a local FB site, and the arranged pick-ups will start soon. It's keeping me motivated.

Today I should make time to write out kitchen and bathroom lists.

[ECingMama]

Originally Posted by RiverRock

I have sold quite a few things on a local FB site, and the arranged pick-ups will start soon. It's keeping me motivated.

Today I should make time to write out kitchen and bathroom lists.

Your ability to do this is a gift, and you should celebrate that!

I have 60 books ready to donate. I'm sure I could get $25 or more for the lot of them, but they'd just stay clutter if I did that.

[RiverRock]

Originally Posted by ECingMama

Your ability to do this is a gift, and you should celebrate that!

I have 60 books ready to donate. I'm sure I could get $25 or more for the lot of them, but they'd just stay clutter if I did that.

Thank you. I hadn't thought of it as a gift. I've had a bit of practice so I can share my tidbits of advice if you like. Or spin the thread and you can glean ideas from a lot of people because I am sure other people are more successful at selling things than I am.

[Taedareth]

I would love to hear your tips. Although my main difficulty is that I'm not comfortable inviting strangers to come to my residence. So then selling involves driving somewhere else to meet them, and when they no-show, it's a waste of my time.

[charla]

Originally Posted by RiverRock

Thank you. I hadn't thought of it as a gift. I've had a bit of practice so I can share my tidbits of advice if you like. Or spin the thread and you can glean ideas from a lot of people because I am sure other people are more successful at selling things than I am.

I would love to hear your tips as well. I have quite a few things I want to sell and they are remaining clutter until I do, but I have no idea how to go about selling those things. We sure could use some extra money from those sales.

Save

[RiverRock]

That would be tough, if you have to meet them.

I'll share a few ideas. I use bidding sites on FB. I think there is more accountability because people need to be approved to join the group, and they need to maintain a good reputation to stay in the group. I don't think I would ever sell on Craigslist or Kijiji. I am too afraid of the unknown. Also, the 24 hr. bidding sites that I use mean that there is pretty quick closure to the buying and selling process.

My tips:
-wait until you have about half a dozen things to post and do it all at once. My sites let me bump it 5 times within 24 hours. I bump all the items at the same time so the process is quick and simple.
-if I offer items for sale Monday evening, and the bids close Tuesday evening, all items need to be picked up by Friday evening. I find the weekday crowd to be more reliable or pick-ups than the weekend crowd. An exception would be a heavy piece of furniture and I might want my dh home for that anyhow.
-if there are multiple pieces, I keep the items contained in clear bin liners so they are easy to find when someone comes to collect.
-if I am not home I will leave the item on a bench outside and ask for payment to be left under the mat. A small envelope with the amount written on it, and taped to the item can later hold the money. I've never had problems with people not paying or money going missing. Others have, but being rural might make a difference.
-treat it like a business. My site has rules that everyone needs to read before joining the group, so I stick to them. Basically it is contact within 24 hours and pick-up within 72 hours. If location (I do the general area when I post) is posted for PU in the original post, then no arguments can be made about it being too far to drive. I used to be a lot nicer, but now I won't agree to a later pick-up time without prior agreement before the auction is over.
-if all the bids finish at about the same time, all the pick-ups will be in the same timeframe (also a reason to not allow later pick-ups).
-a rule for the sites I use is that if someone is a no-show they can be kicked off the site. I have never reported anyone, but my personal experience and the trend that I see for others having no-shows has me reconsidering. I don't have to threaten to report them...it's in the rules as I right that I have. They should know the rules before bidding.
-I try to sell bulky items that would be inconvenient for me to donate. Smaller items are usually donated. Usually it is more about getting the item out of the house than it is about making money.
-I start bids at low $ amounts or free. I've only ever had one item go for a crazy-low price. I consider if it is worth my effort for whatever the minimum price is. Sometimes it is worth my effort for the item to be gone for free.

[gr8tful1]

Yes, i do like them now. I am not nearly as overwhelmed with life now, so i can spend some time glancing at them now...used to just delete due to being so overwhelmed.

[Taedareth]

Apparently the kids have noticed my new zone cleaning strategy. I've been chipping away at this week's zone, the bathroom, and crossing off a few line items each day.

Today my DS said, "Are you still cleaning the bathroom? You've been doing that for, like, a week."

[kiloyd]

Originally Posted by ECingMama

I don't think I'd keep anything that's going to earn me less than $20. I am not sure it's worth the effort.

I know nextdoor . com is a decent place to list things because it's all people who live within 10 minutes of you. If it's not gone in 24 hours, donate, ya know? It's not like people have to make a big effort to get to the house if it's such a small group of people.

Thanks, I just looked up nextdoor.com and signed up!

I agree about the money, I only meet someone to sell something if it's $10 or more and I meet when and where it is convenient for me.

ETA: I took a bag to Salvation Army yesterday! So nice to get out of my house! And I'm taking a few things to someone at church tomorrow. Already put them in my van.