Summary

The article outlines a three-step process for decluttering one's home with the aim of saving time and money by categorizing items into trash, donate, and resell piles, and then selling unwanted items through various channels.

Abstract

The article "How to Declutter With a Purpose" provides a concise guide to decluttering by focusing on the efficient disposal of unneeded items. It emphasizes the importance of assessing the practical need for possessions and the likelihood of future use before deciding their fate. The process begins with gathering all unwanted items, followed by sorting them into categories for disposal, donation, or resale. The author suggests that by reselling quality items, individuals can recoup some of their original expenses. The article also touches on the psychological aspects of decluttering, acknowledging that different methods work for different people and cautioning against impulsive purges that may lead to repurchasing items. It concludes by guiding readers on where to sell their items, from local second-hand stores to online platforms like eBay and social media marketplaces, advising on the importance of researching which items are suitable for each selling medium.

Opinions

The KonMari method, while popular, may not be the perfect solution for everyone, highlighting the need for personalized decluttering strategies.
The author stresses the importance of realistic assessment of future need for items to avoid unnecessary hoarding.
There is a critique of the tendency to donate items that could be resold for cash, suggesting that some items retain value and could be more beneficial if sold.
The article expresses enthusiasm for the potential financial return from selling gently used or new items with tags, emphasizing the profitability of reselling.
The author points out the convenience of modern technology and online platforms for facilitating the resale of items with minimal effort.
An opinion is shared that the effort put into reselling items can directly correlate with the financial return received, suggesting that active engagement in the selling process yields better results.

How to Declutter With a Purpose

To declutter with a purpose in three easy steps to save yourself some time and money

During these times or anytime really, we often have more “stuff” than what we really need. From the self-proclaimed minimalists to the so-called hoarders, there is usually something that you may find that you no longer need. So, let’s talk about how to declutter with a purpose in three easy steps to save yourself some time and money.

What I suggest are just a few things to consider while cleaning up your house and getting rid of unwanted items with a purpose. What is the purpose you may ask. The purpose is to maximize your return. And by “return”, I am hoping that this will help you to save time and get some money back in the process. So let’s break everything down into 3 easy steps.

Step 1:

Gather all the unneeded or at least unwanted items in your home.

I am sure that everyone, at this point, has heard of Maria Kondo even if you have yet to watch her hit series on Netflix. To summarize, the KonMari method that she created is a system of simplifying and organizing by getting rid of physical items that does not spark joy in your life. Is this a perfect method for decluttering and organizing your home?

The answer is quite simply, may be. That seems like an answer that’s not really providing an answer. But in truth, like many things in life, there is no perfect solution that works well for everyone. As an individual, you must find what will work best for you which may not work as well for others. But I would like to insert that hoarding is probably not the best solution.

Sometimes we can get a little trigger happy and do a mass purge. But what you have to remember that just getting rid of your things is not enough. It is both a waste of time and money if you end up repurchasing the item or something similar. It will just end up costing you more in the end.

So there are some questions you need to ask yourself before deciding to get rid of something. Do you need or want the item anymore whether it be clothes, a handbag, or a chair? Will you realistically need it in the future?The emphasis is on the realistic because that question is not an excuse for you to continue hoarding. The average person is not going to normally need their rusted toaster from the 1980s because it reminds them of the good old college days. The last question is will you buy the item again or something similar? It’s just a waste of time and money to get rid of a sweater and walk into Urban Outfitters just to get the same thing for another $50.

Just gather all the items that you do not realistically want or need anymore into a pile.

Step 2

Organize your pile into categories.

The first instinct is probably the organize the items by type. For example, sorting you piles into clothing, kitchen gadgets, home decor, and other categories. However, I found that it is actually faster to organize your items into trash, donate, and resale first.

Let’s be honest, not everything is a quality for donation and sometimes we donate items that we could easily get some cash back for. There nothing wrong with donating the things that you do not need but some people do not realize that you can easily get some of you money back by selling your gently used items and especially the items that still have the tags on. We are all guilty of this and you would probably be lying if you said you used 100 percent of everything you buy.

So to that extent, it may be easier to first start with presorting into trash, donate, and sell pile. Your trash items can be directly thrown into the garbage; except you might want to consider sorting out the recyclable items.

For donation items, most donation centers take multiple types of items have their own sorting facilities. So it might save you some time to look into your local donation center and if they sort the items anyways. If they do have sorting facilities and do not require items to be presorted, then it will probably save you some time to just bag everything up and drop it off. No sorting necessary.

The last category of items that I am most excited about is the resell-able items. These are your new or gently used items. Now this is the pile that you will want to sort into the various categories and type to better find a way to sell off the old and bring in the greens. There is an old saying in which “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” It just takes finding the right buyer for you to recoup your costs or even make a profit.

Step 3

Find the perfect place to sell.

Like everything else, it will take some time and effort to be able to sell off your unwanted items. And sometimes your return can be tied to the effort that you put into reselling your items. In the age of technology and the existence of plenty of resale stores, it is easy to find a way to sell off your items.

The method that I have found to resell your items the quickest and with the least amount of efforts is selling off your items to second hand stores. These stores can be the brick and mortar stores in your neighborhood (like Plato’s Closet or Style Encore) or web based second hand stores (like The Real Real or Thread Up). These second hand stores either directly purchase the item from you or they curate and sell the item on your behalf and provide you with a percentage when the item is sold.

The method that I have found that provides the most return is by directly selling your items. We are very lucky to live in a time in which it is very easy to get access to a large network of buyers with just the press of a button. There exists websites such as Ebay that allow you to list and sell your items. We also have access to many apps that can be installed directly on your phone for you to post and sell your items (like Poshmark, Mercari, Offerup, etc.). There is even the ability to use Facebook Market Place or Instagram in the age of social media to sell your items.

At the end of the day, it is very easy to sell your items to recoup some of your costs. It just takes finding the right medium to sell your items that best meets your needs including the amount of effort you are willing to put into reselling your items for the best returns. An important thing to note is that not all stores, sites, or apps are willing to sell all items. So, it is very important to take some time to research what items can be sold when making your decision.