Stuff Swap

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Professionals MN Broker #40288835

flowers

    It is Spring time here in Northern Minnesota, although you may not be able to tell by the weather.  With Spring comes Spring cleaning, as we let in the fresh air, go through the clothes and rid ourselves of the outgrown, outdated, unused and duplicates.

    What to do with your stuff:

  •        Have a garage sale.  Sometimes a fun social event trading your stuff for pennies.  I love going to them but will not be  hosting one myself.  Been there and not doing that again!

 

  •        Throw it - Not such a good idea in our current waste conscious way of thinking.  But it is fast and final!

 

  •        Donate - also fast and final and way more people and environmentally friendly (provided it is not  broken, stained, torn, etc)   Those items of clothing may make for good cleaning rags - cut them up and wash after using.

 

  •        Swap with friends - a party with a cause.  What is old for you may be new for them.  Clothes, games, DVDs , CD's, purses, belts, & tools.  What doesn't find a new home can  be packed up and donated.
Posted by

Welcome from the Brainerd Lakes - where outdoor and indoor recreational opportunites abound. Looking to buy on one of our many lakes? Ready to move up or down?  Having trouble selling your home? 

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Comments (16)

Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Kathleen, Good ideas, all of them.  The thrift store is tired of seeing me and I finally got to the point to just get RID of it.  Once you get started, you can really get on a roll with lightening up!

May 26, 2008 03:07 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

My wife and her friends have a sale once a year...don't make much, and don't put a lot of time into it, thenit goes to one of the local chairities, whatever doesn't sell

May 26, 2008 11:48 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Carole - When my Mom died, I brought huge bags to the Salvation Army on a regular basis & I do believe they got tired of seeing me. Funny - coz they were the ones making the money on it   LOL

May 26, 2008 03:44 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

William - Some people do very well on garage sales, but not me.  Sounds like your wife has a little fun with her friends and unloads some excess.

May 26, 2008 03:46 PM
Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating

Kathleen ~ I usually donate everything.  I did a yard sale once but because of where my street is situated inside a development, I had very few people stop by, even though I put signs out on the main road.  It's funny you posted this because a fairly new neighbor across the street had one this past Saturday and she also wound up with one or two people who stopped. 

May 26, 2008 11:20 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
New Hampshire Home Stager

I've had great success with yard sales.  I also donate, but I offer to family first.  Most people like to get free stuff from a relative who no longer can use it.

May 29, 2008 03:49 PM
Barbara Cluck-Miksits
BCM Home Staging LLC - Ridgewood, NJ
Home Staging - New Jersey

I do a lot of donating. It just makes me feel so good when I can give someone something that they could not afford. There is so much work involved when you have yard sale.

Jun 01, 2008 03:55 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Kathleen,

My Dad used to say "If in doubt, throw it out." 

Mike in Tucson

Jun 01, 2008 04:57 PM
Lynn Johnson
Coldwell Banker Home Connection - Owatonna, MN
Owatonna, MN Real Estate

Kathleen - What a great exercise to go through - at least once a year.  I've been working on de-cluttering for about 6 months.  I did participate in a garage sale a few weeks ago (didn't enjoy it), threw away A LOT of stuff, and filled many bags for donations.  I feel so much better once the stuff is gone - and I still have a long way to go.

Jun 02, 2008 01:15 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Kathy Passarette (Creative Home Expressions

My same experience -I do go to a neighborhood garage sale that is held every other weekend and find some great staging props.  (An older couple that resells)

Jun 06, 2008 07:19 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Sharon - I love to give things away and I like getting things - used is fine.

Jun 08, 2008 04:45 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Barbara- We gather up good blankets, winter coats , mittens etc and load up a trailer in the late fall.  Then everything goes to the inner city and is handed out on the streets thru the winter along with a warm drink and sandwiches.

Jun 08, 2008 04:50 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Mike - My Dad always said "Keep that, you never know when you might need it!"  We usually never did need it!!!

Jun 08, 2008 04:54 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Lynn - We have a long way to go as well - it does add up.  What a blessing - to have more than you need and what fun to share.

Jun 08, 2008 04:58 PM
Lizette Fitzpatrick
Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY
Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes

Hi Kathleen! You sure do have a lot of good ideas posted! I love to get rid of suff. I have a stack of things right now to take to Goodwill. I have no problem moving old stuff on.

Jun 09, 2008 04:28 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Lizette I have no problem as long as I can find them a home - I HATE THROWING AWAY STUFF THAT IS STILL GOOD, STYLISH AND IN GREAT CONDITION.

Jun 10, 2008 03:41 PM

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