Decluttering

There is a great Facebook group that I belong to.  It is an on-line swap-meet.  It is similar to a flea market but it is all done on line and the group is local because most things are picked up from your home.  It is a great way to “go green” when cleaning and decluttering, keeping in mind that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

Virtual swap-meets are a great way to implement the three R’s.  Reduce, reuse and recycle.  Despite the word “SWAP’, money usually is exchanged for goods although I have also seen some people swap items in the group.  The group was started by a local woman and has spread to over 1000 members.

It has been raining today so I planned on staying home all day so that I could get some housework done and go through piles that just keep getting bigger and bigger.  I have decided that we have collected too much clutter, therefore,  I decided to give the swap group a try and sure enough, within a few minutes, I had made a sale so I listed a few more things.  Unlike ebay, there is no bidding on items.  The price is listed and if someone wants it, they respond.  First to respond gets the item.  I already have a pile of things in the vestibule of my home that are ready and waiting for pick up.   Unlike a garage sale, I don’t have to worry about weather, or get a permit.  If I find something that I no longer need, I can just list it and hopefully someone else will have a need for it.  Also, unlike a garage sale, I don’t have to pack it all up at the end of the day. Since the sale is “virtual” it can extend over several days or weeks until it has all sold.  I will give myself a time frame though.  If it doesn’t get sold, I will donate it but for now, I will see if someone else has a use for it.

Drew was watching me as I listed items and sold them.  He decided to go through his own things and together we listed a bunch of wii games that he no longer plays and some board games.  I promised that his items sold, the money would be his.  This gave him some motivation to go through some things that I have been asking him to work on for awhile.  He has already sold a bunch of them in just a few hours.

Now…if I can get DJ and Dave to jump on the bandwagon….

Tagged: declutter, go green, on line garage sale, one man's trash is another man's treasure, online swap meet, spring cleaning, swap meet, virtual swap meet