Mommy Monday #4: De-cluttering

So I have been busy this week de-cluttering my house. I feel like society tries to tell new moms that they need so much "stuff" for their baby but after being a new mom for 3 months, I have realized that isn't the case. Babies grow out of clothes, toys, and gadgets so fast! We are planning on having more children so I am definitely saving things that I found useful but I am selling the rest of the stuff. I have been selling a lot of stuff on Kijiji and I also joined some buy/sell Facebook groups and have sold stuff on there as well. I didn't even know that these Facebook groups existed until recently. Some of the Facebook groups are specific to particular types of items such as baby carriers or cloth diapers while other groups are just general buy/sell groups. I personally find it easier to sell stuff on kijiji and the "specific item" type of Facebook buy/sell groups but I have sold stuff on all groups I think.

I really like the idea of selling stuff you don't want and then putting the money aside to buy new stuff you might need. There are also great items for sale and sometimes it can be so tempting to buy a bunch of stuff. However, right now I am just concentrating on selling stuff, then I will make a list of stuff I need or will need soon and then I will look for these items. I have been tempted to buy clothing or toys that my son might use a couple years down the road but I really think that is a slippery slope. For example, I saw these good quality toy trains, probably meant for 3 year olds, for a good price but if I start buying this stuff now, my house will just get super cluttered, super fast.

It is crazy how much money you have from the stuff laying around in your closets or in storage that never gets used. Right now I mostly just listed the baby stuff that I don't use but after those items are sold, I think I am going to start going through some of my own items like brand name clothing, shoes, and purses. If I am able to sell stuff and make some extra cash, I will put this money away and save it for a spring shopping spree. This way it's just extra cash being spent and my house won't get too cluttered because I will be clearing out a bunch of items first. I really need a new pair of sunglasses and a new spring purse so lets see if I can sell enough stuff buy these two items! I am planning to go to Florida in April and I really want to go shopping at the Sawgrass Mills Mall so I am challenging myself to sell my unused stuff and save up for a shopping spree at Sawgrass Mills Mall in April. I will definitely keep you posted on my progress. 

If you want to save up for a spring shopping spree yourself I invite you to join this challenge by taking these simple steps:

1. Go through your closets and storage and find good quality items that aren't being used that you can sell
2. Take pictures and post these items on sites like Kijiji and Facebook buy/sell groups
3. Keep the money you make in a jar and save it until April 1st 2015! 
4. After April 1st 2015, treat yourself to a guilt-free shopping spree

While this is a great way to de-clutter your house and make some extra cash, please be smart and safe about it. Do this at your own risk. If you get any suspicious emails or replies, just ignore them. Trust your gut. While most people are genuine, there are dangerous encounters. Don't give out your personal information and always meet potential buyers in a public place. I also find it safer to bring along a spouse or friend just to be on the safe side.

Happy selling!!!