This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

Friday Favorite: Purging

June 29th, 2012

No not that kind of purging – I mean getting rid of STUFF. There’s nothing more liberating than finding things to get rid of around the house. Every two years I have a garage sale with a friend that live in town. Over the course of two years we collect things that we no longer want or need.

I have found that saving them all of two years and then having a garage is a great deterrent and helps me not buy things I don’t need. There’s just something about seeing all your junk that you spent money on sitting on tables being sold for pennies.

We also have a good time. Rarely do I have a day where I just sit around and do nothing and get to chat with my friend. Having a garage sale allows us to meet neighbors, chat, and relax a little bit! Tomorrow is garage sale day for Chiot’s Run. This year it’s especially nice because everything I purged from the house doesn’t have to be packed up and taken to Maine.

Have you ever had a garage sale? Do you like to go to garage sales?

12 Comments to “Friday Favorite: Purging”
  1. kristin @ going country on June 29, 2012 at 5:29 am

    We had them every time we moved when I was a kid. That is, every few years (military family). Which is probably why I cannot stand clutter and useless junk sitting around. And why living in our house can be such a challenge for me.

    I wish I had the time and patience to buy stuff at garage sales, but I don’t. Can’t stand the crowds and disorganization of most garage sales. Though I suspect anything you organized will be nothing less than military in its precision. (That’s a compliment, by the way.)

    So I stick to thrift stores. Not as cheap as a garage sale, but still way cheaper than buying new.

    Reply to kristin @ going country's comment

    • Susy on June 29, 2012 at 9:00 am

      You’re right, people talk about our garage sales and how organized everything is, how clean it is, how great the signage is and how nice of stuff we have

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. daisy on June 29, 2012 at 6:00 am

    I’ll bet you will have some real bargains at your yard sale. I couldn’t agree more about it feeling so good to purge items no longer needed or functional.
    It will make your move so much easier. We are doing the same thing for our anticipated move. We are donating all of our finds, as our development can only have a yard sale twice a year.

    I have enjoyed yard saling, but mostly go to thrift stores now.
    Have fun today!

    Reply to daisy's comment

  3. Andrea Duke on June 29, 2012 at 6:42 am

    I love having garage sales. I had one 2 weekends ago. I got rid of lots of stuff and it’s wonderful for someone like me who hates clutter.

    The part about seeing stuff go for so much less than what I paid is the only downside.

    Have fun!

    Reply to Andrea Duke's comment

  4. Kim Oswald on June 29, 2012 at 10:07 am

    I love purging! It’s almost like therapy to me to go thru the house a few times a year and get rid of junk. And with 4 kids there’s always a lot of stuff to get rid of.

    Reply to Kim Oswald's comment

  5. Maybelline on June 29, 2012 at 10:19 am

    I do not like to go to garage sales. The last garage sale I had was over 20 years ago. A gentleman that owned a used childrens’ stuff store bought everything and I closed down less than an hour from opening.

    Now I donate to a local thrift store that calls me regularly to ask if I have a donation they will pick up. It’s so convenient plus it’s a tax write off.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

  6. min hus on June 29, 2012 at 11:34 am

    Yay for purging! I love to declutter. Garage sales, not so much. Every time I have one I swear it’s my last.

    Reply to min hus's comment

  7. whit on June 29, 2012 at 12:19 pm

    Garage sales are okay. I hated them in our old neighbourhood, because no matter how low you priced something, people would try to low ball you. When we sold our brand new yard cart (we thought we’d get more use out of it than we did) for $35, the buyer initally asked if we would take $5 for it. Really? We finally got smart, and stopped putting the big items out for just any ol’ person to eye at a yard sale. We would put a bunch of ads for the nicer items on Craigslist the same weekend we had a garage sale…then they get there and there’s more stuff for sale. Yippee!

    I am excited to attend our first sales out in the country. I drove past one the other day with the most wonderful furniture, but i’ve swore off buying anything until we have our yard sale this year. People keep everything out here, so there is bound to be good old stuff that still works–the new stuff just doesn’t last as long. Wonder if anyone’s ever found a tractor for sale at a garage sale?

    Reply to whit's comment

  8. Mary S. on June 29, 2012 at 1:32 pm

    We had a garage sale once a year when our girls were little — as soon as the youngest baby was out of something, it got sold. Now, I have one about every 5 years, but I have to hold on to more things because the girls might want it for their apartments (one of which is only in her imagination.) I love garage sale-ing.

    Reply to Mary S.'s comment

  9. Ken Toney on June 29, 2012 at 6:41 pm

    I love purging but don’t usually have a sale. We donate to our local Goodwill. My general rule is, “Did you use it in the last 6 months, or will you use it in the next 6 months?” If not, we don’t need it. I love cleaning out the clutter.

    Reply to Ken Toney's comment

  10. Texan on June 29, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    When we lived in town I had them. We have been in the country now 8 years and I sooooo need to have one and want to. Just not sure if I will get a turn out for one out here. I am thinking this fall I may give it a try.

    Reply to Texan's comment

  11. Valeria Giudici on June 30, 2012 at 6:46 am

    In Italy we dont’t have garage sales, and that’s a pity. They are not allowed. I have spent my last few years buying and buying again, and now i’m full of things I don’t use and I don’t need. I have never been a person that detaches easily from my stuff, but lately I have tried to clean up my mess, giving things for charity etc and I must admit that the pleasure I received is far more than the pain giving them away. But I have still a lot of thing that I’m willing to get rid of….

    Reply to Valeria Giudici's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

Admin
Read previous post:
So We Bought This House….In Liberty, Maine

If you've been reading here for a while you know Mr Chiots and I have been searching for a home...

Close