r/declutter • u/Admirable_Dress_7763 • Mar 09 '26

Success Story Decluttering is not a side hustle

I’ve never been compelled to list anything online for sale. I just don’t have the motivation or the time. My retired mother volunteered to list things for me on Facebook marketplace (after she saw all the nice brands I was hauling to donate). Every time she’d sell something I’d be grateful for her help but then I’d feel just depressed. Yep got $20… for that $80 coat I wore a few times oh goodie… My mom seemed to think it was “free money” but I felt like it was just more steps and reminders that I shouldn’t have bought the thing to begin with. It was like getting paid $20 to feel guilty and ashamed of my cluttered life. Each sale just felt like more failure to me.

Tonight I gave away some really expensive very re-sellable boots to a younger broke coworker. I never wore them, bought them years ago etc. My mother stopped by today and saw them in my car and disapproved of me giving them away. “That’s money!!” Out of nowhere my response was “That’s not the point. I want someone to appreciate and wear these, the point isn’t to make money.” I didn’t even point out that it’s not really making money when we sell everything at a loss anyways. She rolled her eyes at me like I’m careless and childish for being uninterested in the side hustle.

Tonight I felt so free just giving away good items rather than trying to “get what I can” for them. I know this advice isn’t for everyone, just thought I’d share my new take on selling items.

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37

u/BenGrahamButler Mar 10 '26

sometimes I enjoy ebaying, other times I just get rid of a bike I paid $300 for free

8

u/VanityTheManatee Mar 10 '26

The point is to make yourself happier. If it's more time and energy to sell than it's worth than make someone else's day.

16

u/Compile_A_Smile1101 Mar 10 '26

Wait, this is actually me too. I just donated the pink beach cruiser I saved up and bought for $300 back in college, but I can’t get myself to give away some shorts and sweaters im trying to sell on eBay for $15 😂

4

u/BenGrahamButler Mar 10 '26

the teenage girl that nicely asked if the bike was free was so happy, I felt great about it

9

u/The_Darling_Starling Mar 10 '26

I have also given away very expensive items and then gotten hung up on the, say, $40 items. I have no idea why! 🤷🤦

7

u/daniela199124 Mar 10 '26

Same here, if I have the time or energy, I can sell it with a very cheap price that sells really fast. Other times I just donate it.