Its Simplifying Saturday!

[Dreamer]

Okay, I will start with this, but not sure how long I will play. Hopefully, for a long time. I have 4 paperback books and 1 hardback book set aside to pass along to my sister. I put aside 2 pairs of pants and 1 pair of shorts for the Goodwill donation. I threw out 1 bottle of expired Vitamin E.

Kudos to Maurice for starting this thread. You are making the world a better place already. Can't wait to see all the stuff that leaves one's household and can be put to better use in someone else's household. I have been meaning to declutter since retirement, going on 4 years, and you have inspired me. Thanks.

 

[FinanceDude]

Aaawwwww, very sweet. I'm touched. The first wise-acre who jumps on "I'm touched" is gonna get .

I was going to add that you're "special" and "touched by a higher power"...........

You should give that bat away to Goodwill.........

 

[Ronstar]

Went through my old college books .. I don't think I need that old text on computer technology from 1975! Got rid of some old Byte Magazines from 1984! Went through all my campground brochures sorted them by state and threw out hundreds of duplicates..

What do you do with your old books? Library?, recycle?

 

[freebird5825]

Today I dropped off all of the stuff off at the church. It was quite an array of plastic bags and boxes.
I feeeeeeeel good.
The pile in the living room has been officially halved. Tomorrow is a good day to continue and finish it up.

 

[Nords]

Went through my old college books .. I don't think I need that old text on computer technology from 1975!

I agree with that perspective, but spouse has a different one.

She copiously highlighted & annotated all of her college textbooks during her classes, and even filed homework/projects with them. 25+ years later they're all still boxed up in the garage as "offline memory" reference. The technology may have moved on but she still uses them to make sure she understands what she knew before she goes after the update.

Got rid of some old Byte Magazines from 1984!

This would be a good time to suggest that eBay and Craigslist should be consulted for values. Last year I was ready to ditch a dozen crappy-looking silver spoons and ended up earning over $150 on eBay.

A friend of mine pulls down $500-$2000/year going through garage sales for old aviation magazines. By "old" I mean "before 1990". Apparently some of them are collectibles, and he makes his money from the spread between 25 cents and $5.

 

[Tesaje]

What do you do with your old books? Library?, recycle?

I have a used book store here that will pay a bit for them. $4 for a box of em or $8 in store credit.

I got 2 trash bags full of old unused fabric that I will give to a quilting friend to use or pass along. Shredded more ancient check copies and receipts. Loaded up another box of old books.

All this makes me sneeze and I woke up with a sinus headache. More allergy meds needed.

 

[Maurice]

Kudos to Maurice for starting this thread. You are making the world a better place already. Can't wait to see all the stuff that leaves one's household and can be put to better use in someone else's household. I have been meaning to declutter since retirement, going on 4 years, and you have inspired me. Thanks.

Thanks.

The part that makes me smile is the thought of all those SO's out there thinking "I've been asking him/her to go through that crap for years to no avail, now some guy on the internet posts something and he/she is suddenly all motivated."

 

[Maurice]

I'll start - here's this week's item: (not my photo)

Its a few years old but still worth something to somebody (I got a new Mac in 08).

I'll be putting this up for sale on Craigslist. I'd do ebay for a wider audience but I don't want to deal with shipping it.

Midweek update - it wouldn't properly boot anymore, so its not going to sell (for anything reasonable anyway). It will be in Friday morning's garbage instead, sans hard drive.

Of course if I had sold it at the time of its last use I could have gotten a couple hundred for it.... such is the cost of proctrastination.

 

[Rustic23]

Maurice,
If the hard drive appears good, but just won't boot to windows, you might try getting hold of a copy of Ubuntu. It's free, and may boot.

 

[simple girl]

Midweek update - it wouldn't properly boot anymore, so its not going to sell (for anything reasonable anyway). It will be in Friday morning's garbage instead, sans hard drive.

Of course if I had sold it at the time of its last use I could have gotten a couple hundred for it.... such is the cost of proctrastination.

Here is an article outlining several web sites that pay you to recycle electronics, computers, etc:

Fiscal Fitness: Get Cash for Your Castoffs - Manage Your Life on Shine


FYI, I haven't tried any of the sites myself yet.

 

[freebird5825]

Here's a small challenge for you all...I need some ideas of where to donate a 1998 vintage Sharp camcorder with 40X digital zoom that still operates. I have all the accessories.
My thoughts were the local library, the community theatre, or the historical society. Recall I live in the boonies, so these places have small operating budgets.
Other ideas?

 

[Lakedog]

Here is an article outlining several web sites that pay you to recycle electronics, computers, etc:

Fiscal Fitness: Get Cash for Your Castoffs - Manage Your Life on Shine


FYI, I haven't tried any of the sites myself yet.

I sold an old laptop to one of these (cashforlaptops.com) -- they quoted a price online, provided a postage paid box to mail to them, and mailed a check to me within a couple of days of receiving the laptop. I thought the price was fair for my old dell ($105).

 

[kyounge1956]

Here's a small challenge for you all...I need some ideas of where to donate a 1998 vintage Sharp camcorder with 40X digital zoom that still operates. I have all the accessories.
My thoughts were the local library, the community theatre, or the historical society. Recall I live in the boonies, so these places have small operating budgets.
Other ideas?

I suggest the historical society, if they actually have someone who knows how to interview people who have lived in the area a long time and is willing to do the work. Failing that, whichever of the other two organizations will actually use it.

And one other idea, youth sports teams....could they use it to videotape games for later dissection, use it to help batters or golfers or tennis players perfect their swing, or the like?

 

[freebird5825]

I suggest the historical society, if they actually have someone who knows how to interview people who have lived in the area a long time and is willing to do the work. Failing that, whichever of the other two organizations will actually use it.

And one other idea, youth sports teams....could they use it to videotape games for later dissection, use it to help batters or golfers or tennis players perfect their swing, or the like?

Great idea for youth sports teams. I know a few coaches.
I will definitely ask the historical society first. The library is poorly funded and might even offer it as a loaner item for civic groups or to record inventory for insurance purposes.
I also thought of the local Y for all sorts of kids' events they host.

 

[freebird5825]

A timely article

from Dummies.com, some concrete practical steps to declutter. The triage method (3rd bullet from the top) makes a lot of sense.

How to Get Rid of Clutter - For Dummies

 

[freebird5825]

Mystery object

I have a real white elephant that has been hanging around for years...it was a gift from long ago. My intent is to take it to a local antique store and sell it.
I was wondering if anyone here could tell me what this thing is. It has a curved "seat", is made entirely of brass, and has seated facing griffins on the handles. Or is it really a seat?
I went searching on several antique sites and could not find anything like it. My search keywords were "brass curved seat griffins".
Any help in identifying it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RonBoyd]

I went searching on several antique sites and could not find anything like it. My search keywords were "brass curved seat griffins".
Any help in identifying it would be greatly appreciated.

My guess is that it is seating for a dressing table. I don't know if there is an "official" name for that piece of furniture but that's what it reminds me of.

 

[W2R]

I have a real white elephant that has been hanging around for years...it was a gift from long ago. My intent is to take it to a local antique store and sell it.
I was wondering if anyone here could tell me what this thing is. It has a curved "seat", is made entirely of brass, and has seated facing griffins on the handles. Or is it really a seat?
I went searching on several antique sites and could not find anything like it. My search keywords were "brass curved seat griffins".
Any help in identifying it would be greatly appreciated.

I thought it might be for holding 1-3 logs of firewood for future use, by a fireplace. (?) Whatever it is, I think it's beautiful and the antique store might give you a decent price for it.

 

[freebird5825]

I thought it might be for holding 1-3 logs of firewood for future use, by a fireplace. (?) Whatever it is, I think it's beautiful and the antique store might give you a decent price for it.

My guess is that it is seating for a dressing table. I don't know if there is an "official" name for that piece of furniture but that's what it reminds me of.

Both excelllent guesses. TY for trying.
I went searching again using "dressing table bench griffins" and "brass fireplace griffins" keywords...still no dice.
Let's see what other ideas come from the forum membership. I have to run to an appt. I'll check back later today.

 

[W2R]

Bear in mind that some alternate spellings exist such as gryphon, griffon, griffin.

This item also could be used as a magazine rack. In fact, with all these potential uses I am surprised that you want to sell it!

 

[GreenEyes]

Hi All!

Love this simplifying thread and Freebird's challenge was just what I needed to finally drag myself out of lurkerdom...

I did a search on "brass folding stool griffins" and found the exact same item listed at an antique gallery.

Looks like it's a French Iron Bench, C.1920 as shown about a third of the way down this page:

Chairs

Looks like it might be valuable--check out the blue price color code.

 

[W2R]

Welcome to the forum, GreenEyes.

And what a wonderful discovery! I'm sure Freebird5825 will be thrilled to read your post.

 

[Pete]

I went through most of my life believing new and improved was better. I retired, and thought now that I have time, I will try some of the old, slow and simple ways. I found they were old and simple, but certainly not slow. Got rid of the gas BBQ and went to charcoal. Got rid of the coffee maker and got a press, power mower to a push mower, blower to a broom, car to a bike, heater to a wood burning stove, A/C to an evap cooler, power to a non power can opener, a ton of kitchen gadgets to a knife and a cuttting board.... worm composter, composter, herb garden, thrift store..... I save tons of time and money, have more room, and I’m more comfortable and self sufficient. I could've saved a lot of work during my working life.

 

[W2R]

FIYes, that's pretty good!!

I have one item so far to start this week's 7 items. I decided to throw out some curlers (the sponge kind, for sleeping on). My curling iron is good enough for morning touch-ups if necessary, and with my curly hair that seldom is needed. I haven't used them in years.

OK, for Saturday February 20th I have:

sponge rollers
6 bottles half used fragrances and bubble bath
foot care kit
box of small paper cups
box full of obsolete cable internet information
very old AD&D computer game that doesn't work in Vista
booklets and software for a laptop computer that completely cratered
booklets and software for a desktop computer that I no longer have

 

[Maurice]

This week I'm getting rid of some recording equipment I never really used.

Two microphones
Two microphone stands
A mixer

And to get it to seven I'll be purging two books:

- A bio of William Jennings Bryan
- A bio of General Franco