In His Presence

A Difficult Decision

This may sound extremely trivial to many of you ladies. Some of you may even laugh. I have an addiction, an addiction to yard sales. It goes back to my grandmother on both my father and mother's side of the family, to my mother, to me and I can see tendencies in my niece. I particularly look for kitchen items. They are my favorite. I love the idea of saving money and trying to get the greatest value for my money. Also, reusing and repurposing an item, especially at a yard sale or thrift shop is great for the environment. Unfortunately, it has gotten a little out of hand. I have not yet been blessed with a husband nor children and I am still home with my mother, sister and niece. So when I do go to a yard sale and purchase something, I tuck it away in my chest. Well, that chest has overflowed into my closet space and 3 of my dresser drawers. I have been thinking that it is not a good thing for me to be so attached to these items. I was thinking today of maybe going through my things, such as kitchenware and books and really giving it a good go through and having a yard sale of my own. I was even debating on putting my good dishes from Lenox on ebay. My mother and sister have been working so very hard and even my niece with her schooling. The entire family has been making sacrifices in this tight economy, with the prices of gasoline, heating oil and food going up. At times, I want to do so much more for my family to make each day a little more special for them. How they have given up and cut back on so much of what they enjoy. I though that with the money I could make at a yard sale and from the Lenox I sell on ebay that I could tuck it away and maybe take them on a day trip. I am even going to the most shocking and weed out on my cross stitch, books and DVD's. After I have gone through my items, I will post somethings here for any lady that may be interested. Hopefully, over the next few days.

The trouble that I am having is that I find it hard to part with things. I know that it is not god to be attached to things so. And it would make me so very happy to do something nice for my family. It was just that I had gotten these items at yard sales over the past couple of years in the hopes of one day of having my own home and family and I even gotten some books and movies in the hopes of maybe homeschooling and using these to help with learning. But, now it has gotten to where it is overflowing.

How would you ladies handle a situation like this? I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions.

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{ 11:01 , Sunday, May 18, 2008 } { Posted by seventhheaven }

I dont think I would get rid of all of it.... one day you will have your own home. Nothing wrong with preparing for that.... that is the whole concept of a hope chest. If its full I would go through it to see if you really need everything that is in it. Then maybe be more discriminating when you go to yard sales in the future ! ! ! ! Maybe instead of selling these things you could maybe take a break from yard sales and the money you would usually spend on this you could start putting back and saving... this could be your contribution to your family.... then when a need arises you will have money to help out with.... you will be suprised how quickly it adds up.

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{ 11:24 , Sunday, May 18, 2008 } { Posted by Kitty }

Girl, you and I were seperated at birth, LOL. My dd and I have the same addiction. I wouldn't get rid of things just yet, BUT I would stop buying so much. Since you don't have the room for it, just slow down a bit with the purchases. My dd did the same thing when she was still living home. She went out and purchased everything that she like for her future home, and when the day finally came that she moved into that home, she had more stuff than she knew what to do with. Once you've moved into your home, then you'll know what you need, and remember, there will always be yard sales for you to shop at. Just slow down a bit, and buy smaller stuff, thats what I do, LOL LOL............Kitty

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{ 09:48 , Saturday, May 31, 2008 } { Posted by Mennobrarian }

I was single at home for many years, but really didn't have the space to collect items for my future home and in some ways that really worked out. By the time I did get engaged and started shopping for a home, I discovered that some of the things I did collect would not work in my new life with my husband, or that there were new or different things I wanted instead. In other words, you don't know what you will actually need or want, for the most part, until you are at the point where you need them. Some of the things I had collected that I didn't want/need got sold on ebay, and then the money used to purchase things that would be a better fit for our new home and life together. Just some thoughts.
~Monica~