You may have seen the national TV show recently where well known financial advisors were giving advice to a unemployed couple on how to survive this recession. What I really found interesting is how by going through this family’s home they were able to turn their excess ‘stuff’ into over a $4000.00 treasure !
Hence, the title of this lesson, “One Man’s Trash Is Another’s Treasure” for each and everyone of us could hold a sale of household and personal items that we have purchased and no longer are using. We are surrounded by treasure and simply not accessing it.
They first went to their closet and thinned it out considerably. Next to the shoes and were told to select only five pair from the stack of many. After that they thinned out furniture, knick knacks, and decorative items that ‘cluttered’ the house from years of accumulation, gifts, and souvenirs. From there to the children’s room where floors were littered with an abundance of toys, corners were stacked with toys and collectibles they had out grown or lost interest. The kitchen had gadgets, odd collection of dishes and rarely used items. And the garage was stacked to the brim many unfinished projects, tools and saved ‘stuff’.
We are a society of ‘stuff’. Blessed, spoilt, over indulged, whatever words you wish to use. Most of us have money tied up in things that we no longer need, or want but because of whatever psychological reason we hold onto it. Few of us have the discipline to purchase and keep ONLY the necessities. The counselor helped the family organize with large bins. Things that were in excellent shape and perhaps unique such as clothing, jewelry, household items, tools, etc to be sold on eBay or Craig’s List. A bin for things to sold at a yard sale, used but still good and would sell such as furniture, decorative items, bikes, and everyday clothing. Then a bin for items to be donated which included ANYTHING left over after the yard sale. And last, the damaged or broken items that someone was going to fix someday, but that day never came.
$4000.00 was raised from inside their house to be put into an emergency fund. Not to be used as ‘found money’ for a dinner out, but to sustain the family during a period of emergency. My suggestion would be that you too look around the house at all the ‘treasures’ that you have stored that could be turned into money. Isn’t it better to sell things now while you have the leisure to do it out of want instead of need ? I promise you, having an emergency fund will bring you more emotional satisfaction than having a bulging closet, a over stacked garage, and a living room cluttered with years of collectibles. 470
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